Would you pay a 25% tax on that double dong?

Here in California there is a senator, Charles Calderon (D-Montebello) who has drafted a proposal that entails charging a 25% tax on any "adult" items or services-that includes films, sex toys, strip clubs, etc.

From an article in the OC Register:

"The bill would add the 25 percent tax to any items sold in an "adult entertainment venue." That would be anyplace that gets at least half of its revenue from sexually explicit performances or from the sale of adult videos, magazines or other media.

In other words, you would have to pay a 25 percent tax on anything you bought in a porn store – even a pack of gum."

A FREAKING 25% TAX!!! That is absolutely INSANE. Here is one of his arguments for needing to tax the adult industry

"This is a major industry that is putting a disproportionate burden on state services," he said. "Drugs are heavily used. The actors have a short life span. Some leave the industry drug-addicted with no skills. They wind up availing themselves of Medi-Cal and other state programs."

Is he fucking serious?!

If this upsets you as much as it does me-please write to this jackass letting him know what you think of his proposal.

Here is his website to get any contact info
Calderon contact info

Here are links to the original articles I got my info from:

MSNBC/OC Register article

LA Times article

As a cigarette smoker, I gotta say welcome to my world.

Holy crap! Look at that spirit tax in Alabama, Oregon, Virginia, and *gasp* Washinton!

I don't even know where to begin with this.

I better go stock up on butt plugs and strap-on's now.
Although I suppose I could get around it if I order online?

I'm not seeing a problem here, as such. Unless the Senator is incorrect in his cost analysis, of course.

time to start your own moonshine still.

i know, it's tough. there are two ends!

Hmmm, I supposed this settles it. SG is officially an ART site, not a porn site. Right? Right?

Jeez, the California Democratic State Party seems to be going crazy with new taxes: $1.80 tax on the price of every six-pack of beer, a new tax on all downloads. So itune songs are going to cost 8 cents more (it adds up), then the 25% tax on any item sold in a adult store, ooh I liked this one; that plastic bags are going to cost 25cents per bag to take them out of the store (are the bags even worth that much to start with?!?), then there is a new fee for any vehicles that get less then 15 miles per gallon.

But at least they are planning on giving a property tax brake for low-income seniors but in order to get the tax brake they will have to "work off" their taxes in county offices, doing such jobs as gardening, record filing or data entry.

All the while the economy is in a recession and people are getting worse off and having financial hardship

California is farther in the red budget wise then any state.

i think that's a big part of the question. i haven't seen--granted that i haven't looked very hard--any supporting evidence for the senator's claims. how many 'retired' sex workers are there? do sex workers have a problem moving to other career paths--moreso than other sectors? how much burden do 'retired' sex workers put on the state, compared to other sectors?

this strikes me as another example of a basically good idea--tapping the ginormous amounts of money flowing through the sex industry--being fitted around someone's agenda like a condom. it also strikes me as literally being misguided--it's aimed at the sex industry, a huge chunk of which is on the intratubes, but it's hitting mom and pop porn shops that tend to be on the periphery of the cashflow.

Yeah, New York state is going to add a $1.25 tax in a few days. I never buy cigarettes in the city, because of the taxes the city has so I can't remember exactly what they cost now, but it will make a pack of cigarettes in NYC at least $8.00. Madness.

This'll just increase consumption of penis-shaped vegetables and drive food prices even higher.

it gets bumped up (along with liquor tax) by anywhere from $.75-1.25 just as winter is about to hit here. it's $8 or around that most places all over Anchorage, actually.

also, the stores already mark up everything an insane amount when it comes to dongs and vids and, well, everything. one of my friends used to work at one, and showed me some of the shipping invoices that listed the prices they were paying. astronomical is the word i'd choose.

I feel your pain.
Guess which county i live in? I'll give you a hint, it's the only one in Ohio that's got it's own color.

More Trivia. Who is our representative? More hints: He bankrupt Cleveland in the 70's, he abandons us every two years to make a run at his presidential hopes, and he's got a really hot wife.

Cuyahoga can't figure out why it has no money, it's mostly because for big purchases (TV's, Mowers, Snowblowers, anything over $100) i and just about everyone else simply travels fifteen minutes south, east or west to have a sales tax that is 1-1.5% less.

But don't worry! Ohio is concentrating on fixing the important issues [/sarcasm]

Didn't Conan the Republican sign those into law?

Seriously. I should go get my shit out of storage in NC and start hopping. I bet I could make a killing.

So, on your invitation, every time you misspeak, stretch the truth or mislead the audience, I am going to call you out on it.

What you just said is not a true statement.
The 08-09 California budget is $140b. The deficit is $16b or 11.4%. Four other states are worse including; Arizona, Florida, Nevada, and Rhode Island. Their deficit as a percentage of total budget is higher than that of California.

Please note - these are growth states.

Also, please note that the California deficit is not as bad as you make it out to be since the national average for the 27 states that currently face budget deficits is 9.7% of their budget.

I was refering to total shortfall, not as a percentage of budget.

http://www.cbpp.org/12-18-07sfp.htm

No, actually. But you should maybe look into why they are actually doing that. It has little to do with money.

Again, nothing to do with money. You do read, right?

Then learn to write.

The state has the largest budget by a large margin. One of the few ways in which to compare one deficit to another when the gross budgets are so different is to look at the deficit as a percentage of total spend. There are other ways, including spend per capita, etc. You said California is farther in the red - the statement requires, and you failed to provide context.

So...you are still wrong.

No actualy that is all new taxes that the second article brought up.

You're probably right.

Sex tax money spent on prisons.
Go Calderon!

400,000 people aren't dying every year because of double dongs though.