2-12-14 raising taxes-constitutional amendment

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The state Assembly has passed a constitutional amendment to make it more difficult to raise taxes in Wisconsin.  The amendment approved Tuesday would require a two-thirds majority vote before taxes can be raised.  State law already requires the super-majority vote to raise sales, income and corporate franchise taxes. But the proposal passed would make the requirement part of the constitution, where it would be more difficult to change.  The amendment would have to pass two consecutive sessions of the Legislature and be approved in a statewide vote before being added to the constitution.  A super-majority vote requires 66 votes instead of 50 in the Assembly and 22 votes instead of 17 in the Senate.   The amendment passed on a party line 60-39 vote.