MT House endorses bill requiring super-majorities for tax increase
HELENA – The Montana House Friday narrowly endorsed a bill requiring a two-thirds majority of both the House and Senate to enact a tax or fee increase, or new tax or fee.
House Bill 148, sponsored by Rep. Forrest Mandeville, R-Columbus, won endorsement on a 53-47 vote, with all 42 House Democrats and five Republicans voting “no.” A final vote is scheduled Monday, after which the measure goes to the Senate – if it passes.
Mandeville said new or higher taxes should be subject to a “higher level of scrutiny” and that a dozen other states require super-majorities of the Legislature to enact tax increases.
