Huge Porn Tax Could Be Coming To A State Near You

Adult entertainment is controversial, but it makes a lot of money. Despite the controversy, or perhaps because of it, it's at the center of a new tax fight in the state of Washington. "This is out of Washington State, but thanks to this economy and strapped state budgets, it's going to be happening all over,". "In Washington it's a sales tax hike of 18.5 percent on pornography to save a state program. As you can imagine, there's debate on both sides." The House bill in Washington would tax the sale of adult entertainment materials and services.The money would then go to save a program for 16,000 physically and mentally disabled people who are unable to work. For Janine Stark of Adult Video Only, the tax hike would be devastating. "I think it's ridiculous. I think it would put us out of business," Stark said. "Well it sounds like a steep tax, but I think if it's going for a good cause it's probably worth while because it's not exactly a necessary good; it's more of a luxury," Washington resident Tyler Rambert said.Stark worries that if the bill passes, they might have to move their store to Oregon and her customers would follow. "That would destroy us (in Washington)," Stark said. "The customers are not going to want to pay that." Still, Washington is facing a $6 billion shortfall and anything is ripe for raising money. And taxing porn is just one of the ways."The problem is if they go across the state line to Oregon, they'll face a higher tax on beer," Moody said. "That state wants to boost the excise tax on beer $2 to $4 per six pack. In order not to cut services many states are looking to tax any "discretionary" or entertainment purchases they can. That could mean raising taxes on tickets, venues, dining, books, magazines, movies, broadband use and Internet sales -- as well as pornography.