-6 minutes past 12 programming on NPR is supported by motorwerks BMW in Bloomington offering a final shipment of 1998 328i sedans BMW the ultimate driving machine. Good afternoon, and welcome back to mid-day on Minnesota Public Radio. I'm Gary eichten glad you could join us. This week is part of our continuing campaign coverage leading up to the September primary. We've been focusing on taxes and what the candidates for Governor would do about tax rates if they're elected in November this week. We've heard from each of the candidates separately this hour and midday or going to hear from all of the candidates one after another so that you can compare directly what they have to say then later. This hour will be opening the phone lines. So you'll have a chance to react to what you heard. But first, let's hear from the seven major party candidates as you'll hear all of them say they want to cut your taxes. But each of them has his own ideas and not about to go about it somewhat it cut the property tax others the income tax to the sales tax who were the candidates have no specific plan yet, but say they are the only ones you can actually trust to follow-through. The began we have reports on the 2DS Fellers who most experts say have the best chance of winning the dfl primary in September 1st. Here is Minnesota public radio's Karen Louise Booth with a report on the party's endorsed candidate. Mike Freeman says, the state sales tax is surprisingly Progressive because we don't actually clothing and a significant parts of the sales tax collection is done from items that people will purchase during better times the new washer new dryer a new hot water heater a new car. No new furniture items not to suggest you're not important. But if in bad times you going to sit in that bed sofa for a couple more years, but you got to buy food for the family everyday to the State's income tax or income tax now, he's is Is pretty good Freeman says people will complain about their income taxes, but he plans to offset them by reducing property taxes. He says it campaigns around the state people complain more about property taxes than any other he understands why calling it the states most regressive tax. It's a text Billy least on the ability to pay you pay income tax if you have a job. But if you lose your job you don't pay income tax, but if you still owe on your home, you still have to pay that property tax. That's why the central component to his tax plan is a proposal to permanently cut property taxes by 20%, capping it and $1,000 Freeman calls rebates like those the legislature offered in 1997 and 98 temporary relief. He says rebates are Complicated by bureaucratic red tape and are more costly to administer. He says that in the last 7 years the business Sheriff property taxes has decreased by 15% while residential property taxes have increased by 28% What we need to do is to make sure that the kind of tax relief we give to businesses and property tax who also give to homeowners. To offset Educational Funding from reduced property taxes Freeman hikes, the state's contribution for K-12 education to 70% That's up from about 60% the state pays now Freeman pays for the tax cuts by using current and future State surpluses. He denies that if the economy suffers a downturn the tax cuts will force the state to cut services or increase taxes. Again, he says any adjustments will be made in the size of government but experts warn candidates against getting too comfortable with making tax cut promises and spending promise. They say a downturn in the economy could in fact mean raising taxes again in the future. This is Karen Louise Booth, Minnesota Public Radio. Skip Humphrey at least a detailed budget plan that cuts taxes by 1.4 billion dollars over four years. I mix of income tax cuts property tax relief and tax credits aimed at Working Families. Humphrey says the state can afford to cut taxes given the budget surplus and tobacco settlement and he says his budget is prudent that we're going to blow the budgets and all the rest and I want you to make sure you take a look at the numbers here they work and they fit and I frankly think that this is more detail budget than anyone else has put forward and it does work Humphrey's running mate to send a majority leader Rodger, Moe says, he's balance State budgets for more than 20 years and the numbers add up the two are calling for an across-the-board permanent income tax cut which works out to an estimated $100 a year for a typical Minnesota family. They're proposing 340 million dollars in property tax relief for homeowners and renters. Series of targeted tax credits families could get up to $1,000 per child for daycare up to $1,000 per student for 2 years of college and up to $500 to care for an elderly family member at home Ivory says that's what minnesotans are asking for. We know that the challenges are in the family Square where there are young children where there are students that are ready to go to college that are really hard pressed to find a dollars to continue that effort of education and we're families more and more are finding that they are taking care of their parents under Humphries proposal employers could also get tax credits for training workers to balance the budget Humphrey says the state could cut 55 million dollars over two years in unspecified government waste and save another 465 Million by cutting unrealistically High inflation assumptions current budget for Cast assume more than 2% inflation a year. I freeze plan only allows for 1% inflation. Still Senator. Most says their budget is responsible because it sets aside 5% of expenses into a rainy day fund to protect taxpayers from an economic slowdown. I guess some economic correction and it obviously all of us want the economy to continue to have