Original Titty-Tax Bill Loses Bounce

A rival bill emerges to tax sexually oriented businesses

"...by Rep. Ellen Cohen, D-Houston, to reform the so-called "titty tax," was scheduled for its first public hearing in..."

April 3, 2009 News Feature by Richard Whittaker

Tide Turns on 'Titty Tax'

Tax on adult-oriented businesses may be on its last legs

"...Have lawmakers conceded that the infamous "titty tax" is dead? During June 9 debate on Senate..."

June 17, 2011 News Feature by Richard Whittaker

Supremes Wink at Titty Tax

Constitutionality of less-than-lucrative tax at issue

"...Supreme Court decided it will not review Texas' "pole tax." On Jan. 23 the court announced that it would..."

Feb. 3, 2012 News Feature by Richard Whittaker

Titty Tax Hits the Floor

Judge calls $5 nudity surcharge unconstitutional

"...on sexually oriented businesses (less delicately known as the Titty Tax) is no more. The state tax, which would..."

March 29, 2008 News Post by Richard Whittaker

Topless Counterattack Against Titty Tax

State could face embarrassing court date after organization representing strip joints filed lawsuit over new tax on nude entertainment

"...representing strip joints filed a lawsuit over a new tax on nude entertainment. House Bill 1751, sponsored by freshman..."

Dec. 14, 2007 News Feature by Richard Whittaker

Revenge of the Return of the Titty Tax

Legislators want third swipe at fee condemned as unconstitutional by district court

"...Remember the titty tax? While the old bill is still caught up..."

Feb. 12, 2009 News Post by Richard Whittaker

Cohen's Titty Tax Head to Hearing

Rival bills taking different paths, but Thompson's 10% tax ahead in process

"...Even though her last version of the Titty Tax is still stuck in court, Rep. Ellen Cohen,..."

March 30, 2009 News Post by Richard Whittaker

Fudging Facts on the Titty Tax

Rep. Ellen Cohen repeats inaccurate statement in laying out revised sexually oriented business tax

"...reform last session's HB 1751, the infamous and legally-contested "titty tax." The problem, Cohen told the committee, is that..."

April 1, 2009 News Post by Richard Whittaker

Return of the Titty Tax

New 'nudity' tax could include not just strip clubs but cabarets, bars, fashion shows, and even mainstream theatres

"...potentially violating both the First Amendment and the state tax code...."

Dec. 7, 2007 News Feature by Richard Whittaker

SOB Tax Stripped Again

After second court defeat, Attorney General looks to Texas Supreme Court to revive "Titty Tax"

"...Court of Appeals released its judgment on the infamous "Titty Tax." Like the 53rd District Court before it, the..."

June 15, 2009 News Post by Richard Whittaker

The Topless Tax Sequel, Part III

The Lege's Titty Tax refuses to die

"...House Bill 1751 – aka the "Titty Tax" – was supposed to be a social-service panacea:..."

Feb. 20, 2009 News Feature by Richard Whittaker

Topless Tax Terminated

'Titty tax' stripped from topless joints

"...The "titty tax" – a $5 surcharge for everyone attending a..."

April 4, 2008 News Feature by Richard Whittaker

Staying Abreast of Tax Debate

'Titty tax' law hangs in the balance

"...The infamous "titty tax" is still fighting its way through the courts...."

March 13, 2009 News Feature by Richard Whittaker

House Backs Strip-Club Tax

You may be adding 10% to your strip-club budget soon

"...The fight between rival tax bills by Houston Democrats on alcohol-serving strip clubs –..."

April 10, 2009 News Feature by Richard Whittaker

Topless Tax Bottoming Out?

Two competing bills at play over admission fees at topless clubs

"...may be getting cold feet about repealing the controversial "titty tax," risking funding for sexual-assault programs on an unconstitutional..."

May 22, 2009 News Column by Richard Whittaker

Texas Supremes Ponder 'Pole Tax'

Debate over stripper surcharge goes to state's highest court

"...Alternatively nicknamed the "pole tax" and the "titty tax," the $5-per-customer fee on live..."

April 2, 2010 News Feature by Richard Whittaker

Stripper Tax Ruling Reversed

Plaintiffs may move case to another court

"...The legal challenge of the so-called "titty tax" – Texas' infamous $5-per-head surcharge on strip bars..."

Sept. 2, 2011 News Feature by Richard Whittaker

Topless Tax Dies in Maneuver for More Money

3rd Court of Appeals will rule on existing surcharge at sexually oriented businesses

"...to end the state's court case over the unconstitutional "titty tax" failed when lobbying killed a compromise reform bill..."

June 5, 2009 News Feature by Richard Whittaker

Another Round

AG's Office asks state Supremes to review unconstitutional stripper surcharge

"...oriented businesses failed at the Legislature, supporters of the "titty tax" – enacted in 2007 – were dealt another..."

June 19, 2009 News Feature by Richard Whittaker

Strippers to the Supremes

Texas Supreme Court gets into major First Amendment case

"...argument over the $5 stripper surcharge – AKA the titty tax – after it heard the latest round of..."

March 26, 2010 News Post by Richard Whittaker

The Cup Doth Not Floweth Over

Why the sexually oriented business surcharge won't pay for real sexual abuse survivor programs, and never could

"...As anyone that has followed the famous Titty Tax can tell you, there's a basic problem with..."

March 9, 2009 News Post by Richard Whittaker

Naked City

"...offensive in his bid to unseat 16-year Travis Co. Tax Assessor-Collector Nelda Wells Spears. His campaign manager, Elliott McFadden,..."

Dec. 21, 2007 News Feature

Bill of the Week: Protection, or Slut-Shaming?

Because what strippers really want is something else to wear

"...strip clubs – the last round being the so-called "titty tax" that slapped a $5-a-head tax on strip clubs..."

Jan. 12, 2013 News Post by Monica Riese

Top 10 State Stories

"...6) Ta-Ta to the Titty Tax It's not Texas without gung-ho puritans screaming that..."

Jan. 2, 2009 News Feature by Lee Nichols

Does Harry Potter Cause Sexual Violence? Only in Texas.

Defending a new nudity tax, the AG says topless bars cause sexual violence

"...a request for a temporary injunction against the new "titty tax" – a $5-per-customer surcharge on sexually oriented businesses...."

Dec. 28, 2007 News Feature by Richard Whittaker

A Night of Un-Taxed Cyn

How the Texas courts helped Cyn shake again.

"...Mercifully, the law that introduced the "Titty Tax", House Bill 1751 from Rep. Ellen Cohen, D-Houston,..."

June 10, 2008 News Post by Richard Whittaker

Headlines

"...have already ruled the fee (variously nicknamed the pole tax, the stripper surcharge, or the titty tax) as unconstitutional...."

Feb. 19, 2010 News Feature

Top 10 State Stories

Not even an expensive trial lawyer could save Tom DeLay

"...nude entertainment in venues serving alcohol – aka the "titty tax" – unconstitutional, but that's not stopping the state..."

Jan. 7, 2011 News Feature by Michael King

Archaic Language Does Group Wrong

"...Dear Editor, Re: “Original Titty-Tax Bill Loses Bounce,” News, April 3: Richard Whittaker's labeling..."

April 7, 2009 Postmarks

LegeLines

"...HB 2070 – the latest version of the so-called "Titty Tax" – even though the last version is still..."

March 6, 2009 News Feature by Richard Whittaker

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