Missouri Senator proposes tax on adult entertainment

[Jon8503]

Wednesday January 26 2005 6:22

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) - First, Missouri banished sexy billboards and young strip dancers. Now, a state senator wants to force adult entertainment businesses out of the Show-Me State by stripping them of their profits. Legislation pending in the Senate would impose a 20 percent tax on revenues of all "sexually oriented businesses,'' charge a $5 fee for each person entering their doors and prohibit them from staying open late at night.

"The goal of the bill is to make Missouri inhospitable for these businesses,'' said Republican Sen. Matt Bartle, of Lee's Summit.

Adult entertainment executives question whether the legislation violates constitutional free-speech and expression rights and warn it could hurt the state's economy. "It's a small business killer and it's a job killer,'' said Dick Snow, owner of Bazooka's Showgirls in Kansas City and a board member of the Missouri Association of Club Executives, the industry's trade group.

As many as 1,000 Missouri businesses could be affected by the legislation, said Snow, who suggested the proposed taxes also could hit mainstream video and book stores that carry a few adult titles.
Two years ago, Missouri passed a law banning nude dancers younger than 19. Last year, Missouri enacted a phased-in prohibition of most billboards for sexually oriented businesses.

Bartle, who sponsored the billboard law, is chairman of the Senate judiciary committee, which held an early hearing this session on his latest attempt to curtail adult entertainment businesses, which are common along Missouri's rural interstates and in its big cities. If passed, the new taxes and admission fees would go to schools, but Bartle acknowledged his true purpose is to limit the industry. The proposal is similar to the way Missouri regulates its gambling industry. Riverside casinos pay a 20 percent revenue tax and a $2 fee per customer.

Bartle's legislation would also prohibit adult entertainment businesses from being open between 10 p.m. and 10 a.m. or on Sundays and holidays, and prohibit anyone younger than 21 from working at such businesses.

Angelina Spencer, director of the national Association of Club Executives, estimated that adult entertainment clubs already generate about $12 million a year in Missouri tax revenues.

http://www.kmbz.com/listingsEntry.asp?ID=295014&PT=Local+Headlines

[AllegroRondo]

1. Looks like Illinois will get more business

[Ezlivin]

2. Texan citizen proposes tax on all churches

I'm that citizen and I say it's high time that we taxed churches.

In this area (DFW), there are a bunch of the so-called "mega-churches". These church groups meet in buildings that cost millions of dollars to erect and that have nice amenities like gymnasiums, bowling alleys (!), Starbucks and book stores with a half-dozen plasma screen televisions hanging on the wall.

If each church was taxed on its income and on its property, we could generate enough money to pay off the deficit.

I imagine that Jesus is spinning in his grave.