In 2007, Texas imposed a $5 per visit charge on people visiting a strip club. It was called the "Pole Tax". The Texas Supreme Court ruled the U.S. Constitution doesn't bar the fee.
The 170 affected clubs claimed the law violated their free speech rights. The court stated "the fee in this case is clearly directed not at expression in the nude dancing but the secondary effects of nude dancing when alcohol is consumed".
Cash strapped states who want to impose "sin taxes" are watching this case closely. They all are waiting to see if this case goes to the Supreme Court. Utah imposed a 10% gross-receipts tax on strip clubs and also passed the Utah Supreme Court.
Texas has so far collected $15 million from the pole tax.
What do you think about a sin tax?
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote!
Michael H. Drucker
Technorati Tag in Del.icio.us 
No comments:
Post a Comment