California currently has a $17 billion budget deficit. Calderon argues that the tax on the $4 billion industry could help close the gap and also pay for some of the consequences of the industry such as sexually transmitted disease care. Some argue that Calderon has not produced valid proof of the secondary effects of pornography in terms of public safety.

I give Calderon credit for trying to force a tax increase to close the gap in the state of California’s budget crisis. For so long, revenue has been tied to property values, and with the recent declines in the real estate market, other sources of state funds need to be secured. The budget crisis in California is especially impacting education and health care. Once upon a time, the Golden State was a leader in education in the K-12 arena, but those days have since passed.