modest growth. And so we're working off of Department of finance's numbers. This budget is balanced. Mom says anyone can simply propose across-the-board text got a possible jab at dfl opponent Doug Johnson was calling for a permanent income tax cut bonuses the Humphrey budget tries to prepare for the States changing demographics, including an increase in elderly residents. I'm Laura McCollum, Minnesota Public Radio during this hour from all seven major party candidates for Governor on the issue of taxes whether to cut them and if so how and how much later this hour will be opening the phone line. So you can call in with your reactions to what the candidates have said. So get your comments ready so far we've heard from two of the dfl candidates. We continue now with reports on the other 3D flr is running for governor, each of whom takes a different approach to taxes and tax cuts. Let's begin with former state Senator Ted Mondale. There's Minnesota public radio's Martin. Kosti all the candidates for Governor are promising tax cuts this year butts. Being more specific than others Ted Mondale was the first to lay out a comprehensive tax cut plan along with details on how he'd pay for the cuts. He says any talk of tax cut has to go hand-in-hand with a plan to make corresponding Cuts in government spending and he says Minnesota politicians have a bad habit of promising one without the other if your candidate and you don't have an answer of how you control government spending. If you don't have old programs that you can cut the concept of a tax break for people is you're telling people that we can continue to spend more in there for your taxes going to go down nobody believes that anymore cuz it's not the truth Mondale has already list of spending cuts first up our state employees. He says he did instruct state agencies to stop replacing the employees that leave he predicts attritional loan could save the state 230 million dollars in payroll over for years. He says he could save hundreds of millions of dollars more like Rid of overlap between agencies and slowing the growth of their budgets. He says those savings along with a big cash infusion from the 6 billion dollar tobacco settlement and continued budget surpluses would free up enough money to cut taxes. My first proposal is to reduce the half-cent sales-tax which will be a billion dollars over four years tax cuts for presents the state of Minnesota Mondale was referring to the half-cent increase the legislature allowed local governments to add to the state's 6% sales tax. He was in the Senate at the time and he says he believed the legislature increase the tax on false pretenses in 1991 when that was put in place and I voted against it, but when it was put in place of Promise was that new half-cent tax Westridge it was going to go to reduce your property taxes. Well, it didn't go to reduce property taxes. So you got the sales tax increase in your property taxes up and that's why things like that or why people don't trust government anymore a cut in the income tax is not part of mondale's plans, even though the legislature has made a tentative promise to start cutting income taxes next year if the economy stay strong Mandel says sales taxes should be first on the chopping block because they're aggressive while income taxes. He says are progressive. I like the idea people taxing based on income. I think that's a fair concept and the people who have more should pay more in people have less should pay less. It's you can always measure it accurately but I think the sales taxes taxes just about everything most families use and its Progressive. I mean when someone was making $15,000 a year Goes to buy something that's tax or paying the same as someone who's making a million dollars a year unlike most of his dfl. Brethren Ted Mondale is not in a hurry to cut property tax rates either. He says the legislature was right to cut the rates on commercial property this year. But from now on he says he'd hold the line. He says the state should not promised lower rates for homeowners, either at least not until the legislature finds a better way to do it right now the legislature lowers local property taxes by sending more money to cities and school boards a process Mondale believes is counterproductive. I am not advocating any new property tax cuts until we get accountability in the system. Some of my opponents a while. Let's shift taxes. Let's put taxes on clothing or let's put taxes here and then we'll take the taxes off of the property tax rolls without accountability in two to three years that tax cut will get right back to where it was before and all you did. It's a backdoor way to continue this pendant. And policies and we can't have that anymore like his opponents Mondale is counting out of continuing strong economy. If the economy turns sour and if the budget surpluses of the past few years stop rolling in it could be hard for the state to give up even a half cent of the sales tax Mondale says he could still do it by making an even deeper cut in government services in mondale's words. He just have to prioritize harder at the capitoline Martin. Kosti Minnesota Public Radio. Johnson has proclaimed throughout his campaign that his first move as Governor would be a permanent individual income tax cut Johnson may know the legislative ins-and-outs of the tax system better than any of his fellow candidates since 1980. He's chair of the Senate tax committee critics snipe that Johnson never use that expertise for income tax cuts until this year. But Johnson says the state budget surplus is now making a tax cut possible. Minnesotans many of them who don't own the house. We're saying, you know, we go to work every day and we're 3 3rd to 5th in the nation individual income tax and we would like a more