
The delay was caused mainly because the Republican governor had been trying to drum up support for the proposal in a General Assembly skittish about tax increases.

Rep. Richard Royal (D-Camilla), chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, helped move the tax plan through a key subcommittee Tuesday after an hourlong public hearing.

House Appropriations Chairman Tom Buck (D-Columbus), also a member of that tax subcommittee, said the measure probably will pass out of Royal's full committee Thursday and possibly make it to the House floor next week.