Six-packs and porn stars and iTunes - oh my!

Believe me when I say I looked and looked for a different way to illustrate this story. A pool of red ink, perhaps, or a hand reaching for your wallet, or dollar signs dancing in a politician's eyes. Zippo.

But this wacky creative wacky creative (whew) bunch of tax proposals from Democrats, which, in addition to adding levies to six-packs of beer and iTunes downloads, also targets sex toys, strip clubs and porn. They've had the effect of bringing adult film stars to walk the halls of the state Capitol,  looking for lawmakers to lobby. Evan Halper explains:

"If we don't do some of these things, we are going to have to cut nearly $5 billion out of schools," said Assemblyman Charles Calderon (D-Montebello), chairman of the Revenue and Taxation Committee. He has proposed some of the Legislature's more unconventional measures, including taxes on digital downloads and adult entertainment.

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Calderon said the resistance to his bill did not surprise him. But he is perplexed that he hasn't been able to get more traction for another proposal: a 25% tax on sex toys, strip shows, pornographic magazines and videos and anything else sold in an "adult entertainment venue."

"This is a major industry that is putting a disproportionate burden on state services," he said. "Drugs are heavily used. The actors have a short life span. Some leave the industry drug-addicted with no skills. They wind up availing themselves of Medi-Cal and other state programs."

More on this can't-make-this-stuff-up moment in California politics in Evan's full story. (And BTW, the photo is from the Erotica LA Expo at the Convention Center.)

-- Veronique de Turenne

Photo: Lori Shepler / Los Angeles Times