Opens in a new tab

Texas stripper ‘pole tax’ to get review

February 12, 2010

The highest court in the Lone Star State has agreed to consider whether the state's $5 charge on strip club patrons violates the First Amendment right of free expression.

How nice. The decision to take the case came just in time for Valentine's Day.

At issue is whether the so-called "pole tax" unfairly singles out for regulation nude dancing in clubs that serve alcohol.

Last summer, the 3rd Court of Appeals in Austin agreed, by a 2-to-1 vote, with a state district judge's decision to strike down the law.

"While nude dancing 'falls only within the outer ambit of the First Amendment's protection,' it is nevertheless protected as expressive conduct," noted the appellate court opinion. And yes, Beavis and Butthead, it's not a typo; it's "ambit." And I had to look up it up, too.

So mark your calendar for Thursday, March 25. That's when the Texas Supreme Court will hear the case at St. Mary's University in San Antonio.

The off-site calling of the highest Texas court to order is part of an effort to make justice, or at least the viewing of the process, more available to more Texans.

You can read the filings on the case, No. 09-0481: Susan Combs and Greg Abbott v. Texas Entertainment Association Inc., in this PDF document or this online version.

Related posts:

Want to tell your friends about this blog post? Click the Tweet This or Digg This buttons below or use the Share This icon to spread the word via e-mail, Facebook and other popular applications. Thanks!

Share:

The More Tax Posts tab at the top of this page will take you to, well, more tax posts. You also can search below for a tax topic. 

Latest Posts
confused office worker
8 workplace benefits questions to ask this enrollment season

October 26, 2026

Millions of U.S. workers are now deciding what workplace benefits, some of which also offer…

Read More
TAX-SAVVY WAYS 
TO WRAP UP 2026

It’s over! With October’s extended filing deadline behind us, it is now time to focus on year-end moves to reduce your 2026 tax bill. 

You’ll find ways to do just that on the Tax Tips page (see the More Tax Posts drop-down menu at the top of the blog), as well as the separate tax tip pages for each month, notably October through December. If you’re on the Tax Tips page, you’ll find a monthly list at the end of this column. If you’re on another blog page, you can head straight to the October tips; at the bottom of that tips page you’ll find links to all the other 11 months’ collections of tax advice.

Not to spoil what you’ll find in that tax advice, but it does cover such things as tax deductions for charitable donations, investment moves that could reduce tax due, and ways to max out your tax-favored retirement savings. 

Finally, as the year winds down, things get hectic. There are lots of other things to occupy our time, like the much more fun upcoming holidays. But don’t lose sight of taxes, since timing is key. To be of use, most tax moves must be made by the end of the tax year. That’s Thursday, Dec. 31, which also is the last business day of the year. 

So that you don’t miss that final tax year deadline, also keep an eye on the countdown clock below. It will keep you on top of just how much time is left to make important, tax-saving moves. (Note: I’m in the Central Time Zone, so adjust accordingly for where you live.)

Comments
  • hoosierdaddy

    In Virginia Beach, customers must slip a dime into the G-string with each single, to cover our 10 percent “Food and Entertainment Tax.”

Leave your comment