Update: The LaRocco campaign just confirmed that this topic will be on the news tonight!
****Last Update: Just watched the news report. Looks like LaRocco had the numbers wrong. Risch benefited to the tune of about $5,000 (according to KTVB), much less than the $53,000 that Risch said he'd drop out over.*******
We haven't been given too many opportunities to overtake Republican Jim Risch in the Idaho Senate race (vacated by Larry Craig). But last night in a heated moment of the debate, we finally got our in when Jim said this (emphasis added):
That's a lie," Risch said Tuesday. "If I got $53,000 out of that bill, I'll drop out of this race ... and you should too if" you're proven wrong.
Did Jim Risch's tax plan actually cut his own taxes in 2006? This is something we should calculate right now. Can you help me figure it out? Let's hunt for tax returns, housing costs, and let's run some numbers! This is what Democrat Larry LaRocco needs, and time is of the essence in this race ...
A little more context from today's news:
The debate took a nasty turn when LaRocco revisited allegations that Risch saved thousands of dollars after the Legislature approved a $200 million property tax cut in 2006. During his stint as governor, Risch called a special session and won support for a plan to cut property taxes marked for schools. At the same time, lawmakers raised the state sales tax by one penny, to 6 percent, for a net tax cut of about $30 million.
Risch has touted the tax cut in campaign ads, while LaRocco says it's nothing more than shifting the tax burden. LaRocco claimed the tax cut helped Risch save $53,000 and that he's concerned more about helping wealthy voters than struggling ones.
"That's a lie," Risch said Tuesday. "If I got $53,000 out of that bill, I'll drop out of this race ... and you should too if" you're proven wrong.
The simple equation we have to solve ... how much did Risch's taxes decrease based on his own plan. Can anyone in the Kos community help on this one??
The debate was televised last night, so there's possibly some usable footage out there..
Update 1: I found the footage! Check it out at the 2:25 mark:
(I couldn't figure out how to embed it, so this links you to the KTVB webpage.)
Update 2: I emailed the LaRocco campaign this diary and got this excellent response (emphasis added):
Thanks for writing. There will be a feature tonight on Channel 7 news, about this topic.
Bonus info on this race that could pull votes from Risch:
- Independent Rex Rammell has also been showing up to debates. He's conservative and has a daugther who refused to be photographed with Risch when she won the Miss Idaho Teen USA pagent.
- There's a candidate on the ballot who legally changes his name to "Pro-Life"; seriously.
Larry LaRocco for Senate