Judge strips Texas of its "pole tax"

[MarkInLA]

Source: Los Angeles Times

Texas was forced by federal law to end its poll tax on voters four decades ago, and now another levy has put the Lone Star State in constitutionally murky waters: the "pole tax."

Texas lawmakers last year imposed a $5-per-patron fee on strip joints to raise more than $40 million annually for anti-sexual-assault programs and healthcare for the uninsured.

The fee, which took effect Jan. 1, infuriated the owners of Texas' 162 strip clubs, who said politicians were cynically taxing a population they knew would not fight back.

Read more: http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-poletax7apr07,0,3069133.story

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Any time social conservatives are taken down, I'm happy. :)

[fascisthunter]

1. Holy Crap.... Texas Had a Poll Tax Up Until recently?

Well now my ignorance will be showing: how many states currently have a poll tax still?

[slackmaster]

2. Poll taxes on federal elections were banned by the 24th Amendment

http://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/constitution.amendmentxxiv.html

[fascisthunter]

4. thanks.....

[depakid]

5. Oregon still does- though it's only the cost of a stamp.

[slackmaster]

6. Has anyone challenged the constitutionality of that system?

Or is there an alternative way of turning in ballots so they don't have to be mailed?

[depakid]

8. There are a few drop off spots

I don't think anyone's ever challenged vote by mail on that grounds in Oregon, but you do hear people mention it (tongue in cheek) every now and then.

[Bozita]

3. Just another bunch of Texas boobs.

[Jackpine Radical]

7. Wow. Stiffing the clientele at the strip joints. Naked greed, I'd say.

I guess they'll just have to turn the other cheek.

[ShockediSay]

14. God forbid they should have the country clubbers pay their dues nt

[Dr. Strange]

16. Good Lord, Jackpine Radical.

A glutton for punishment, I see.

:rofl:

[LiberalFighter]

9. I wonder if they have a pole tax in Oregon where Big Brother's ex-stripper Nat is from.

[martymar64]

10. Sugar's, Here I come!

I'd rather give my $ to the ladies instead of the state for a cockamamie sin tax.

[bluestateguy]

11. I wonder if the judges went on a "fact finding" trip to learn more about the issue

I'm sure they would want to flesh out the matter as much as possible.

[Jack_DeLeon]

12. Thats great..

[MilesColtrane]

13. Glad the case fell into this particular judge's lap.

Who would have thought that Texas would uphold the constitutional right to bear wood?

[Jackpine Radical]

18. Shouldn't that be "bare" wood?

You know, as opposed to concealed carry.

[Bozita]

15. This thread win's the award for "Most Snarky Comments" for Monday, 4/07/08

The OP didn't need much help.

[trof]

17. They can do it with smokers. Why not voyeurs?

:-)