The plan to repeal the check off box to political parties on state income tax forms is making its way though the Senate.  The same plan passed the House on a 64-1 vote on Jan 26.

The plan will ease Idaho's budget crunch in the future, according to its sponsor, Rep. Lynn Luker, R-Boise.  "This bill, although saving not a lot of money, is a step in that direction," Luker said.  He said $34,000 in tax revenues was diverted from general funds to political parties last year, and almost $1.6 million has been shifted since 1976.  "State government shouldn't be involved with collecting money for parties," Luker said.  The rewrite repealing the check off to political parties won't show up on most tax forms until next year if it becomes law.

The Senate State Affairs Committee voted without opposition to send the plan to the Senate floor for debate.

"Thank you for plugging one more hole in the resources leaking through the dam," Sen. Monty Pearce, R-New Plymouth, told Luker during the committee meeting.  "These resources will be well spent."

Read IdahoReporter's past coverage of the plan here and here.