take-home pay and so that's my top budget priority when I cut taxes before any other spending decision is made Metal to the individual income tax Magazine. Minnesota has the 7th highest personal income tax in the country sales and property taxes are also above average but not to the same extent Johnson stresses his plan would reduce taxes in every income bracket the 6% rate on the first portion of your income. And then the 8% rate on the next portion and eight and a half percent rate as you get in the in the higher income categories. So my proposal would cut that 6% rate to 5 and 3/4 percent. It would be an expenditure of about six hundred million dollars over two years a text says the anticipated budget surplus would like without cutting the state budget. He says he won't cut funding for Education Crime Control transportation and environmental programs the 1999 legislative session and we're going to do some cutting a state government to to we're going to downsize a state government typically in the top level management deposition. I want a decentralized some of the agencies are part of the agencies, you know, everything doesn't have to be in in st. Paul Johnson can point to his efforts revamping the state's property tax system to bolster His Image as a fiscal conservative according to the group citizens for fiscal responsibility about nine hundred million dollars in the 1998 tax bill. Put into property tax rebates as well as reducing tax rates for commercial and rental properties Johnson says, he's largely satisfied with those efforts. Although some additional tweaking for homeowners could still take place market values on on Holmes and from the season recreational property are driving taxes pretty hard on and high on some of our homeowners and I think we can help in that area but I putting a cap or limitation on the amount of the market value for the assessed value can go up on on a whole metal really help. I think thousands of homeowners in our state and he says his proposal for increased State supportive schools would mean an additional four hundred million dollars in property tax relief, every gubernatorial candidate in every party is advocating some kind of tax cut this year Johnson's plan is part of his middle-of-the-road campaign that blurs party distinctions Johnson made a brief appearance at the State dfl Convention, but did not Make the party's endorsement instead. He is a support from voters who live in rural areas prefer smaller government. And wince every time they pay their income taxes in Duluth. I may be riddle Minnesota Public Radio a promise to lower taxes is one of the best lines in a speech that candidates can deliver this year the impulse to make such promises is fed by the fact the state budget is bloated with a surplus and pulls show taxes are among the top issues of concern to voters the Applause such promises Gat is filled by the fact people are feeling good about the economy and stuff for Less anxiety / job security. The economic reality being portrayed by candidates is based on current budget projections that have produced a revenue Bonanza for many States including Minnesota. Mark Dayton says, it puts candidates in an enviable position this election year, but he also recognizes the need to keep a dose of reality in mind. Call La La Land economics, you know, we are taking the department of finance's projections, which of the ones that the legislature in the governor use and which right now are rejecting 530 million-dollar structural Surplus. They call it in the first year in 570 in the second year that makes them possible could disappear if the economy suffers a downturn? At at that point then did a lot of what I or anybody else is proposing to do in terms of tax reduction probably has to be put on hold because your surpluses are gone. Your expenses are starting to go up more people are going to be laid off any more people going back on the welfare rolls of Revenue projection to Clines rather than increases and you're going to have to if you don't make some very hard decisions about cutting spending hopefuls in an election year his tax policies and education funding proposals are inextricably linked he wants the state to fund education 100% That means he can propose cutting state property taxes across the board. It's not based on profitability for businesses. It's not based on income or ability to pay for renters and homeowners and My proposal which will take the K-12 education funding off of the property tax on the operating side in tirely would reduce the total property tax burden of the Minnesota cross Minnesota by over 40% about telling voters where he's willing to increase taxes. He would replace the Lost education Revenue by Shifting the tax burden to business with the objectives of businesses would continue to pay approximately the same proportionate share of the cost of public education as they have in the past also proposes broadening the sales tax, but he recognizes that the state sales tax arguably Falls hardest on the poor. That's why he would extend the increase to services such as advertising accounting and legal fees in a way that business would take would pay for a share of those and those individuals who have higher levels of disposable income would take care of the rest. Radio, you're listening to a series of special reports on where are the candidates for Governor stand on the issue of taxes later this hour we'd like you to call in with your reaction to what you been hearing from. The kennel was usually Democrats are accused of wanting to raise taxes not cut them. But as you heard each of the dfl candidates has announced a plan to cut taxes if they're elected the other two major party candidates in the race have not yet announced any specific tax cut plan, but both say that they at