House and Senate Republicans unite behind tax plan

House and Senate Republicans are standing united behind a modified property tax relief and restructuring proposal that they painted as an olive branch to Democrats in the General Assembly.\nRepublican lawmakers lined up along a Statehouse stairway as their leaders announced the plan to the media Thursday. They said their plan would provide immediate and lasting property tax relief.\nBut Democratic House Speaker Patrick Bauer dismissed the event as a partisan stunt and said negotiating by press conference was not the way to reach compromise on a plan.\nGOP leaders say their plan would cut homeowner taxes by about 30 percent on average statewide this year and provide lasting relief by capping future property tax bills.