Strayhorn: Shut down the topless bars (Texas)

AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF ^ | Thursday, April 22, 2004 | By Ken Herman and Michelle M. Martinez

[Arrowhead1952]

Another day, another squabble as Perry-Strayhorn fight continues.

By Ken Herman and Michelle M. Martinez

AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF

Thursday, April 22, 2004

Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn, dabbling in subject matter a tad sexier than the usual daily number crunching, said Wednesday that the state should shut down all topless bars by prohibiting them from selling alcoholic drinks.

The proposal is the latest in what have become daily Strayhorn attacks on Gov. Rick Perry's proposed school finance package. The Perry plan, aimed at drumming up more money for public schools while reducing property taxes, includes a proposed $5 admission surcharge at adult entertainment venues.

What kind of state, Strayhorn said, would depend on that kind of money to pay for schools? What kind of governor, Strayhorn asked, would propose such a thing?

"I don't want my five granddaughters growing up in a state where the governor says partnering with sexually oriented nightclubs is an acceptable way to finance their education," she said.

Strayhorn is considering challenging Perry when he seeks re-election in 2006. Both are Republicans.

Perry defended the proposed fee, noting it aligns with his goal of increasing taxes on "unhealthy" behavior. He also wants a dollar-per-pack hike in cigarette taxes.

"There are a lot of activities that are legal in the state of Texas that some individuals find to be distasteful and not appropriate," he said.

Perry noted that "the question has come up: Why don't you raise the liquor tax?

"The fact of the matter is, drinking a glass of wine is not necessarily an unhealthy activity," he said.

Perry also wants to legalize slot-machine-like devices at the state's pari-mutuel tracks. He declined to categorize gambling as an unhealthy activity.

"The state has said clearly that it is going to accept gambling as a form of entertainment to be legal in the state of Texas," he said, pointing to popular votes that legalized the state lottery and pari-mutuel gambling at horse and dog tracks.

Strayhorn was adamant in her call for legislation barring alcohol at "sexually oriented nightclubs."

"If these clubs can stay in business selling lemonade and iced tea, at least I will feel better about the safety of the dancers," she said. "Alcohol can make the meek violent, the quiet loud and the passive aggressive. People can and do get hurt in these clubs."

Strayhorn, branding Perry's proposal as a "sleaze tax," said the true goal would be to put the clubs out of business.

Perry and Strayhorn have been going at it all week, beginning Monday, when, in numbers vehemently challenged by Perry, she said his plan would produce a $10 billion deficit after five years, provide little meaningful property tax relief and do little to help schools.

Perry on Wednesday criticized Strayhorn's analysis as a "shoddy, fly-by-night" effort based on "eye-popping miscalculations."

"It is an astonishing fact that the top number cruncher in this state could be so wrong on the numbers and the facts about my plan," he said.

Said Strayhorn, "How dare this governor question the integrity of this office?"

But Perry was not alone in questioning Strayhorn's operation.

Rep. Mike Krusee, R-Round Rock and a Perry ally, admonished her staff during a meeting of the House Select Committee on Public School Finance and questioned the comptroller's estimates of how much new money each school district would receive under Perry's plan.

Krusee put Perry's plan on the table Wednesday as a starting point for the committee, which can use any part of Perry's plan -- or none of it -- as it crafts the House's school finance bill.

Strayhorn's numbers, which showed many districts would get no additional money under Perry's plan, differed substantially from a similar report issued by Perry's office.

Krusee said the report inaccurately puts the Lexington school district in his district.

"You said you had a real high degree of confidence in your numbers. You got the school districts wrong," Krusee told James LeBas, the comptroller's chief revenue estimator. "You still have a high degree of confidence in your numbers?"

LeBas stood by his numbers and defended his boss: "I'm sure the comptroller had every intention, and still does, on being helpful to the Legislature."

Strayhorn's office said it plans to release new estimates, and House Appropriations Chairman Talmadge Heflin, R-Houston, said work will be needed to reconcile any differences between the two sets of numbers.

"We don't know right now whether it's apples and oranges, pears and oranges, kumquats and bananas or whatever," Heflin said.

[Arrowhead1952]

Old Carol (whatever her name is today) didn't worry about shutting down topless bars when she was mayor in Austin, but now that she wants to run for governor, she is in the attack mode.

