For Cash-Strapped States, Sin Is Sure Lucrative

For Cash-Strapped States, Sin Is Sure Lucrative

In tough fiscal times, everything needs to be monetized. Including morality.

And governors and legislators in many cash-strapped states have decided that vice can be lucrative, in the form of sin taxes.

Texas, Georgia and Pennsylvania have considered “pole taxes” — for buyers of pornography and patrons of strip clubs and escort services.

Seven states last year either enacted new taxes on alcohol or raised old ones, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.

Since January 2009, 22 states have increased their tobacco taxes, and now South Carolina, which has held its cigarette tax at 7 cents a pack for more than three decades, may follow. In Nevada, the State Senate has discussed expanding, and taxing, legalized prostitution. Proposals for soda and candy taxes are also percolating in places like New York, Colorado and Washington State.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/18/weekinreview/18rampell.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

there is no sunset clause, just an excuse to raise money on the backs of the poorest. Yet God forbid they tax luxury cars, boats, jewelry, etc. These scum will lose contributions from their wealthiest friends.

Will those taxes go away or just be used for something else?