Pole-tax we hardly knew ye
Now comes word from Austin that the tax on strip-clubs, the brainchild of Rep. Ellen Cohen, has been struck down as unconstitutional.
Before you run out and start thinking you’ve got 5 bucks more to drop at the Yellow Rose, let’s take a moment to do a little think-through. Why unconstitutional? Cause as much as some people would like the idea, you can’t tax a industry and give the money to some group just because. There’s got to be a link between what that industry does and the effects you see around you.
So beer-makers have to pay money into anti-drunk driving programs. Not too hard to make the jump from drunk driving to beer.
But what Cohen and Co. did during the 80th was to say that there wasn’t a link between sexual violence and strip clubs; they just wanted the money collected from strip clubs to go to sexual abuse prevention programs.
Oops.
What does this mean for the great state of Texas? For one, Rs and Ds should cheer this decision. For Rs it means that an unnecessary employment tax has gone down the drain. For Ds, it means that no one is going to try and, say, levy a tax against doctors who perform abortions just to give the money to Operation Rescue.
Okay, so maybe that’s not the greatest comparison, but hell, it’s late, I’m tired, and I’ve got 5 extra bucks burning a hole in my pocket.
2 Responses to “Pole-tax we hardly knew ye”
By Roger on Apr 2, 2008
Does this mean that the state is going to write me a check back for the extra $85 dollars I have had to spend at the Yellow Rose?
Perhaps I could meet them halfway and exchange that for two dances and three beers…
By Sam Luchow on Apr 3, 2008
As I read the situation, the clubs have collected the fee, but they haven’t sent the dough over to the comptroller yet. So the best thing that they could do…economic stimulus plan. Give that money back to the people in the form of…well, wash the money and then give it back.