Saturday, Dec 13, 2008    Text size: 

State Assemblymember Alberto Torrico, a Democrat representing California’s 20th Assembly District, in a speech on Thursday said he plans to push for new legislation that would place a tax on “the goods and products associated with the adult entertainment industry.”

Torrico’s spokesman Jeff Barbosa said the amount of the tax had not been determined, but the legislation could be introduced within a few weeks.

The timing of Torrico’s proposal comes on the heels of a similar bill’s defeat in August. A 25 percent excise tax on adult products and productions proposed by Assemblyman Charles Calderon gained no traction in the assembly and died in committee.

Torrico is the Assembly’s No. 2 Democrat. His district covers Fremont, Newark, Union City, Milpitas, and parts of San Jose, Pleasanton, Castro Valley and Hayward.

A message left with Torrico’s office seeking comment wasn’t returned by post time.