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Should Sales Tax Be Applied to Clothing?

In this week's Hot Topics conversation, we want to know how you feel about a bill that has been introduced in the State Legislature.

This week, the Senate Tax Reform Committee began working on measures, including one that would expand the sales tax base while lowering the overall rate by half a percent.

Under the bill, shoppers would pay sales tax on individual clothing items costing more than $200 dollars. The first $200 would be exempt.

The committee did not take action on the plan.

The proposal was introduced last week by Sen. Terri Bonoff (DFL-Minnetonka), Sen. Chris Eaton (DFL-Brooklyn Center) and Sen. Ann Rest (DFL-New Hope).

Watch committee testimony on the proposal in the attached video by MNSenateMedia. 

Do you think this plan is a good idea? Why or why not? Tell us your opinion in the comments area below.

JoAnn January 18, 2013 at 02:36 pm
Sales tax on clothing is okay with me-- as long as it does not apply to used clothing sales.
Evelyn Marie January 18, 2013 at 03:45 pm
I think it is a terrible idea and would seriously affect Southdale and the Mall of America. People come from all over the world to buy clothes in Minnesota. Often women will buy 3,4 or more suits because of the wonderful prices without a Sales Tax. I have a customer that comes up every 3 months from Costa Rica just to shop and spends a thousand every time. I think to add a sales tax would just wipe out that wonderful draw to Minnesota.
Caitlin Burgess (Editor) January 18, 2013 at 04:12 pm
As a retail worker in my former life, I have to say Evelyn is right about people traveling to Minnesota to take advantage of the no sales tax on clothing. Little known fact: Wedding dresses are considered clothing. I mean, I know it is a piece of clothing, but still seems funny. I worked at David's Bridal in high school and we had a ton of brides come from Canada to purchase tax free. Think of the average price of a wedding gown and what the sales tax revenue would be on that.
Caitlin Burgess (Editor) January 18, 2013 at 05:01 pm
Great comment on the Richfield Patch Facebook page from Rissa Pahl: "I feel if it is illegal to go without clothing, it should not be taxed."
Rachel Recknagel January 18, 2013 at 06:05 pm
Are you telling me you can't clothe yourself for less than $200? I agree about not taxing used clothes and I like the cap. what I want to know is what is being done with the new tax revenue? if the choice is smaller teacher/student ratios or no tax on clothes, then bring on the clothes tax, but if we're building bridges to nowhere then forget it. Reform how taxes are spent alongside the quantity and method of taxation.
Rod Trocke January 19, 2013 at 12:57 am
Well they need to get the money from someplace to cover that 5million
so why not.
Jerry Schmidt January 29, 2013 at 04:26 pm
you elect liberal democrats and what do you get? taxes on taxes, of course it's all for the children,what a joke...

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Heyitsme May 17, 2013 at 07:23 pm
Oh, an her dad works for Cargill, IT staff. And stop throwing out bad science regarding theRead More agricultural industry. Professionals again do NOT arbitrarily throw out these diagnosies. It was not in the food she ate. We tried food elimination/avoidance before the medication. I ate healthy while pregnant and her sister certainly doesn't have ADHD. Instead she has mild dyslexia. I guess my asthma was not genetic either. All these things are genetic, not environmentally caused. Triggers can be environmental.
Heyitsme May 17, 2013 at 07:31 pm
Can you use a mini trampoline in school? Subject your student to be called in class for acting up?Read More Schools expect the student to sit and listen. So do the best for your child and give him a helping hand if possible. I am not advocating medication unless possible...it just ticks me off that you have some people that think its just a lazy label handed out by doctors.
Heyitsme May 17, 2013 at 07:34 pm
MINE doesn't sell her medication. One it's a felony and two she NEEDS to take her medication.Read More The bottle doesn't leave the house and is locked up. It is very difficult to get a controlled substance like the ADHD medication refilled before the current prescription is scheduled to run out of pills. Too many of the "lost" refill requests can result in an investigation. She lost her pills once (only a nine doses of pills left) and I had to sign a waiver stating that the prescription was truly lost.
KCLEGACYMEDIA May 7, 2013 at 12:40 am
We just made an inforgraphic that outlines the staggering cost of prom for 2013. Check it out here:Read More http://www.kclegacypress.com/2013/05/06/closer-look-at-cost-of-prom/
Scott May 9, 2013 at 10:34 pm
Hi Mike -- It is possible to have liberal ideals and spend wisely. Sheri's son got a free tux on theRead More back of his hardworking friends? Sounds like communism to me! In all seriousness, I applaud Sheri for raising a sensible son, and I deplore Mike B.'s parents for raising him to blame a political party for all shortcomings in a society.
Mike B. May 9, 2013 at 10:39 pm
Scott, there is no such thing as "liberal ideals." Liberals are pro-abortion, pro-taxingRead More people to death, pro-homosexual marriage, pro-kicking God out of the classroom.... these are not "ideals." These are evil beliefs.