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.

[Liberty Valance]

Oh boy. Kinky Friedman is looking more and more like a viable candidate

[Eagle Eye]

Quick solution:

Take all current taxes paid by all bars, lounges, clubs, etc and remove them from the education budget and put them elsewhere.

[Tall_Texan]

I will never vote for her again,

I'm well ahead of you. She's the reason I've never voted a straight Republican ticket. No matter what name she was going by, I've always remembered her as the liberal Mayor of Austin from when I was in college and have thought the Republicans were fools for elevating her status in the party. Guess some folks in the GOP are finally figuring out what I've known for decades. The name on the detergent box may change, but inside it's the same old soap.

[TexanByBirth]

Seems your post on Strayhorn somehow got off on an argument on the merits of strip clubs.

Your original point was well taken by me. This woman is a mouth out of control. I for one am surprised she taken this long to make people aware of her political intentions. After all this is a woman who likes to get elected to an office just so she can run for a higher office.

There are people in Austin who still don't like this woman because they blame her for stopping the drag boat races years ago. The people in Marble Falls thank her for that I'm sure.

She is obviously listening to some bad advisers. A lot of people in Texas don't like this woman and her constant grandstanding. If you listen to her, she is the only reason anything good happens within the State of Texas.

IMHO Perry's proposed tax on adult entertainment won't fly because it is another weak attempt at trying to find funding for public schools. Just like the lottery was suppose to support public education.

I am not sure what the solution to public school financing is in Texas, but I know it is not Robin Hood !

[Vision]

Again, you are picking examples with very subtle distinctions. However, I would say swimsuit models and Victoria Secret models main job are to sell swimsuits and lingerie. Not sell sexual feelings which are meant to produce a loving relationship that produces children.

[Flyer]

Gov. Rick Perry's proposed school finance package. . . wants a dollar-per-pack hike in cigarette taxes.

[KC_for_Freedom]

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

Texas has a culture that is refreshing and fun. If a few topless bars need to be tolerated to keep the essential freedom one feels while in the state, I am for it. (Besides, if you don't want to be in one, you know what to do.)

I've been around the country, and Texans are friendly, and courteous. And yes, we had a luncheon (when I worked in Austin) and we went to one of those bars. Surprise, it was not dark and sleazy inside (yeah maybe this was a good one). Then we went back to work, all hopped up on testosterone. It was OK.

I'm all for regulation, and a community has a perfect right to zone where these institutions can exist, but I would rather have few places where vice is tolerated than live in a local where no vices are allowed. (And there are some of those around too.) Which community produces the most positive roll models for the young men and women is open for debate. Most of this should come from home anyway.

[Freebird Forever]

Next thing you know, she'll be wanting to outlaw beer!

In Texas that is political suicide akin to an income tax.

Not exactly. We do have over 50 dry counties here in Texas.

[Vision]

I agree

I think strip bars should to stay in the shadows. In Baltimore, they advertise on billboards and radio. It's too much.

[The South Texan]

"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."

This dingbat gets on my nerves.

[Arrowhead1952]

There are people in Austin who still don't like this woman because they blame her for stopping the drag boat races years ago. The people in Marble Falls thank her for that I'm sure.

There are quite a few businesses in Marble Falls that are very happy to have the boat races. They are laughing all the way to the bank, thanks to her and a few activists for (not from) East Austin.

[Arrowhead1952]

This dingbat gets on my nerves.

Carol-what-ever-her-last-name-is has gotten on a lot of people's nerves. She is just one of the remaining 60s era hippie RINOs left. That is my observation of her and her tactics of late.

[monday]

You said "And what is moral, pacifically speaking, to a Sunday School Teacher is different than what is moral to a serial killer. That line of thinking is stupid."

That is not my "line of thinking". Murder and nudity are not the same, and if you believe they are, then there is little point debating with you.

You said "Some people are immorally proud. If you don't know the difference between dignity and pride you are ill equipped to engage in debate about morality."

Let me propose a scenario. A young woman has a child to care for. Her husband has died. Her options are:

A. Work as a cashier for a grocery store five days a week, eight hours a day. She will make $300 a week, but will have to pay for day care, and will not be able to spend much time with her child.

or

B. Work as a stripper one night a week. She will make $1000 a week, will not have to pay for day care, only a baby sitter one night a week, and will be able to spend the rest of her time with her child.

Which option is better for the child? Which option is better for the mother? Which job would be beneath her dignity? Which job would be beneath her pride?

I know you have an answer which would be correct for YOU in this situation. You are not everyone though. People have different priorities. I could not condemn anyone for choosing either one over the other.

You can insist that YOUR morals are the only ones that are relevant and that anyone who dissagrees with you is wrong, but don't be surprised if most people ignore you.

You said "Some people are immorally proud."

I agree.

[pragmatic_asian]

"Again, you are picking examples with very subtle distinctions. However, I would say swimsuit models and Victoria Secret models main job are to sell swimsuits and lingerie. Not sell sexual feelings which are meant to produce a loving relationship that produces children."

What in the world do you think those swimsuits and lingerie are for? Those ads are designed to arouse those feelings so you will buy those products which themselves are designed with a similar purpose. Those same models from VS and SI are often partially nude on the runways for many regular fashion shows for the same reason. The only difference between them and strippers is the amount of money.

[Just another Joe]

I can see that you have an absolutist view on this subject.

I speak from personal experience in knowing some women who, in their younger years, worked at such establishments. To meet them now you would never in a century guess that they had unless you were good friends with them.

We will have to agree to disagree on some of these points.
Just one thing, why are you such an expert on the subject of strip clubs and the type of women who would work at such an establishment? Are you an LEO, undercover or otherwise?

[fella]

She's just a Texas caricature in the Ann Richards, Molly Ivans mold. She got elected because our media didn't inform us as to what she is.

[talleyman]

We need more topless bars - it's for the childrun!!!
(What, no pictures?)

[monday]

"However, I would say swimsuit models and Victoria Secret models main job are to sell swimsuits and lingerie. Not sell sexual feelings which are meant to produce a loving relationship that produces children."

lol....How many men have bought a swimsuit because they saw it in Sports Illustrated? Approximately zero.

Sexual feelings and a loving relationship are two different things. It takes both to produce children. I don't know of anyone selling sexual feelings meant to produce children.

Children might be the practical outcome however. When race fans leave a car race, inspired by what they have seen, most cannot help driving faster than they otherwise would. Likewise, when men leave a strip club, they are much more likely to be in the mood to "produce children" when they arrive home. lol..is that what you mean?

[Vision]

I would say Victoria Secret models are selling clothes to strenghten or produce marriages.

The swimsuit models are selling swimsuits, but are used to sell sex in the SI example.

[KC_for_Freedom]

I think strip bars should to stay in the shadows. In Baltimore, they advertise on billboards and radio. It's too much.

Yes, everyone who wants to go can find it. In Austin it was called "The Yellow Rose" that was enough. And it was not in a neighborhood, they did it pretty good.