[Monty22]

What madness is going on in this state. Texas deserves better than all this.

[Redbob]

Who, Carole Keeton McLellan Rylander (how many times has this woman been married?) Strayhorn?

She's an entertaining speaker, but she's a loose cannon in Texas politics.
I'm always wary of anyone who proposes to save us from our vices via legislation.
Next thing you know, she'll be wanting to outlaw beer!

[sinkspur]

Texas learned its lesson when it elected Ann Richards in 1990, then showed her the door in 1994: No more gray-haired, shrill, ugly women governors!

[Vision]

I say this with a questioning attitude...

You all believe topless bars are good for a culture. They produce positive rolls for young men and women and their relationships?

[Redbob]

The word is "role" as in "role model."

[headsonpikes]

Topless bras? WTF??

Oh, bars... ;^)

[Little Ray]

Parents provide role models for their children; my role model, even today, is my father and my grandfather. Topless bars provide entertainment. If the kids are looking for role models outside of friends and family, then that family has Issues. If they are looking for role models at any sort of bar, its hopeless.

[TRY ONE]

Shut down the topless bars --- another daily "tit for tat" Strayhorn attacks on Gov. Rick Perry

[AlbertWang]

"If these clubs can stay in business selling lemonade and iced tea, at least I will feel better about the safety of the dancers," she said. "Alcohol can make the meek violent, the quiet loud and the passive aggressive. People can and do get hurt in these clubs."

I thought that kind of thing (getting beat up) only happened if you were buying mulch in DC.

[Just another Joe]

You, not you personal, cannot legislate morals.
If people want to go to a topless nightclub/bar/dancing establishment, they will. Whether or not it is legal.
If it's legal and the people, NOT the governor OR the legislature, want to charge you, again not you personal, $5 a pop to enter, then so be it.

I, personally, do not believe that places such as this produce positive roll models for young men or young women, however I do know a number of women who put themselves through college by dancing, or waitressing, at topless or nudie clubs and are now upstanding citizens that ANY young women would do well to emulate.
It's not the place, it's the person.

[TheBigB]

This Strayhorn nut has gone around the bend. She must know that these attacks in no way help her case to be elected Governor. She'll lose any primary she enters.

[#3Fan]

Looks like Perry and Strayhorn both are in the wrong, constitutionally speaking. Sin taxes are anti-freedom. Either it's legal or it's illegal, there should be no sin taxes on anything.

[mtbopfuyn]

Ann promised the lottery would finance education but that didn't happen so why does anyone believe topless clubs would either?

[Vision]

If the kids are looking for role models outside of friends and family, then that family has Issues.

Come on...have you turned on a tv lately? I saw an Old Navy ad a few weeks ago that that teen girls dancing like strippers for the guys. Hell, my sister(a smart girl) just got one of those stripper tattoos right above her butt. Now how is that gonna help her find a guy that will respect her for her life? Strip bars aren't good for society. I've been to them. But I think they should at least be kept in our cultures closet. No billboard or radio ads.

[Vision]

however I do know a number of women who put themselves through college by dancing, or waitressing, at topless or nudie clubs and are now upstanding citizens that ANY young women would do well to emulate.

You had me up until then

[hopespringseternal]

You all believe topless bars are good for a culture. They produce positive rolls for young men and women and their relationships?

Don't be a dishonest jerk. That isn't the argument, and you know it.

Of course the titty bars should be shut down. But Last-Name-of-the-Month is no more likely to do it than any other politician. She is demagoguing the issue to score points against Perry.

The bottom line to the whole thing is property taxes, and the old windbag is coming out on the wrong side of the issue.

[templar]

Topless bars provide entertainment

So you view the nude or partially nude female body as entertainment? I assume that you would raise your daughters this way?

[FormerLib]

Great! Now I'm going to have that tune from "The Best Little *****house in Texas" stuck in my head!

"Texas, has a *****house in it!"
"Lord have mercy on our souls!"

Glad I only saw the movie once!

[Vision]

Don't be a dishonest jerk. That isn't the argument, and you know it.

I never know what to think when someone assumes to know somthing about me. I'm in Baltimore. I know very little about Texas politics. Is she a demonrat or rino?