Montgomery – The Alabama Legislature opens its regular session tomorrow. An Associated Press survey of legislators finds a majority supporting Governor Bob Riley's proposed tax breaks for families and for small businesses that supply health insurance to their workers.
And many say giving tax breaks might have to wait because of the economic slowdown and the anticipated cuts in state budgets.
For the second year, Riley is asking the Legislature to raise the threshold where working Alabamians start paying the state income tax by raising personal exemptions, dependent exemptions and standard deductions. For a family of four, the threshold would go from $12,600 to $15,000.
In the AP survey, 56 percent of the House supported Riley's proposal, 31 percent were undecided and 13 percent were opposed.
In the Senate, 59 percent favored Riley's plan, 34 percent were undecided, and 7 percent were opposed.
Riley is also bringing back legislation to aid small businesses that offer health insurance to employees.
In the AP survey of the House, 64 percent were supportive, 25 percent undecided, and 11 percent opposed.
In the Senate, 52 percent liked Riley's legislation, 38 percent were undecided, and 10 percent were opposed.
The AP survey was answered by 72 percent of the representatives and 83 percent of the senators.
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)