Judge strikes down strip club fee

[sonias]

Heck we were all so busy on Saturday we missed this one. The Texas AG says they will appeal

AAS 3/29/08
Judge strikes down strip club fee
$5-per-patron fee was mandated by the Legislature to pay for sexual assault prevention and health insurance

A state district judge on Friday ruled that Texas may not collect a $5-per-patron strip club fee that went into effect in January to pay for sexual assault prevention programs and health insurance for low-income Texans.

Judge Scott Jenkins wrote in an opinion that the law, "while furthering laudable goals, violates the First Amendment to the United States Constitution and is therefore invalid."

The Texas Entertainment Association Inc. — a group of adult cabarets — and Karpod Inc., the owner of an Amarillo club, sued the state last year, arguing that Texas could not tax constitutionally protected speech based on content.

Sonia