SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - Supporters of a citizens referendum have said that they have bipartisan support to overturn a new Utah tax reform law.
One Democratic and two Republican gubernatorial candidates signed the petition during a news conference at the Capitol Monday, The Deseret News reported.
Organizers said they submitted signed petitions to the lieutenant governor’s office, which oversees the state elections office.
Utah Legislative Watch, Utah Tax Reform Coalition, United Women’s Forum and Citizens for Tax Fairness are among the groups opposing the new tax law.
“This is not a Republican revolt. This is a Utahns revolts,” said Fred Cox, a former Republican legislator who helped organize the petition effort.
The Republican-controlled Legislature passed a bill in a special session earlier this month that lowers the state income tax rate and provides tax breaks to low- and moderate-income residents.
The tax relief includes a larger dependent exemption and a grocery tax credit to offset an increase in the state sales tax on food to 4.85%.
The law also imposes sales taxes on wholesale gasoline purchases in addition to what will be a gas tax of 31 cents on each gallon in 2020, which is expected to add at least 10 cents per gallon at the pump.
Republican Gov. Gary Herbert signed the measure into law last week.
An application to hold a second referendum on tax reform was rejected by the state, prompting a lawsuit. Steve Maxfield, the group’s leader, filed the lawsuit Monday in federal court challenging provisions in Utah’s referendum law.
Brett Hastings, director of Utah Legislative Watch, said the groups opposing the tax law change view the referendum as an integral part of government checks and balances.
“This referendum is in essence a vote of no confidence in our Legislature and in our governor, at least on this question of tax reform,” Hastings said.
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