The Arkansas Senate passed a bill Thursday that would cut income tax rates starting next year.
Senate Bill 6, if passed by the state House of Representatives, would lower the tax rate 1 percent for Arkansans making between $21,000 and $75,000, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette previously reported.
Senate President Pro Tempore Jonathan Dismang, R-Searcy, said the bill accomplishes the ultimate goal of providing tax relief for middle-class families.
"This accomplishes [Gov. Asa Hutchinson's] broad tax reform and provides relief for our working families," Dismang said.
Sen. Linda Chesterfield, D-Little Rock, expressed concern about passing the bill before seeing Hutchinson's final budget.
"Why are we doing this before we see a budget?" Chesterfield asked Dismang. "I need to understand why we cut something before we see the budget."
Sen. Joyce Elliot, D-Little Rock, said she didn't understand the hurry in passing the bill.
"I have the money in my checking account to go out and buy three pairs of boots, but that wouldn't be prudent to my budget, and this is the same thing," Elliot said of passing the bill. "I'm not voting no because I don't believe in tax breaks."
Sen. Keith Ingram, D-West Memphis, agreed with Elliot but said he would vote for it since the governor seems comfortable in "accepting responsibility" for the tax cuts.
The bill passed with 30 votes in favor and with Chesterfield, Elliot and Sen. David Johnson, D-Little Rock, voted against it.
Senators unanimously passed an amendment proposed by Sen. Bill Sample, R-Hot Springs, to eliminate reductions in capital-gains taxes passed in 2013.
See Friday's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full coverage.