Slashdot Mirror
Texas Politician Wants Violent Games Tax
Gamepolitics reports that a candidate for the Governor of Texas would pass a violent games tax if elected. From the article: "The Amarillo Globe News is reporting that Republican gubernatorial candidate Star Locke wants to scrap Texas' current property tax system. Instead, Locke would institute new taxes on abortion providers, soft drinks, and violent video games to fund the state's government. Locke, a rancher and builder from Corpus Christi, favors a 50% tax on violent games, as well as a $10,000 tax per abortion and a 10% levy on sweetened soft drinks."
Star Locke, Kinky Friedman, and a few others, are just dry-roasted nuts that aren't worth paying much attention too.
You mean: Kinky Friedman runs for governor?
I am a lawyer (although constitutional law is not my area of specialization) - and at least the taxes on "violent" video games and abortion would most likely be found unconstitutional. The government is free to tax video games at pretty much any rate they want - but the first amendment protection of free speech is generally construed to prohibit government regulation of "Content based speech" So - a tax on JUST violent video games - or even JUST kids video games is unlikely to pass constitutional muster. Similarly - the tax on abortions is likely to be considered too great a burden on the right of abortion (as the court currently understands it - until Roberts, Scalia, Alito et al destroy it). Interestingly enough the soda tax is probably fine.
In his words:
"I'm for prayer in school, and for gay marriage. I'm the only candidate that is for both prayer in schools and gay marriage, and that in itself is a reason to vote for me."
All I know is he is the only candidate actually talking about border protection right now.
... elipses...