at least this guy doesn't sound like a total jerk that's out to get gamers

at least this guy doesn't sound like a total jerk that's out to get gamers

this is why we revolted from britain to begin with

this is totally outrageous!

He sounds pretty reasonabile. ""You have all these kids buying video games, and sometimes they are good, some are bad and that's not my call."

It shows that he isnt saying games are the devil, just wants a little bit a of tax on them. Of course I dont live in Texas so it doesnt affect me.

How about this......STOP WASTING TAX PAYERS MONEY IN IRAK.

Problem is that once one place gets away with it everyone will. Look at the seat belt laws. That is another one I don't understand. I respect the benefit of a seat belt. I wear one. But if the guy in the other car dies from not wearing one then simply make the death his own damn fault. Don't fine him everytime he passes a cop. It is a personal risk and a personal choice.

I'm glad I live in California

OK, Stop saying if it goes to a good cause... It ain't so bad... To hell with that. All of the governments have grown to way more than what they should be. And that money is probably needed because we have so many illegals in the schools and they are sucking off our resources. Bottom line, whether the illegal thing is true or not, it is a tax on a particular group and a particular item for no particular reason. They could be taxing golf, Rolex watches, or over the counter Tex Mex. It is a tax to get money from the public in the most shady way they can do it. They need to tax something that not a lot of people will scream about. SO FOR GOD's SAKE SCREAM! Send this guy email as fast as you can. Send the entire TX legislature email. Especially if you are a resident send email to your reps. Why does the public so blindly vote to spend government money... they are getting it from you. Think about that the next time you vote for a bond to save the rock wall on the east side of town built by Whoosy Whatsit. That 10 million will be paid from all of our pockets in the end.

Bottom line is stop excepting tax and spend government and so NO.

If htis passes it looks like I'll just have to mail order everything from now on.

We should tax games like the EA Sports, and those abhorrent Street Racing Games. This might encourage originality a bit more

acesion where did you get these stats?

Well if you leave things up to the democrats this is what you get more taxes like they really cared also if they spent the taxes they collected the correct way this wouldnt even be needed considering the ave. private school is about $3800 per year going to a public school costs more because each child gets 4800 by the US governemtn and about 3k more from the state and city. Considering this why is it that people who go to private school which is cheaper then public school score nearly 25% better on tests then Public school students?

Like half the kids buy their own games anyways, seriously. I can understand the advantages to this plan, but also understand why people would be pissed off. It is going for a good cause though.

WTF??!?! That guy wanted to raise a 100 percent tax on violent video games? Good thing I dont live in Texas.

The video game industry is made up of mostly struggling developers, and its customers are also not that rich, either. I don't think we should support any price increase. It's just redistribution money from the poor to other poor people.

To me, video games are a relatively cheap and very fun hobby that even the poorest people can get into. Think about how much money it costs to get a decent meal, go to a concert, or go to a club or what not. Video games are cheap in comparison.

If you are going to apply a "sin tax" to video games, only do it to games that are sinful! Makes no sense to tax games like Mario Brothers or Beyond Good and Evil.

Thank god I don't live in Texas

I'll drive to Louisiana to buy my games then, I'm taxed to death already in Texas!!!!! 8.50% sales tax

to all the people screaming "HA, i'm in Canada". WAKE UP. sure, we don't have a 5% tax on just games, but we do have a 15% tax on everything (at least in Ontario) I'm not saying it's getting wasted, but the fact is we pay alot more in tax than anywhere in the US.

Government Still blaming games for Violence while Violent has gone DOWN over the years, Immigrant Protests aplenty, Gas Prices Through The Roof, and Child Porn Rising, yet they focus on Gaming and Blaming Games for Violence. How Dumb and Slow Our Government Agencys are acting; I can't blame other Countries bash our system... it's mostly true..

Screw that there already making games 60 bucks we dont need to add on more tax i love playing games but this is getting ridiculous im not some rich kid

This is ridiculos and outrageous. We can´t be EVEN MORE taxed for buying games!! Stop this nonsense already!!

games are expensive enough, lay off the game tax

NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Idiotic and ridiculous because the the goverment has NO hand in making games. You can't tax a form of entertainment.

Wow how stupid is this? Only in America...

We don't need money! Imma protest

SAY WHAT???

I ALREADY PAY TAX ON GAMES...WTF!!! THEN YOU WANT ME TO PAY EVEN MORE??.. GO SCREW YOUR MUTHAAAAA!!!...

Yeah, we all know the schools need more money. [/sarcasm]

THIS IDEA IS DUMB!!! I DON'T WANT TO PAY TAXES JUST FOR GAMES!!!

How about since they spent the school funding money on retarded things, they should cut the money out of their paychecks and give it to the schools instead of making us pay more money on the one of the things I love most. I cannot wait to move out of this state.

dude im sueing!

STOP PIRACY FIRST AND DO ALL THAT STUFF U JUST SAID

If Texas Republicans weren't so eager to cut taxes for their oil buddies they wouldn't be in a shortfall in the firstplace. In the end, as usual, gamers get the short end of the stick, good cause or not it just plain sucks.

At least this politician sounds sane

Isn't it funny how people make fun of texas for wanting to tax video games, but all those Deomocrats that want to ban games that must be perfectly fine. Then they go on about how Bush is censoring us.

This is now becoming very popular for alot of Democrats and sadly some Republicans as well. Interestingly, this proposal is equated with Bush in some comments, who has absolutely nothing to do with it. Equally as interesting is comments from people in other countries who say "Only in America"; this from socialist-modeled governments who rely on even higher taxes to operate. Taxes aren't the answer, they ALL go into slush funds; fiscal conservatism should be tried sometime.

Nice picture Gamespot. But seriously, do stupid ideas repeat themselves? Maybe in Texas they do.

I think it's a good idea, why not? It's going back to schools, and you get to play your game, you just pay an extra $5 to $6 bucks, no biggy. The only problem would be if they used the money for something other than schools, but since that's not the case, why not give it a shot?

Stupid....Texas...George Bush?

Wow, talk about the stupidest idea yet. While they are at it, they might as well charge 50% tax on pornography, 75% on guns and bullets and 100% on alcohol and potato chips. Cause apparently gamers deserve to be taxed for playing games. Thats all we do isn't it? Playing only violent video games, then go out and shoot some people, then come home and get super drunk while we watch porn and each chips and get fat. Give me a break Texas-- only in America!!!!

dumb. won't pass. (we're taxed to FRIGGIN much already)

The interesting thing is that the lottery in Texas passed based on the commitment of 100% of the funds going to education. So far, none of the funds have gone to education, and the revenue was vastly greater than what they expected. Why would the politicians think they could keep their hands out of their special interests on this money?

I totally agree with that idea.
If i lived in Texas i would vote for that man. The education system in the US is one of the worst of all the powerful countries in the world.
I would be more than happy to pay an extra 5% for my games if i knew that that 5% was going towards education.

Thank god I don't live in Texas.

I say make the Texans pay an extra tax on games. As for all you whiners in Texas who think that's too much, try moving to another state and having to pay an income tax. 5% on games

That's classic government at work. If you don't like something, tax it for the children. It's all for the children.

Next will come the "Big" label: Big Tobacco, Big Oil, Big Games. You want to vilify something, put "Big" in front of it.

This is a terrible idea. We already are already paying for schools through property taxes. States have lottories, and tax everthing we do. This guy is an idiot and hopefully will get voted out of office next election.

Sounds like a great idea EXCEPT why not other sutff? Why just games. You could make millions if you taxed 5% on everything entertainment. Dont just bias against games. make it fair