(AP)- The Arkansas House has handily rejected a low-income
tax credit proposal, To Create The Working Families Opportunity Act, backed by Democrats that had been touted as an alternative to Republican Governor Asa Hutchinson’s $50 million tax cut plan.
The majority-Republican House defeated House Bill 1161 on a 66-28 vote Tuesday. The vote came a day after the House and Senate approved identical versions of Hutchinson’s income tax cut for those making less than $21,000 a year.
Local Republican State Representatives Nelda Speaks, Jack Fortner, Michelle Gray, John Payton and David Branscum voted against the plan.
Democratic Representative Scott Baltz, from Pocahontas in District 61, was the only area local in support of the bill.
Democratic Representative Warwick Sabin said his $40 million tax credit proposal was a better way to target low-income taxpayers. Sabin had said he hoped for a compromise with Hutchinson, but the governor has said he’s not open to changing his tax cut package.
A final vote is expected on Hutchinson’s tax cut proposal later this week.
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