Proposal would boost threshold to raise Neb. taxes

Nebraska constitutional amendment proposal would raise vote threshold to increase state taxes

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) -- A Nebraska lawmaker is proposing a constitutional amendment that would make it more difficult for the Legislature to approve tax increases.

Sen. Pete Pirsch of Omaha introduced his measure Thursday that would let voters decide whether to increase the threshold for lawmakers on bills that raise taxes.

Measures now need a simple majority, or 25 senators voting yes, to pass. Pirsch's proposal would require 29 votes to pass bills that increase taxes.

He says the bill would help keep Nebraskans from moving to other states. He added that 17 states require a supermajority vote to raise taxes.

Judy Dittmer of AARP Nebraska opposed the bill, saying it would make it more difficult to impose tax increases that may be required to balance the budget.

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The amendment proposal is LR2CA.