least can be trusted to actually reduce the amount of taxes that you pay if they're elected Minnesota Public Radio is Laura McCollum begins this segment with a report on Reform Party candidate Jesse Ventura, and then Martin Koski will be along with a report on Republican Norm Coleman. Former Brooklyn Park mayor, Jesse, Ventura says his tax philosophy is simple give any state budget surplus back to taxpayers $160 a year for the last 4 years in a row all while we've had a 4 billion dollar Surplus going on at the Capitol. Why do you think I'm running for governor elected? He'd destroy the current property tax system. He says the property tax is nothing more than another income tax in the eighteen-hundreds when that system was brought in people that were judged by property their wealth because property produce 12 if you had a hundred acres of corn you were worth twice as much as the guy would 50 today other than rental business or farming which have different classifications. Nobody makes income off their poem. Turn off their property interests says he'd veto any text increase but unlike the other group in a toriel candidate. He doesn't have a tax cut plan. In fact, he scoffs at his opponents who do simple plan is to hold government where it's at and that's a tax cut in itself because inflation will lift us a couple of percentage year. So if we can simply I see you take a baby step before you take a big step. These people are talking about tax cuts. They don't even know where they're going to get it from him. And then they're talking about spending on the other side of their mouth as he put the brakes on spending for 4 years. Although he doesn't offer any specific spending cuts to achieve that he would then see if tax cuts are realistic enter off and reminds people that the government doesn't make money. It's simply redistributes wealth. He also likes to call Minnesota the land of 10000 taxes and says Minnesota is tax Freedom Day the point where the average Minnesota and finishes paying taxes for the year is May 16th. He'd like to see that day move back to April 15th, what is happening when almost half of our income goes to the government? I find that totally unacceptable and why because government is stepping beyond what the Constitution laid out for it to do and that is our inherent problem. Today is government expanding beyond the Constitution and turn his comments about taxes often vert into a discussion of government's role, which he says is to try to create a Level Playing Field for Citizens not to guarantee jobs or wages. He says dfl gubernatorial candidates look at the office of Governor as that of a CEO and I want to leave a legacy of growth Ventura calls himself a different kind of CEO. He says if he were Governor citizens would say they didn't even notice the government. I'm Laura McCollum, Minnesota Public Radio, the way Norm Coleman sees things minnesotans are saddled with an unreasonable burden of Taxation you wake up in the morning have a cup of coffee and you paying a sales tax charged on the way to pay utility taxi driver. Where to pay gas tax to go to work at paying income tax you come home you pay property tax return of the TV you pay cable tacks it if if if you die, if a 1% healthcare provider text and text you to get sick you pay the provide a text. When you die you pay a death text. We are text across the board. When was the highest tax states in the nation and that has to change home and sees himself as the man to make that change and yet he's the one candidate who's not making specific tax cut promises. Do you Fellers Mike Freeman and Mark Dayton say they'll lower property taxes Doug Johnson wants lower income taxes and Ted Mondale is promising to knock half a percentage point off the sales tax, but Norm Coleman refuses to make that kind of specific pledge instead. He says he's making what he considers. I'm more important promise. I'm going to go in there and say I am going to commit to lowering taxes in Minnesota. I'm going to commit to holding the line on spending and that Coleman says is the real Key to Bringing Down taxes for the Long Haul. He says his dfl Rivals are promising tax cuts and new government spending something. He says it's sure to keep taxes. Hi Coleman's the tractor say he has not practice what he preaches spending by Saint Paul has gone up during his time in the mayor's office roughly 20 million dollars a year. St. Paul's tax rates have not gone up since Coleman's election, but many believe they will have to eventually to pay for a series of expensive New Economic Development projects. One of the ways mayor Coleman has kept taxes down is by taking a hard line with public employees slowing increases in their pay and benefits. It's a point of Pride for Coleman, but it's also won him enemies in organized labor Wayne Cox, the executive director of the citizens protects Justice and organization with links to the AFL-CIO says Coleman is spending tax dollars on the wrong priorities believe that Taxpayers oughta be subsidizing businesses in in in the south end of town to assist in their growth instead of having to businesses pay for their own growth. If he is Governor, I'm very worried that he's going to continue that kind of a spending and we're going to end up having a huge amount of subsidies for businesses that are going to be warranted in the taxpayers going to pay for conservative taxpayer groups also have questions about Coleman spending public money on private Enterprises his campaign to fund a new NHL hockey arena with city and state dollars bothers, even a die-hard republican like Daryl mckigney the president of the taxpayers league of Minnesota, but McKechnie says, he still trusts Coleman more on the issue of taxes have the funding for professional sports on the other hand. I think some of