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<H3>Taxpayer checkoff to parties targeted</H3>
<P>BOISE – Idaho lawmakers will consider legislation to end the state’s
voluntary tax return checkoff that helps fund political parties, four years
after more taxpayers started choosing to donate to Democrats
than Republicans.</P>
<P>Individual taxpayers don’t pay more if they decide to donate $1 to the party
of their choice. “It’s a diversion from the general fund, unlike any other
checkoff,” said Rep. Lynn Luker, R-Boise, the bill’s sponsor. “Right now, I’m
just trying to save some money.”</P>
<P>Republicans got more of the donations from 1976 until 2006, when Democrats
edged ahead, a trend that held this year.</P>
<P>Twelve of the House State Affairs Committee’s Republicans and one Democrat,
Rep. Mary Lou Shepherd, D-Prichard, voted to introduce the bill; four Democrats
opposed the move. It now will be scheduled for a
full hearing.</P></DIV></BODY></HTML>