Tuesday, February 9, 2010

A Kansas House committee is considering whether legislators should be allowed to grant new exemptions on state sales and property taxes.

The Taxation Committee heard testimony Monday on a resolution to impose a three-year moratorium on such exemptions.

The measure would also bar lawmakers from enacting any new programs that divert income taxes withheld from some workers' paychecks for specific business development projects.

The committee took no vote on the measure, which applies only to the Legislature.

Supporters included groups that want lawmakers to raise taxes to prevent additional cuts in funding for education and social services.

But some local chambers of commerce said adopting the resolution would hurt efforts to attract new businesses to Kansas.