2008 ID Senate Debate: on Tax Reform

Jim Risch: I’ll drop out if I got $53,000 in undisclosed tax relief

LaRocco said, “When he was governor he passed a property tax relief bill where he personally benefited at least $53,000, but he never disclosed it to the people of Idaho,” said LaRocco.

“Well, if I got $53,000 out of that bill, I’ll drop out of this race and if you’re wrong you should do the same,“ said Risch.

NewsChannel 7 took a look; we found 13 pieces of property that would fall under the 2006 tax relief umbrella. According to LaRocco’s property valuation, Risch totaled $53,295 in tax breaks. But some of Risch’s property falls under Idaho’s agricultural exemption which means it’s used for farming or grazing--and that makes the property value much lower. Using the same math with the lower agriculture value numbers, Risch actually got a relief of little more than $5,000.

Larry LaRocco: Risch got undisclosed personal $53,000 from his tax relief

LaRocco said, “When he was governor he passed a property tax relief bill where he personally benefited at least $53,000, but he never disclosed it to the people of Idaho,” said LaRocco.

“Well, if I got $53,000 out of that bill, I’ll drop out of this race and if you’re wrong you should do the same,“ said Risch.

NewsChannel 7 took a look; we found 13 pieces of property that would fall under the 2006 tax relief umbrella. According to LaRocco’s property valuation, Risch totaled $53,295 in tax breaks. But some of Risch’s property falls under Idaho’s agricultural exemption which means it’s used for farming or grazing--and that makes the property value much lower. Using the same math with the lower agriculture value numbers, Risch actually got a relief of little more than $5,000.