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Thursday, February 21, 2013

Nightlife / Olympia Watch People Fight About the Tax on Dancing

Posted by Cienna Madrid on Thu, Feb 21, 2013 at 3:20 PM

In a hometown version of Footloose, Seattle bar owners are down in Olympia this afternoon, arguing their case to repeal a 9.5 percent tax on ticket sales for events that promote dancing (big-venue concerts weirdly excluded). The bill that the nightlife industry is testifying in support of today, SB 5613, would clarify that the sales tax should not be applied to "the opportunity to dance provided by an establishment in exchange for a cover charge." I've written about this issue tons. Google that shit.

You can follow along with the testimony below (the Senate Ways and Means committee meeting begins at 3:30 but there are a bunch of bills on the docket).

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Comments (7) RSS

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So, when these "revenues" are no longer available to the government to be "invested", which "vital" government program will have to be slashed?

Posted by You_Gotta_Be_Kidding_Me on February 21, 2013 at 4:19 PM

5$ says they get rid of the tax, but replace it by adding it onto the existing admission fee/tax most clubs have to charge for providing live entertainment. That way, EVERYONE gets screwed over, including patrons of sporting events, home/boat shows, conventions of every kind, yes because a small group of people don't want to pay a dance tax, everyone must now pay.

Posted by Kinison

on February 21, 2013 at 4:28 PM

"nobody puts baby in a corner...."

Posted by tim koch on February 21, 2013 at 4:30 PM

everybody cut everybody cut

Posted by Clara T on February 21, 2013 at 5:30 PM

There will NEVER be enough money to run government the way government thinks it should be run.

Posted by Sargon Bighorn on February 21, 2013 at 5:56 PM

all it takes is a 2/3 majority to repeal it, right? easy peasy.

@5: if we weren't in an ongoing revenue crisis caused by the recession & our state's regressive tax structure, i might agree with you.

Posted by Max Solomon on February 21, 2013 at 8:00 PM