Posted on 11/03/2005 8:10:52 AM PST by Phantom Lord
Missouri lawmaker wants umps to pay state tax
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- A state lawmaker and St. Louis baseball fan says umpires should pay -- literally -- for what he sees as bad calls made during the playoff series in which the Cardinals lost to the Houston Astros.
Rep. Jeff Roorda, D-Barnhart, wants to expand the state athlete and entertainer tax to also cover officials such as umpires and referees. The tax is charged to out-of-state residents who earn money in Missouri while performing in such events as baseball games and concerts. Revenues are supposed to go to the arts, public libraries and other cultural programs.
Roorda said his idea grew out of his frustration with umpires in the National League Championship Series. But he also contends that it is logical to tax the officials affecting a game's outcome, not just the athletes who play it.
"I think if they're not going to pay attention, they ought to at least pay taxes," Roorda said. "Seriously though, I think it's good public policy. Referees and umpires play a critical role in the outcome of this game and are part of the entertainment experience."
Roorda said he doesn't know how much money would be generated by the tax but guessed it wouldn't reach the amount Missouri could have gained in tourism dollars if it hosted a World Series.
He plans to offer the tax legislation during the legislative session that starts in January.
Bad calls aside, this is at least logical -- if the players are taxed for their in-state games, then it is only consistent to add the umpires as well, since they basically operate the same way.
(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie. Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We're Know We're Dead Wrong.")
I'm not sure if I would support taxing the umps. However, I think they should have to pass an eye exam!
Well, if you are already paying state income taxes then this is just a form of double taxation.
A fitness test wouldn't hurt either....
My brother-in-law is an accountant who has a few NBA players as clients. They pay taxes to every state in which they play a game over the course of the season, the tax being levied proportionally to the number of games played in-state vs. the entire season.
For example, a Boston Celtics player plays 1 game per year in Pheonix, but 41 in Boston [in reality less, because Boston plays a small number of home games in Hartford, but stick with me for the example]. Since there are 82 games in the season, 1/82 of his salary is taxable in Arizona, and 41/82 (or 1/2) his salary is taxable in Massachusetts.
Leave it to a democrat to find a new way to tax people.
""I think if they're not going to pay attention, they ought to at least pay taxes," Roorda said. "Seriously though, I think it's good public policy. Referees and umpires play a critical role in the outcome of this game and are part of the entertainment experience."
Hey, sounds good to me. In many others types of businesses and lines of work i.e. cashier, waitress, bank teller, etc., etc., etc., you screw up, it comes out of your check.
I am a huge Cardinals fan. We lost because we didn't hit, not because of bad umpiring. As much as I might be angered by a bad call, I am even more angry at the idiot calling for more taxation.
Yes, but not at the point of a government gun.
Now how did we KNOW this guy's party just from the headline?
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