DOVER, Del. (AP) - Democratic Gov. Jack Markell's proposals to make several recession-era tax increases permanent have been cleared for a state Senate vote.
A Senate committee released the bills after a hearing Wednesday. The measures passed the House last week on party-line votes, with only one Democrat voting against them.
Democrats say the tax increases are needed to ensure stable revenues as Delaware continues a slower-than-expected economic recovery.
Republicans say the bills are premature and renege on assurances made in 2009 that the tax increases would expire after four years.
Some of the tax increases have been modified since 2009, but Markell wants to keep corporate franchise, personal income, and gross receipts taxes on most businesses at higher levels than four years ago. The estate tax revived in 2009 would be made permanent.
