Minnesota Dem suggests studying ‘benefit of shoplifting’ in committee clash, then says it was sarcasm

By Fox News · Fox News

A Minnesota Democrat whose retort to a Republican about potential "benefit[s] of shoplifting" during a hearing on worker misclassification defended the exchange as sarcasm gone awry. During a Minnesota House Workforce and Labor Committee hearing this week, lawmakers reviewed information on how laws governing employee and independent contractor classifications affect insurance payments and other benefits, according to local reports . State Rep. Dave Pinto, D-St. Paul, responded after a Republican lawmaker voiced concern that worker misclassification ultimately falls on the taxpayer. "It is an intriguing line of questions," Pinto said, appearing to suggest a study on the "benefit of shoplifting and retail theft." WATCH: WALZ, ELLISON, OMAR REFUSE TO ANSWER WHEN PRESSED ON FRAUD AFTER CONTENTIOUS FRAUD HEARING Pinto spoke of a recent presentation before another committee he sits on that sought to address solutions to organized retail theft . "And it actually had not occurred to me to ask — it probably would have been good — to make sure that they would study sort of the benefit of shoplifting, of retail theft since because perhaps people are relying on that and sort of using that maybe it's you know assisting them in some way," he said. Pinto went on to describe whether people involved in such activities are considered to be violating the law, and that there may be a policy question at the root of such a discussion. In comments to Fox News Digital, Pinto defended the remarks, saying he was reacting sarcastically to Rep. Isaac Schultz, R-Mille Lacs, who had posed the original question. "My comments, intended to be sarcastic, followed a line of questioning from Republican Rep. Isaac Schultz suggesting a study is needed on whether the illegal practice of worker misclassification harms consumers," Pinto said. "As a prosecutor, of course I take retail theft and shoplifting seriously. Any insinuation to the contrary is absurd — just like Rep. Schultz’s remarks were." NEARLY…