But I Don't Want The Tax, I Just Want The Shirt!

The dust hasn't even settled from this week's disaster in the Minnesota House of Representatives and they're trying to dig their hands even deeper into my wallet. Ron Erhardt (R Edina), one of six RINOs voting to override Gov. Pawlenty's veto of a massive tax increase Monday, is now proposing a new sales tax on clothing:

"Monies from the sales tax are shrinking," State Representative Ron Erhardt, a Republican from Edina, told KARE 11.

"This would be a way to broaden the base we tax on and reduce the rate as a matter of fact."

Erhardt's bill would repeal the sales tax exemption clothing currently enjoys, and at the same time reduce the rate on all items from 6.5 percent to 5.96.

The money gained by taxing apparel would be offset by the revenue lost by lower the sales tax rates across the board.

"It has nothing to do with the deficit," explained Erhardt, "Just as a matter of tax policy it's something we should be talking about."

So why do it? Because when future legislatures raise sales taxes they'll be taxing a larger pool of items, getting more from that source.

Erhardt asserts that traditionally sales taxes, property taxes and income taxes were "three legs of the stool" all carrying one-third of the load for funding government. Because of sagging sales tax revenues, he says property taxes are now bearing a disproportionate share.

"We got to start talking about this because right now our property taxes have moved ahead of the sales tax on the monies they raise."

This man is simply out of control, and quite possibly insane. Here's a novel idea, Ron, if you want to keep the "three legs of the stool" equal how about proposing a bill that would CUT OUR FREAKING PROPERTY TAXES you stupid son of a bitch!!!

Seriously, I think this man has lost every part of his brain that is not obsessed with raising taxes. Ron Erhardt has been doing this to Minnesota taxpayers for 18 years and it must end.

Keith Downey is running for Republican endorsement in Erhardt's District 41-A. If you live there, you know what to do. If you don't, do everything else in your power to make Ronnie P. Airhead a distant memory. I know I will.

The Elder Sashays Down The Catwalk: As I've mentioned before, my wife is not a hardcore political wonk like Atomizer or JB Doubtless. But I can just about guarantee that when she hears about Erhardt's plan to impose a sales tax on clothing, she's going to want to do everything in her power to stop the tax-happy madman. I think we may even see the creation of a new PAC: Minnesota Shoppers For Downey.