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RECORD TURNOUT AS CALIFORNIA TAX ON ADULT ENTERTAINMENT IS HEARD IN COMMITTEE
By: Paul Goldberg, Staff Writer 11:00 a.m. PDT 05-14-08
A record crowd of over 150 from the adult entertainment industry showed up at the California State Capital Monday to voice their opposition to Assembly Member Charles Calderon’s 25% multi-use tax on the adult entertainment industry, Assembly Bill 2914.
Testifying in favor of the bill were representatives from, the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department and county Health Departments, a “sex addiction” expert, and two ex-performers from the Pink Cross Foundation. Calderon and his speakers claimed that the adult industry disproportionally burdens state programs and services due to excessive addiction, prostitution and sexually transmitted diseases.
“Through its provision of California living wage jobs, the adult entertainment industry goes a long way in keeping people off of state programs. To imply otherwise is an insult to our industry and an outright lie,” said Diane Duke FSC Executive Director. “Developing legislation based on stereotypes, misinformation and falsehoods is not only legislatively irresponsible, but also destructive to California’s economy. Calderon’s bill is dishonest and irresponsible.”
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Calderon and his crew could not offer any reputable evidence to support their claims. The lack of evidence, coupled with the overwhelming mountain of evidence provided by FSC and Cal ACE to dispute their allegations, proved problematic for Calderon.
With a goal of keeping the bill from moving out of the Assembly Revenue and Tax Committee, a committee that is chaired by Calderon, FSC and Cal ACE produced a distinguished panel of experts to testify including: Researcher Bryant Paul, AIM Executive Director Sharon Mitchell, Industry First Amendment lawyer Gill Sperlein, Performer Kayden Kross, retired police officers and countless others. A final vote was not taken on AB 2914. The bill went to the committee “Suspense File” where it remains, because Mr. Calderon does not yet seem to have enough support to pass the bill out of his own committee.
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“It is our hope that the bill will not be voted out off of the Suspense File and will die in committee,” Duke replied. “We will keep a close watch and do what it takes to kill this issue once and for all.”
