Lawmakers Senator Storms and Rep.Rick Kriseman Propose $1 surcharge on Strip Clubs to Aid Elderly

Alex Leary St. Petersburg Times

TALLAHASSEE - Two Tampa Bay area lawmakers want to put a $1 tax on strip-club admissions so they can give low-income nursing-home residents more spending money.

Rep. Rick Kriseman, D-St. Petersburg, said he got the idea after an elderly constituent complained that a $35 monthly stipend for Medicaid recipients was not enough to cover personal needs, such as haircuts, clothing and movie tickets.

"I'm sorry if I've taken a dollar that you would have otherwise stuck in someone's garter," said Kriseman, who is sponsoring the legislation with Sen. Ronda Storms, R-Brandon.

A legal squabble might not even matter. Republicans, who control both chambers of the Legislature, have a strong aversion to new taxes, so the bill's chances of passing are slim.

The Department of Revenue confirmed strip clubs already are subject to sales tax. The Times then contacted Kriseman's office and, after some scrambling, the idea for a $1 surcharge was developed Wednesday.

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We have aversion to new taxes also but we have a bigger aversion to watching the elderly not receive the support they deserve, Senator Storms is continually sticking her neck out to push elder issues, please show her that you stand tall behind all her efforts and E mail her : storms.ronda.web@flsenate.gov

Support our lawmakers that want to help our elders please write all the republicans lawmakers in Senator Storms District and urge them to pass this surcharge. (Remenber the elder you help today might help you tommorrow)

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