the other candidates have been very aggressive me the dfl candidates have been very aggressive in promoting new spending even in this So I think that you know, Mary Coleman is probably going to support a less overall increases in spending and will actually work to cut spending and that you know, I hear him at least talking that way is a promising new spending to a lot of new groups as mayor. He has been a fiscal conservative on the campaign trail of all the major candidates for Governor. He's promised at least new spending. In fact so far. He's promised virtually no new state programs or state spending and if he can keep that up to November his claim to be the candidate most likely to cut taxes will be that much more credible. At the capitoline Martin Koski, Minnesota Public Radio. So there you have it all seven of the major-party candidates for Governor and their plans to cut your taxes if they're elected in November now for the rest of this hour, we'd like your thoughts on what you heard which plan makes the most sense to you what taxes should be cut should any taxes for that matter be cut should the state wait to find out if the economy will remain strong before promising tax cut we might should give us a call to 276 thousand is our Twin City area number to 276 thousand. I'll try the Twin City area 1 800 to +422-828-227-6000 or one 800-242-2828 or interested in your reactions to the tax plans outlined by all the candidates for Governor get to our first callers in just a moment. Whether you're looking for a nice little duplex to call home or thinking about putting somebody in a real estate investment trust real estate adviser Allen Sim Rock has information you can use this is Bob Potter and what they talking about all kinds of investment real estate on sound money this week. So if you're in the market to an end sound money Saturday morning at 10 again Sunday afternoon at 5 on Minnesota Public Radio FM 91.1 in the Twin Cities. Once again, this is midday coming to you on Minnesota Public Radio your opportunity now to react to what you've been hearing from the candidates for Governor on the issue of taxes or chili. All of them say they're going to be cutting your taxes if they get elected in November but some significant differences and just how they would go about doing so and I would love to get your reactions to what the candidates have been talkin about Twin City area number is 227-6002 276 thousand. I'll try the Twin Cities. The number to call would be one eight hundred to +422-828-227-6001 800-242-2828 part of our continuing coverage of the big campaign issues as we lead up to the September primary breast collar is on the line from Hopkins Adam. That would be a good place in the government to do everything for them. And how about we just got taxes and pay for it by cutting government putting responsibilities or Alliance back on the end of it. So how about no new spending and let's work harder to eliminate the government. Do you have any preference as to any kind of specific tax God or just hold the line on spending in and let inflation take its course it is and I'm the 10 until 4 till 3 somewhere over text. So and you're not worried at all that he doesn't have a specific plan to to move ahead on some of the candidates, you know are saying well do this and I'll do that and so on so forth with the sudden downturn in the market and everything nice your call if you have some comments some thoughts on what you been hearing from the candidates for Governor on the issue of Chisholm tax cuts. Love to hear from you this half-hour again the Twin City area number to 276 thousand to 276 thousand outside the Twin City area 1 800 to +422-828-227-6000 or one 800-242-2828 doesn't make a difference to you that some of the candidates have specific tasks got plans and others don't many of the candidates differ on just what taxes should be cooked to what do you think about that is this idea of providing more money for Education from the state a good idea to Siri here in terms of taxes is that they would allow of significant got in your property taxes again to 276-242-2828. I'm in the liquor business and I see a lot of the Grocer's that have their liquor stores beside the grocery store using the liquor as bait and switch to get the peoples. Cancel the liquor store and if you don't like something at nine point yard taxable item at nine point, whatever state tax, they're selling the stuff at cost and all the state has the same millions of dollars in tax revenue on this item has 8% markup. They should have a mandatory markup on alcohol. It's not an item that should be used for bait and switch. I just feel that there is a lot of tax revenue to be collected there that there that nobody seems to be doing anything about specific plans, but he'd like to see a more Equitable liquor tax arrangement in the state. Okay us move along to our next caller who is from Bloomington time. Yes, sir. Yes. I'd like to just bring up a point that sometimes we were talking about this with my friends that you say. Well if we want to cut tax income tax this or to think while I look at the different experiments that have been tried by the different states and it sounds sometimes like people are recommended. We move to a Mississippi or Louisiana model for Hollywood around our government. And if anyone has ever lived down there, you can see you have to make a choice at some point and sometimes I agree with the earlier collars that just said what things seem to be fine here. Why do we need to change a lot of things would you like would you like to see any other taxes got it all or would you rather have the candidates just drop all this talk about cutting your text back or we could apply to some special program that needs to get done. But that way we can start keep a level a