Hoyle: Stalemate could kill tax reform

Sen. David Hoyle, a Gastonia Democrat and co-chairman of the Senate finance committee, said Thursday that budget negotiations are making broad tax reform difficult.

Both House and Senate Democrats have proposed revenue plans that would restructure parts of the tax system. The Senate's plan would broaden the sales tax base to include a variety of services while lowering rates for every major tax category.

Hoyle said that in negotiations, the House has been reluctant to sign on to parts of the Senate's plan.

"The House just can't seem to bite into that apple," Hoyle said. "And if they can't, then we have to move away, and where do we move? We have to go somewhere along the lines of the governor."

He said that means more traditional ways of raising revenue such as a sales tax increase and an income tax increase for high-income earners or businesses.