Ron Erhart on K-Talk with Chris Baker This Morning

This is who the people of Edina have representing them in the State House of Representatives.

From K-TALK this morning...10am

(This is a transcript done by me of the conversation...if there are errors in the transcript, it was not done intentionally. There is a link at the bottom to the K-TALK audio.)

CB = Chris Baker

RE = Ron Erhart

CB: And joining us on, on our news maker line, State Rep. Ron Erhart, welcome to the Chris Baker show

RE: Good morning

CB: I appreciate you taking time to talk to join us on the big show today. We’ve been talking about, we saw on the news last night that Rep. Erhart is once of two Reps who are…well, you have the idea to actually start taxing clothing…and what many listeners are asking is why?

RE: Well ah…are you asking me now?

CB: Yes sir.

RE: Ok…well, ah, we just ah did a nice package for the improvement of the transportation infrastructure in the state, and we are now going to see what we can find to reduce. And so, this is an opening salvo for the necessity for the restructuring the tax system. And one of the things we are looking at to start with is this…there are going to be other ideas and ah, and ah, that’s the reason. We are going to have to see if we can reduce the…change the tax structure, in some other way, to help the hard working people of Minnesota.

CB: So you want to change the tax structure to sort of even out the hit? Is that what we’re looking at here?

RE: Well, ah, yeah. We’re going to see if we can’t reduce something in some other area, that will benefit the same people that are going to feel that they have been put on by ah, by ah, the tax increases for the gas tax, license tax fees and that sort of thing.

CB: State Rep Ron Erhart here with us on FM 100.3 K-Talk. Um…we have heard all morning from people who say people travel here to the Twin Cities area to shop here…to shop at the Mall of America, ah…42.5 million people come to the Mall of America every year…and one of the main reasons, according to people who are calling me today is that they don’t have to pay taxes on clothing. Do you think this is really a wise move, because you’re going to lose, I would think, revenue in other areas, such as in the hotel industry and the restaurant industry, and things like that?

RE: Well ah, well ah, we’re just going to have to see. You know…there are a lot of moving parts in the tax system. Sales tax, income tax, corporate income taxes, and individual income taxes and property taxes, and all of those we try to keep somewhat in balance. We’ve just increased the tax in one area, like we did on Monday, then we are going to have to see if we can’t reduce them in some other area.

CB: Well…why can’t we reduce them with out having to start taxing clothing? I mean, aren’t there other areas we might be able to cut spending?

[talk over]

RE: This is just an opening bid to start the discussion rolling. There’s got to be some people talking about this or nothing is going to get done…right?

CB: So…is this just a shot across the bow to get a conversation started?

RE: Well, of course! I mean the Governor says he’s going to create a tax commission to take a look into our taxes, our whole tax structure in the State, and I’ve been through this before when we’ve looked at the various components and so we’re preempting the Governor’s commission and going to start looking at some other ways of maintaining our tax base without destroying, you know, the incomes of all those hard working Minnesotans.

CB: Right. State Rep. Ron Erhart with us here on 100.3 K-Talk. So, this is a shot across the bow to get the conversation started.

RE: Absolutely!

CB: Alright so…

RE: And I’m on the cutting edge of this like I have been on other things.

CB: You’re WILD! You’re on the cutting edge. Alright…here’s what I don’t understand. If this is just a shot across the bow, and just listening to you talk about it, it doesn’t even sound like you even buy into it, and if this so…why are we wasting our time with it? Why can’t we just go to the meat of the matter?

RE: The meat of the matter is ah, in all kinds of different aspects of the plan. We’re not just talking about SALES taxes, which are falling behind the rest of the three legs of the stool which are income taxes, property taxes and sales taxes, but we want to balance out the whole thing so that we can help everyone here, and we’ll see, as we move through the conversation. First of all, we’re not going to have time to do anything this year anyway, the session is too short. There are other ideas to tax everything…broaden the sales tax base to include everything. So, all of this would be…reduce the rate considerably…and my was just to get something started.

CB: Just want to get something started. Well, that’s…that’s…Alright, I have another idea here…why don’t we throw this one…let’s fire this shot across the bow. State Rep. Ron Erhart with us here on 100.3 K-Talk. I have a great shot to fire across the bow…Rep. Erhart…how about this…let’s deny social services to criminal aliens, and save a little money there? Can you fire that one up?

RE: Well, ah…you bring that pieces over there and we’ll see if we can’t get a bill drawn up.

CB: Well, you’re the big guy there, why don’t you fire that one up? That would be great! People, I’m telling ya, you’d be like Elvis, people would be so proud of you.

RE: You bring that over here and I’ll put your name as co-sponsor on the bill

CB: Oh, now…how can I be a co-sponsor? I’m not even a State Rep.

RE: I’m giving you an opportunity here

CB: I can’t be a co-sponsor

RE: Oh…we’ll get you in there somehow. If you think that is a good idea, why let me know and I’ll…

CB: You’re goofing around on me now!

RE: No, no…I’m not goofing around

CB: You’re goofing around on me here…I’m giving you here…you want to fire shots across the bow, I’m giving you a really good one here that people will embrace and now you’re saying you want to bring me to the State House and make me a co-sponsor?

RE: Instead of sitting out there and talk about it, bring your idea on here and I’ll put you in as a co-sponsor.

CB: How…how can I be a co-sponsor as a talk host?

RE: Well…that’s the way we introduce bills…we say at request…by request if somebody comes ah…

CB: Oh, really?

RE: …wants something done like that.

CB: Can I speak before this great body?

RE: Oh, you can absolutely speak before, when you promote the thing we’ll put you through as many committees as you want to go to.

CB: How quick can you get me in there on this?

RE: Ahhhhh…..well, we have to have the bill drawn, and we’d have to have…ahhh…we’d have to have an “ok” from the tax chair…but I would suspect within 10 days.

CB: Let’s set a date. Can we set a date, sir?

RE: Well…ahhhhh…I can give you the parameters, let’s say within the 2 weeks period we will have Chris Baker talking on putting…what are we going to do to the illegal aliens? We’re going to take their rights away?

CB: Well…no, no sir…not rights. What my…my…did you hear what I…

RE: What rights are we going to take away?

CB: Well…we want to deny services to criminal aliens. Such as…

RE: Oh…Aliens…

CB: Education…

RE: Is that the kind that comes over and hovers with the black helicopters or is this really illegal aliens?

CB: Criminal aliens, illegal aliens, the same things yes.

RE: ok

CB: Actually, criminal aliens is the more applicable term

RE: Well…we’d certainly be interested in listening to that.

CB: Well…let’s set this up! I’m dead serious, sir. I will come down there and [inaudible] on.

RE: Well…send me an email with your proposition and well we can do and we’ll call you back.

CB: How about…better yet…

RE: Right now I have to go back to the legislative session that I’m missing. Thank you very much for the opportunity to talk with you…

CB: You’re blowing me off…

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Here is the Link to the audio