level situation. If it turns out like a consistently getting a budget surplus then give us some other back or reduced taxes at that. We should wait a few years and see if it's consistent Advocates of a tax cut would say that we've had a fairly significant Surplus for four years running now, is that is that enough in your mind to the move ahead depends on what percent of the of the whole it is if it's something that's within the fluctuation to see your to hear. Well, then we could cut by that little bit but then might we might not even notice a difference ourselves if it's just a few dollars a year. Okay. Thanks for your call. Thank you move on to another caller and that would be you Mike. Thanks for calling in this afternoon. Probably tax cut. We we hear these candidates talked about this but my impression is only talking about the residential property taxes Ivy very fearful that if they cut the residential property taxes, they go and increase the property taxes on on businesses. We are ready as the terms of taxes were one of the highest tax states on businesses and I thank God that would have a real detrimental effect. In the long-term, we have seen some relief recently for business real estate taxes, but I still think we we have a ways to go there and I think there's definitely needs and there we just have to be much more conservative than our spending money. Would you just to clarify here? Would you like to see a property tax cut or would you rather have the candidates move away from that for fear that the business is going to end up having to pay more of the property tax that's left. That's your call. Next caller is from St. Cloud Norm. Go ahead place. The people tickling is going to order is long-term care and I've heard that if the state subsidized long-term care a bit that would actually be affordable for most people and It wouldn't be such a burden to worry about if we get older and that's what I'd recommend to hang on to the money and start funding some Long-Term Care Project white long-term care in the way that you're talking about it but it's it's it's related. Skip Humphrey is talking about providing people with a tax credit if they take care of the elderly in their home their parents another which is that move in the right direction in your mind and Anna pay a reasonable premium and have assurance that they wouldn't depletes there a state that with the huge expenses and nursing home care. Okay. Let's go down to Rochester where Mark is standing by. Thanks for calling in this afternoon mark I was going to be the one to rain on the parade of this tax cut talk in terms of taxes. I'd certainly be in favor of seeing reform it gets us to a more fair tax system and a simplified tax system in I guess I that was my idea. That would be a more progressive tax. But I certainly leery of all the talk of cutting taxes and cutting government. I'm a pilot and I over the course of my Oracle of the years. I spent a lot of time in different areas in the Country van contracts weather modification atmospheric research. I've been there for a. Of time 3 4 6 month. Then I I continually come back to Minnesota. I was born to a raised here. I come back here because of the quality of life we have here I come back here because of the educational system we have here because of the investment in our environment that we we commit here because of the The infrastructure system that all case government spending. I'd be the first to say we want to spend that prudently, but I can't really really attack government a Honda save-a-buck crowd when it comes to the Surplus. I think we would be better off to invest that in the things that we nor going to save money in the future to help keep taxes level or reduced or lower in the future and there's some examples that did that we could pursue him in that invest investment spending into the future. Just a quick question before you run Mark. You said that you would like to see some modifications of the tax system so that the become more it becomes more Progressive. I assume that means that you would like to see more of an emphasis on the income tax vs. Of the sales are property tax. What you talking about? Cutting the cutting the income tax. I I just think that's the wrong direction to go. Okay. Thanks. You're call. Let's move on. Let's see David. Well, I have to vehement Lee disagree with the previous caller. That's the kind of thinking that is given Minnesota among the highest tax rates total of any state in the country and I do not believe the quality of life is due so much the taxes as it is to the people of this state who tend to as an as a group work hard at that building businesses that building has an environment that is so nice place to live. I would like to see the candidates Focus much more on reducing both income taxes and the exorbitant taxes on businesses that do a lot this employee overload those who are paying the taxes and I have significant experience. I just had a conversation with a young boy Be working at an auto service center and I was asking about her what she was doing. She and she talked about going to school applying for government assistance and was told I'm sorry because you were literally 60 hours a week at a tire service center being a productive member of the states that they said they couldn't help her that and she said well, what do I do? If you could quit your job then we can help you and I'm afraid that this type of conversation is repeated across the State Farm more than we like to think about. So I'd like to see better use of our tax dollars that we do collect and every tenet certainly reduction of the state income tax in SATs. The it's among the highest in the nation is not the highest quick question before you run Center Johnson song about cutting the income tax. She would focus