Supermajority vote for tax increases proposed

It would take more than 25 of the Legislature’s 49 members to pass a tax increase under a proposed constitutional amendment heard by the Revenue Committee March 10.

LR46CA, introduced by Omaha Sen. Pete Pirsch, would require that every bill imposing or increasing a tax or a license fee receive an affirmative vote of two-thirds of the Legislature in order to be enacted. The proposed constitutional amendment would be submitted for voter approval during the 2012 general election.

Pirsch said it currently is easier for legislative bodies to raise taxes than to cut spending. The resolution could tip the scale toward spending cuts, he said.

“If you make it a little bit harder to raise taxes, as opposed to cutting spending, it will create a mild presumption that spending cuts are to be looked at first,” Pirsch said.

Fifteen states require a supermajority vote to raise taxes, he said.

No one testified in support of or opposition to LR46CA and the committee took no immediate action on the measure.