A tax plan agreed upon by legislative leaders and the governor has tentatively passed the state Senate, just hours after tentatively passing the House.
The plan would reduce personal and corporate income tax rates, but, unlike an earlier proposal, it does not significantly broaden the sales tax base.
Senate President Phil Berger says the plan isn't complete tax reform, but he says it is a step in the right direction. He told Democrats who debated the measure they were wrong to oppose it.
"The idea that by reducing tax rates we are somehow being unfair to the people of this state, the idea that by allowing people to keep more of their money, that somehow that is wrong, just strikes me as inappropriate and certainly not the way I look at the world," said Berger.
Democrats say the plan will force the lower and middle classes to pay more in taxes and eventually for services. They say the wealthy will benefit the most from the proposal.
It passed 32 to 17 in the Senate and requires one last vote in both chambers before heading to the governor.
