Inside the Statehouse: Anti-abortion tax exemption clears Idaho House
BOISE, Idaho (AP) -- A tax break sought by an anti-abortion pregnancy center in Boise cleared the House on a near party-line vote.
The measure to benefit Stanton Health Care by giving such clinics a sales tax exemption passed Tuesday on a 58-12 vote.
All supporters except one were Republican, with Rep. Carolyn Meline from Pocatello the lone Democratic backer.
Stanton and its founder, anti-abortion activist Brandi Swindell, want the exemption after they had to pay thousands in back sales taxes.
Supporters called it good public policy, while foes objected to carving out a tax exemption on the divisive issue of terminating a pregnancy.
Last year, Swindell gained attention by staging a live Capitol ultrasound demonstration -- in support of an unsuccessful measure to require women seeking an abortion to get an ultrasound screening.
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