It sure sounds to me like Governor Phil Bredesen’s revenue man, Reagan Farr, is saying that the “adult” porno business is an underground economy that he can’t be bothered to pursue.

In opposing an increased tax on pornography, join me in reading what Farr says, in today’s Sentinel:

“You’re shifting from a population of taxpayers who are stable and identifiable — grocery stores — and shifting the tax burden to a base of taxpayers that are not stable and very difficult to identify,” said Farr, the state’s top revenue official. “We would have difficulty collecting from them.”

And exactly why would that be, Reagan Farr? You’re telling us that you want to get tax on groceries but you’re content to let the sex industry slide? My understanding of any business is that they have to register, get a business liscense, collect sales tax, etc. Is Farr claiming that the State of Tennessee can’t be bothered to make sure they’re in compliance? Accountants, lawyers, doctors, etc. all must pay a fee to the state. You can’t do the same for the escort services that are listed boldly in the yellow pages of your local phone book?

Please, this bill isn’t a tax on the illegal prostitution business. But from Farr’s record on the crack tax, it seems like he might favor such an idea. As we know, Farr is all behind the constitutionally suspect “crack tax” that he claims makes bundles for the state. From Farr’s line of thinking, the state legislature ought to create a licensing program for prositutes. If a prostitute is arrested and charged and doesn’t have her/his license, then she/he would pay additional penalties.

Farr’s opposition is pure politics and pure laziness. It’s also an insult to those who are honest and by that I mean that Farr implies that he opposes the idea because he prefers “easy” pickings when it comes to collecting tax dollars. In this case, easy would imply honest.