on the lowest bracket so that everybody would get a cut do you would you support that or would you like to see more emphasis on the upper levels where they the higher-income people would be get a better bigger better. No, I think that we definitely I'm at I'm against the progressive tax and even our so-called slackpack sauces people who like even this young lady who would work 60 hours a week to pay far more in taxes, and I definitely would like to see an across-the-board cut the benefits off and just focus on spending restraint. We really do have way too many Kroger appreciate the call. Let's move on now to Susan who joins us from Rosemount. Good afternoon. Are we on and I agree with his just stop government spending and let it work through attrition to give us the tax cut without heavy-handed Lee going into something else that we don't know about for people who say when we have to wait and save our surpluses because we don't know what the economy is going to I would say who do you think makes the economy we make that this isn't just some kind of a concept. I mean, it's what the people do when we put in gambling. We were promised that the money that was generated to the state was going to be spent on education. I don't see that that's happening. I don't see that that's where that money is going and it seems to me that if there were some accountability budgets were actually published people could actually see where their money was going to be real easy to figure out what to cut and what not to cut and wear a dollar is well spent and where it's wasted and rather than promise publish. What's being done now let everybody have a honest view of what's going on as far as the money that we've gotten through Plus. Don't say that pay that back to the people who were overcharged and that's what it is. They were simply overcharged and let me ask you two questions. Number one, you'd like to freeze on state spending. And in addition to that you'd like to all of the surplus funds returned peeing right now the average rent in a decent. In a decent living area in a in a relatively Safe Community the average rent on a 2 bedroom apartment is $1,000. And this is not this is this is not money that's going to the landlords. I can assure you. This is something that people need to look at. What if what is this property tax business about this is ridiculous. Yeah, that's an overcharge. That's not saving up for a rainy day at school for charging. Thank you very much from Bloomington Dave. That would be you and your your thought here on what the candidates been saying in terms of taxes. Call Mike Matthew comments about the speakers that earlier when is that it's not the candidates for Governor that determine tax policy It's A legislature and all of this has to be subject to legislative action. Of course a second late returning a surplus to the taxpayers is not a spinning reduction as was I think candidates Johnson had that made that comment in terms of what I'd like to see happen is holding the line on spending while returning a any surplus in taxes to the tax return to get in the terms of refund in the entire Surplus as opposed to what would happen this year. Briefly. Your phone's breaking up here. But any permanent tax reductions you a favor or just returning the Surplus as it accumulates? Of the legislature and the political process. I think we do it a disservice if I turn that over to the purview of the candidates for Governor. Alright, thanks a lot. Move on to a caller from Virginia, Diane. Hi, I just wanted to make a comment about Doug Johnson. I think your reporter mentioned in the intro to the peace that he's been chair of the text committee for the last four years. And I find it somewhat hypocritical that he is talking about cutting taxes. Now when it's running for governor went over the last four years. He has really done nothing to cut taxes. And in fact his work pretty hard to increase taxes makes me feel like some people are trying to buy my boat by offering tax cuts in an election year for tax cuts in our election you or any other year. I think people at I think you have to be very careful about tax cuts in an election year because the motive I think you have to always be concerned about what the motive is, but I think anytime there are tax cuts. It has to be going I think you have to go through the budget in detail and in-depth rather than shooting from the hip like the candidates are now just from Chaska you've been listening to the candidates for Governor or what's your reaction? Jeff will be able to eliminate sales tax on used vehicles. That's that's where you'd like to see the candidates. So focus on vehicles purchased brand new and if you go in and purchase a used vehicle now, they tax it again and it's all the state sales tax and it seems like double and triple dipping if a vehicle sold more than once. Place and nothing that's money that could be put back in the pockets of the people who used used vehicles and that's those of us who don't have as much what about a broader cut in the sales tax? If it's if you can apply I think the state does deserve a portion when things are sold, but I think only once per item. I'm so things are resold and there's an additional taxes taken out again sure, then eliminate that taxed as well cuz it's the people that are going to reuse an item or purchase a used item are the ones that are going to find a way to use the money better. Okay. Thanks for call don't have a lot of time left. But if you'd like to join our listeners on the line, they are reacting to the tax proposals put forward by the candidates for Governor. And if you'd like to join them give us a call 227-6000 or one 800-242-2828 part of our continuing campaign coverage leading up to the September primary our Focus this week here at Minnesota