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House votes to repeal election campaign fund check-off, sparking debate over public subsidy of parties
Summary
HB50 would repeal the income-tax 'check-a-box' election campaign fund that directs roughly $120,000 annually to political parties; proponents say it ends a government subsidy to private parties, opponents warn it may shift costs to primaries and disadvantage smaller parties. The House passed it 51–20.
SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah House on Thursday approved House Bill 50 to repeal the income-tax check-off that currently directs taxpayer-designated money to recognized political parties.
Representative Dougal, sponsor of HB50, framed the bill as a separation of government and private political parties: "The key question before us is, should we really tax the citizens of Utah so that some people can then send those tax monies ... to those private entities?" Dougal said,…
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