The tax man cometh...to wherever you plan on visiting this summer

Obviously, increasing taxation on leisure spending is a stupid idea when leisure spending is down. The goal is to stimulate more travel, not to discourage it by making it more expensive. But that's the way government works: The people who balance the books are often the ones controlling the legislation, and common sense has to work its way into the system from the outside.

Local governments are hurting for cash. Orlando's tourist tax revenue is down 18%, which is worse even than after 9/11, and it's not expected to recover for years. But the golden goose isn't the first place other cities should look for some extra meat.