A New Tax I Support
Luxury items have long been taxed in our country. Depending on where in the United States you live, you may have varying taxes on cigarettes, soda, and beer. These are items that tend to be associated with middle income individuals.
Taxes on luxury cars, fur coats, jewelry, yachts, and private airplanes also exist, but have been rolled back in recent years. These are, as you may have guessed, items generally associated with upper income individuals.
I do not consider gasoline a luxury item, but it is traditionally quite heavily taxed. The amount varies from state to state. Everyone uses gas in one way, shape, or form. Even if you do not own a car, you probably have felt the pinch when using mass transportation or paying to have an item shipped from point A to point B.
Well, Florida is looking at a new tax that would also hit across all income lines: adult entertainment and services. Lawmakers in Tallahassee are looking at a proposed law, House Bill 751, which would create a tax on most adult entertainment services in the state.
The tax would go to increase the monthly personal allowance afforded to low income nursing home residents. Currently, these individuals receive just $35 per month from Medicaid for things not provided by their facility. This could include haircuts and a simple movie out. The new tax could double that allowance.
Admission for entertainment like “… lingerie, bikini, or nude modeling; body shampoos or scrubs; private shower shows; peep shows; nude, semi-nude, or topless dancing; nude, seminude, or topless waitressing; lap, friction, couch, or table dancing; erotic massages or performances; nude photo sessions; and personal escort services” would be taxed.
These are services that are absolutely a luxury. I cannot think of a single persona anywhere that cannot live without nude dancing or peep shows. If they choose to indulge, they should indeed be taxed, just as my admission to Busch Gardens or Disney World is taxed. I’m not even going to get into how I disagree with the services in general. They exist and therefore I say tax the hell out of them.
Posted on February 5th, 2008 by onecleardot
Filed under: Finance
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