Public. Radio has been on taxes Inga. Go ahead. I'm a young twenty-three-year-old married person from Minneapolis. And I think a lot of people are in the same situation as I am. My husband and I are fairly average income and trying to save for a house and I'm not very knowledgeable about taxes and what each one does for us, but I would think it would help more people in our situation who I think there are a lot of if there were a cut on the lower income people's income taxes bracket down someone to help the people who are I believe suffering the most and to help them get up to where there's a lot of other people are your comments on the candidates positions on taxes. My feeling is that if you're going to give if you're going to give a tax rebate to everyone or Tuesday One that would be fair and Equitable. You should give it to everyone and one of the groups that I don't hear Mansion very often or the poor and they also pay taxes everything that you purchase has attacks involved with it either directly or indirectly and one of the ways that this could be done would be to negotiate with the sales tax you could increase or decrease the sales tax as needed feels a surplus or you could return the money to everyone that ever buys anything would get it by decreasing the sales tax. If there's a shortage say the next year's and this could be increased again and the poor to purchase things and they don't get any benefits. We're talking about returning money to people that perhaps are a lot better off than a large segment of the population and I think if you're going to return Money to the taxpayers the taxpayers should include everyone that pays taxes either directly or indirectly. That's my comment or call. Let's see you next caller would be mark from Wayzata and they even listening the candidates your reaction. Basically. He said that you know, here we are. It's an election year in the squabblers are at it again. I think fit for the most part they're not going to be proactive program put into place by land of the candidates and I think mr. Pinterest telling us the truth and I think that a lot of people he seems rather radical but I think the non-conformist politician makes him a refreshing change and that's why I'm supporting so you're thinking that despite all the talk about tax cuts when push comes to shove. None of the candidates are actually going to cut your tax. Absolutely not. They're going to sell out to the major parties supporters and lobbyists and you know, it's going to be the status quo once again and for it'll be sounds again for another 4 years and then four years from now, we'll be back to this again and it is time for a real change and I think you'll agree with me that mr. Ventura is a little bit different than the other people and kind of refreshing change. Well, thanks. You're call Mark. Let's see if we've got time for a couple more callers. Anyway, couple more comments Pete you been listening to the candidates your thoughts Jesse to I just wish you had a chance to get elected. It would be a refreshing change apply for the airlines here. I pay a lot of state taxes. I love the state but we won't be here forever. And one of the things I think that's got a change is a cradle-to-grave mentality, which has perpetuated itself and Below these many years more than I'm going to know about. I joke with friends of folks have been recently hired and stuff and say that move when you move to the state, you were required to start in a 12-step program. That'll be funded by the by the state of Minnesota. We've got programs like that for everything you can think of we've got the government commissions on car theft. I thought that's what the cops were for. There's a lot of these things that are hitting out there and into the reason that the dfl is primarily as I understand it likes to spend money and soak up the sun at the sector change of state from a completely but since I'm funding a great part of it, I'm starting to become more and more concerned about that you like a tax cut but they've got a republican Governor over there who's got at least some of the taxes and I would certainly like to see Norm Coleman get a chance or God bless his heart Jesse if he could manage to swing this I think they'll be some radical changes but inherently suspicious people who promised you the moon when it's to their advantage to do so in an election year. All right, let's get one more call Iran quick comment to Josh. Josh, not food and such but I believe that we should look into maybe graduated sales taxes where if you pay more for a certain item like say more than a couple hundred a couple thousand dollars to pay a higher percentage much higher percentage because it's really people who can afford to pay that you should be paying the taxes. Unfortunately. We are out of time like to get some more of you but we don't have time for any more comments. Thanks to all of you been with us. This our hope we provided you with some useful information as to where are the candidates stand on the issue of taxes. Of course, our campaign coverage will continue not only through the September primary, but right on through November as well programming on Minnesota Public Radio is supported by the Pillsbury company Foundation caring for the community by giving kids. I love him lift. That's it for midday today Gary I can hear. Thanks so much for tuning in today. Hi Rachel, reading join us at we fest tomorrow at 11 on Minnesota Public Radio k n o w FM 91.1. Listen to Minnesota Public Radio. We have a partly cloudy sky 77° at Canada Avenue FM 91.1 Minneapolis. And st. Paul. There is a chance 40% chance for some showers and thunder showers this afternoon. Probably later this afternoon. Then there's a 50-50 chance for rain tonight and again tomorrow in the Twin City metro area.