A Speaker Vote, Governors, and Commissions
The House ousted its Speaker. What’s next? Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) is no longer Speaker of the House after the more conservative wing of the GOP called for a vote to vacate the position. Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) introduced the resolution after McCarthy passed a bipartisan stopgap measure to fund the government. It’s the first removal of its kind in congressional history. Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.) is now speaker pro-tempore until the House elects a new Speaker.
Kansas collected $42 million more in tax revenue than expected in September. Gov. Laura Kelly (D) announced the news this week. The Kansas Legislative Research Department recently estimated that the state’s budget surplus (currently at $2.7 billion) will grow to $3.2 billion by June 30, 2025. There was bipartisan agreement on tax cuts during the last legislative session, but no agreement on specific policies.
Oklahoma Gov. Stitt wants a phase-out of state income tax. Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt called for a special legislative session yesterday to discuss a tax cut plan to phase out the income tax and increase transparency over the state’s budget. Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Treat (R) questioned whether a special session is necessary, given the Senate’s lack of agreement with the governor on how to implement the tax cuts..
Montana Gov. Gianforte takes school tax dispute to court. Republican Gov. Greg Gianforte’s administration filed a lawsuit this week asking a judge to clarify whether the state has the authority to require the full collection of a school funding property tax. Some county commissioners plan to collect less than they have in the past for the state’s school equalization program, arguing that collecting more would violate another statute dictating how fast local government tax collections can grow.
Everything’s bigger in Texas? McDermott Will & Emery’s Inside SALT blog reports the Texas Comptroller is taxing marketplace providers on 130 percent of their sales in an effort to tax the proceeds the intermediaries keep in exchange for facilitating consumer sales. Texas policymakers have asserted on audit that the sales commissions collected by marketplaces are taxable.
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