Wisconsin Senator Proposes Game Tax

Wisconsin state senator Jon Erpenbach has proposed a new bill that would raise the age of an adult in court from seventeen to eighteen years of age, for non-violent crimes. Democrat Erpenbach has argued that seventeen is too young for a person to be treated as an adult and that they should be given access to juvenile rehabilitation programs instead. However, Erpenbach has suggested that the resultant increase in juvenile justice system costs should be paid for by a one percent surcharge on video game prices, in addition to the existing five percent state sales tax, according to local television network WEAU. If approved the bill would see around 60 cents being added to the price of full price games software in Wisconsin and $2.50 to the cost of a Wii console. Although gamers made aware of the bill have already complained at the stereotyped link between video games and teenagers so too has state representative Steve Nass, who according to the Wisconsin Radio Network has questioned the implied link between juvenile crime and games. The Radio Network report says Erpenbach has said he could be "open to other funding sources" should the game tax not find traction.