Posted on 02/16/2009 9:32:21 AM PST by DaveyB
BY Stephanie Gaskell DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER
Updated Monday, February 16th 2009, 9:53 AM Governor Paterson wants to tax Internet porn on top of music and movie downloads. Diver/Getty
This is the best tax you ever had.
A state proposal to add a 4% tax for downloading movies and music will also apply to Internet porn.
Gov. Paterson recently suggested the so-called iPod tax to help close a $15 billion budget deficit, but few realized the levy would also apply to XXX-rated material.
The skin industry denounced the move as a cheap political stunt.
"The last thing any of us need isan additional tax," said Steven Hirsch, the CEO of Vivid Entertainment Group and self-proclaimed King of Porn. "These are very difficult times and nobody can afford to lose even one customer."
The new tax technically isn't a sin tax, since it applies to all "digitally delivered entertainment services."
It would also apply only to businesses located in New York State, leaving some to wonder if companies would relocate to avoid the tax.
A manager at DVD Video in Times Square said porn lures tourists to New York and helps boost the economy.
"When the tourists come, they come to us to buy things. We want to bring people here. We will make money, which is good for everyone," the manager said.
A cashier at World of DVD in Times Square said business has been falling during the past year.
"Customers already say they have no money," the cashier said.
Conservatives railed against the tax, but for a very different reason.
"By taxing it you're legitimizing it," said New York Conservative Party Chairman Michael Long, adding that government shouldn't profit from porn. "If you're taxing it - how can it be wrong? I don't know how you can sink much deeper."
State officials defended the proposed tax and said it has nothing to do with legitimizing porn.
"This is simply bringing the tax code in line with technology," said Matt Anderson, a spokesman for the state Division of the Budget.
"Regardless of whether or not an item is purchased at a brick-and-mortar store or online, it would be treated consistently."
Paterson also said last night that the rich will "share in the sacrifice" of closing New York's budget gap.
Paterson, in language almost identical to that used by supporters of the so-called millionaire's tax, said the wealthy will not be spared.
"Every New Yorker will share in the sacrifice to get this budget balanced," he told the New York State Association of Black and Puerto Rican Legislators.
Paterson has previously argued that spending cuts - not a new tax on the wealthy - should be the priority. His spokesman said the governor's new comments did not represent a shift in his position.
sgaskell@nydailynews.com
New York politicians never met a tax increase they didnt like.
Ms. Gaskell’s editor has quite a sense of humour...
NY Post headline writers sure do have a way with words...
You know that politicians have reached a new level when the porn industry looks down on them. Great headline.
"I shall not today attempt further to define the kinds of material I understand to be embraced within that shorthand description; and perhaps I could never succeed in intelligibly doing so. But I know it when I see it,... "
[ ooo, I'm getting in trouble for saying that ]
> A manager at DVD Video in Times Square said porn lures tourists to New York and helps boost the economy.
LOL! That is one of the most honest statements I’ve read about NY.
I wonder if Spitzer would have proposed this?
I grew up in NYS. They are idiot liberals, tax everything that moves. How hard is it for internet company to move? They are counting on Pelois forcing internet users to pay for out of state purchases, only congress can regulate that.
and the Monty Python proposal to tax “thingey” edges ever closer to reality in New York.
Obviously they've never heard of P2P filesharing and BitTorrent. If they tax downloads to death, people will simply resort to piracy.
When downloads are outlawed, only outlaws will have downloads.
Hard times indeed.
.
Inquiring minds who have kept abreast of such matters note
that New York Governors shift the laws and regs
to favor porn/skin/peep bizs in which they have
invested interest, such as the Emperor’s Club.
.
So who will judge what is porn? and who gets a pass in NY?
bookmark
Obama will kill online shopping with taxes taxes taxes.
People will have to get used to using their internal spank bank.
sales tax trojan horse.
This is just a way for NY state to try and sneak a sales tax on the internet which has been prohibited for years.
When the govt makes money from vices like liquor and gambling they are less likely to try and put an end to them. Instead they advertize them to keep revenue up. Look at lottery ads whose purpose is to separate the stupid from their money. What next, the govt advocating porn and prostitution?
Just curious how one taxes a download? Is it done at the point of sale by the buyer or does the service provider (Itunes) add a tax to any download from New Jersey?
FYI..there was a story psoted here a few days ago, on one of the threads about the MSM...that the porn industry is scrreaming bloody murder..that “free porn” sites are killing them..that revenues are way down..
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