US | California Broke California May Tax Beer, iTunes, Sex Toys Partisan battle heats up as budget shortfall looms By Nick McMaster Posted May 9, 2008 2:43 PM CDT Copied Apple iTunes Gift Cards on display at Best Buy in Mountain View, Calif., Thursday, April 3, 2008. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma) A $1.80 tax on every six-pack of beer. An iTunes sales tax. A 25% tax on sex toys and pornographic entertainment. These are just some of the more creative measures put forth by California's Democratic lawmakers to close a budget shortfall estimated at $20 billion, the Los Angeles Times reports. The Dems face stiff opposition from Republicans, who have vowed to stop any tax increases. But the economic reality remains: "If we don't do some of these things, we are going to have to cut nearly $5 billion out of schools,” says Charles Calderon, chairman of the state’s revenue committee. Read These Next Sydney Sweeney is at the center of a controversy yet again. President Trump says he had a 'very good call' with Gov. Walz. The Blind Side actor is reportedly 'on life support.' Cops want 'Dexter' to fess up to key fob cloning. Report an error