JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — A state senator is proposing new taxes on pornography, sex shows and illegal drugs in an attempt to raise more than $5 million for the state budget.
Sen. Charlie Shields said Thursday his plan would impose an extra 5 percent gross receipts tax on pornographic materials and live performances of actual or simulated sexual activities. The bill lists activities whose depiction would constitute pornography.
Shields, R-St. Joseph, said he expected the pornography tax would raise about $5 million, but he did not have an estimate of how much the state might net by taxing marijuana and other illegal drugs.
Drug dealers would have to buy stamps as proof that they had paid the tax, to be set at $3.50 per gram of marijuana, somewhat less per raw marijuana plant and $200 per gram of all other controlled substances.
Violators would be penalized at a twice the tax they should have paid. Failure to pay the fine could result in the seizure and sale of the offender’s personal property, to raise the money owed.
Republicans, who control the Legislature, have said they are trying to raise about $200 million in new revenue — without a general tax increase — to soften the cuts being made to balance the budget for the fiscal year that starts July 1. Shields said his plan is part of that effort.
Lawmakers considered several proposals last year to raise so-called “sin taxes” on alcohol and tobacco. A higher tax on alcohol failed to pass the Legislature, and voters refused in November to raise the tobacco tax.
Shields said the pornography tax was suggested by a Senate staffer who had heard that other states had such a tax.
“Pornography is the next great sin to tax,” Shields said. “If you can’t get rid of it for constitutional issues, you can at least tax it.”