BOISE -- The Idaho House voted unanimously to temporarily waive sales taxes for homeless shelters. Boise Democrat Branden Durst's bill cleared the House Monday on a 70-0 vote.
The legislation, which now goes to the Senate, would save a handful of major shelters in the state some $15,000 a year until the tax break expires in 2012.
Durst told other lawmakers that shelters provide services to people who otherwise might be seeking taxpayer-funded assistance from the state of Idaho.
The fate of the bill is uncertain, due to concerns by some senators that Idaho during an economic crisis shouldn't be passing more legislation that takes tax revenue out of the general fund, even if it's for a good cause.
