Does this mean the Florida Gators will soon be playing off shore?

We suppose it was inevitable but in the never-ending search for revenue, the federal government has leveled it’s sights on collegiate athletics and, in particular, the nation’s largest Division 1-A sports programs.

A Congressional Budget Office report contends that 1-A athletic departments get 60% - 80% of their revenue from activities that can be described as commercial.

The study recommends changing the tax code by limiting the deductions for contributions and the use of tax exempt bonds as well as limiting the exemption from income taxation.

The Wizard of Odds has more, here.

P.S. We thought activities like this were the purview of the Treasury Department. Oh, that's right. They've been having some man power issues over there.

Because Some Addictions are Just Better than Others

Those kids might not but we sure know someone who does...

In no other area do federal and state governments display their sociopathic passive-aggressive behavior more so than in their relationship with Big Tobacco. Alternately, demonized and protected, the feds and states will levy taxes and extort massive payoffs as a result of health-related lawsuits but only to the point that Big Tobacco remains a viable industry as Big Government is addicted to Tobacco’s revenue stream.

The latest round of Congressional meddling being considered is legislation that would give the FDA power to regulate tobacco products and included in this legislation is a ban on most flavored cigarettes because the kids really dig those cinnamon and clove-flavored cigs. Suspiciously absent the flavor ban is menthol, a flavoring that is said to increase dependency on cigarettes (because cigarettes that taste like crap would be less so, we imagine) and since menthol cigarettes are apparently heavily preferred by blacks, this will, no doubt, be taking on racial overtones. Oh goody. Story here.