Senate hears about GOP tax-cut plan

HELENA, Mont. (AP) — State senators on Friday heard the first of two Republican representatives' plans to lower income taxes.

Republican Rep. Keith Regier introduced in the Senate Taxation Committee a measure to permanently cut income taxes in every bracket by 0.1 percent. The Kalispell representative said he would support an amendment to House Bill 166 suggested by supportive peers to increase the cut to 0.2 percent.

"The state of Montana can afford a tenth of a percent or two-tenths of a percent tax reduction," Regier said, referring to the state's more than $300 million budget surplus. "It's time that the workers of this state receive a tax break."

Republican Rep. Art Wittich has proposed lowering individual state income tax liability by 2.5 percent in 2015 and 2016 and creating a non-refundable credit of up to $100 for property tax on a primary residence. House Bill 169 has not been scheduled for a Senate hearing.

Both tax reductions passed out of the House of Representatives on party-line votes last Thursday.

Senate Bill 200, which would permanently cut income taxes by 0.1 percent to 0.2 percent, passed a party-line vote in the Senate Friday. The proposal by Republican Sen. Duane Ankney of Colstrip would also widen Montana tax brackets and reduce the capital-gains credit rate.