01/31/1995 08:05 AM House STA

 HSTA - 01/31/95                                                               
 Number  427                                                                   
                                                                              
 HJR 3 - VOTER APPROVAL FOR NEW TAXES                                          
                                                                              
 TOM ANDERSON, Legislative Aide to Representative Martin, sponsor of           
 the measure, testified on the two versions of HJR 3, Version C and            
 Version F.  Version C would require prior voter approval of any               
 increase in the rate of one or more of those taxes that they are              
 looking at, ad valorem, retail, or income tax.  Version F would               
 require voter approval of any changes, increases or  decreases in             
 the rate of one or more taxes.                                                
 CHAIR JAMES said one change is to vote on any increase as well as             
 any implementation of any of these.  The other says that any                  
 change, whether an increase or decrease, would have to be voted on.           
 She opened it to discussion.                                                  
                                                                               
 Number 460                                                                    
                                                                               
 REPRESENTATIVE SCOTT OGAN said the people probably wouldn't have              
 any argument to decrease taxes so he suggested they adopt Version             
 C.                                                                            
                                                                               
 CHAIR JAMES called for a motion and Representative Ogan moved to              
 adopt Version C as the working document.  It is number LS0214-C.              
 Hearing no objection, it was so ordered.                                      
                                                                               
 Number 478                                                                    
                                                                               
 REPRESENTATIVE OGAN expressed his support for the bill.                       
                                                                               
 REPRESENTATIVE PORTER said he could not support this bill at this             
 time.  He questioned the ability of this bill to frustrate the                
 efforts of the legislature to establish a long range fiscal plan.             
 If this bill were in place the legislature would have to work                 
 around it, and it would be difficult.                                         
                                                                               
 Number 491                                                                    
                                                                               
 CHAIR JAMES said that what they are deciding is whether or not they           
 wish to put forth this issue to the rest of the members of the                
 legislature, and whether they wish this to go to the people.  There           
 are some hoops to go through before this would be implemented.                
 This Version C of HJR 3 would need two-thirds vote on the floor of            
 the House and Senate, then the bill would have to go to the vote of           
 the people, and it would have to pass by a majority vote.                     
                                                                               
 Number 500                                                                    
                                                                               
 REPRESENTATIVE OGAN said that he polled the people in his district            
 and that at least eight and a half to nine out of ten people spoke            
 in favor of having the right to vote on taxes.                                
                                                                               
 REPRESENTATIVE OGAN moved to pass the resolution out of committee             
 with individual recommendations.                                              
                                                                               
 Number 515                                                                    
 There being objections, CHAIR JAMES called for a roll call vote.              
 Representatives Green, Ivan, Willis, Ogan and James voted in favor            
 of moving HB 4 out of committee.  Representatives Porter and                  
 Robinson voted against the bill.  The bill passed with individual             
 recommendations.