arkansas writers project ragland argued january decided april arkansas imposes tax receipts sales tangible personal property exempts numerous items including newspapers religious professional trade sports journals publications printed published within state magazine exemption appellant publishes arkansas general interest magazine includes articles variety subjects including religion sports relying minneapolis star tribune minnesota revenue appellant sought refund sales tax paid since asserting magazine exemption must construed include magazine subjecting magazine sales tax sales newspapers magazines exempt violated first fourteenth amendments appellee denied refund claim appellant sought review state chancery stating additional claim injunctive relief attorney fees granted appellant summary judgment construing magazine exemption include appellant magazine published printed arkansas arkansas reversed holding magazine exemption applies religious professional trade sports periodicals rejected claim exemption granted publications discriminated appellant ruling success claim avail appellant nothing since still subject tax even exemption fell also refused find appellant first fourteenth amendment rights violated ruling sales tax permissible ordinary form taxation publishers immune accordingly consider appellant attorney fees claim held appellant standing challenge arkansas sales tax scheme appellee argument appellant asserted injury redress since appellant concededly publishes neither newspaper religious professional trade sports journal unpersuasive since effectively insulate underinclusive statutes constitutional challenge appellant alleged sufficient personal stake litigation outcome state holding stands total bar appellant relief constitutional attack holds promise escape burden imposed upon challenged statute arkansas sales tax scheme taxes general interest magazines exempts newspapers religious professional trade sports journals violates first amendment freedom press guarantee pp even though evidence improper censorial motive arkansas tax burdens rights protected first amendment discriminating small group magazines including appellant magazines pay tax selective taxation one types discrimination identified minneapolis star indeed use even disturbing case arkansas statute requires official scrutiny publications content basis imposing tax incompatible first amendment whose requirements avoided merely statute burden expression particular views expressed specific magazines exempts members media might publish discussions various subjects contained appellant magazine pp appellee satisfied heavy burden showing discriminatory tax scheme necessary serve compelling state interest narrowly drawn achieve end state general interest raising revenue justify selective imposition sales tax magazines others based solely content since revenues raised simply taxing businesses generally furthermore appellee assertion magazine exemption serves state interest encouraging fledgling publishers persuasive since exemption narrowly tailored achieve end contrary exemption overinclusive underinclusive exempts enumerated types magazines regardless whether fledgling lucrative well established making general interest magazines struggling specialty magazines subjects ineligible favorable tax treatment moreover although asserted state need foster communication might support blanket exemption press sales tax justify selective taxation certain publishers pp since state courts yet indicated whether exercise jurisdiction appellant claims remands give opportunity pp marshall delivered opinion brennan white blackmun powell joined parts ii iv stevens joined stevens filed opinion concurring part concurring judgment post scalia filed dissenting opinion rehnquist joined post anne owings wilson argued cause filed briefs appellant john steven clark argued cause appellee brief friedlander joseph svoboda briefs amici curiae urging reversal filed american civil liberties union foundation et al jack novik philip kaplan city regional magazine association donald middlebrooks magazine publishers association david minton miami herald publishing et al edward soto gerald cope terry maguire parker thomson time barrett prettyman david saylor john roberts times mirror et al rex heinke william niese jeffrey klein briefs amici curiae urging affirmance filed territory american samoa et al attorneys general respective jurisdictions follows thomas miller iowa leulumoega lutu american samoa joseph lieberman connecticut jim smith florida corinne watanabe hawaii jim jones idaho william guste louisiana hubert humphrey iii minnesota michael turpen oklahoma leroy zimmerman pennsylvania travis medlock south carolina mark meierhenry south dakota jim mattox texas david wilkinson utah jeffrey amestoy vermont state maryland stephen sachs attorney general ralph tyler iii assistant attorney general carmen shepard special assistant attorney general justice marshall delivered opinion question presented case whether state sales tax scheme taxes general interest magazines exempts newspapers religious professional trade sports journals violates first amendment guarantee freedom press since arkansas imposed tax receipts sales tangible personal property ark acts pp codified ark stat ann supp rate tax currently four percent gross receipts three percent ark stat ann supp additional one percent numerous items exempt state sales tax however include ross receipts gross proceeds derived sale newspapers newspaper exemption religious professional trade sports journals publications printed published within state sold regular subscriptions magazine exemption appellant arkansas writers project publishes arkansas times general interest monthly magazine circulation approximately magazine includes articles variety subjects including religion sports printed published arkansas sold mail subscriptions stands sales following audit appellee commissioner revenue assessed tax sales arkansas times appellant initially contested assessment eventually reached settlement state agreed pay tax beginning october however appellant reserved right renew challenge change tax law ruling drawing question validity arkansas exemption structure record subsequently minneapolis star tribune minnesota revenue held unconstitutional minnesota tax paper ink used production newspapers january relying authority appellant sought refund sales tax paid since october asserting magazine exemption must construed include arkansas times maintained subjecting arkansas times sales tax sales newspapers magazines exempt violated first fourteenth amendments commissioner denied appellant claim refund app juris statement exhausted available administrative remedies appellant filed complaint chancery pulaski county arkansas seeking review commissioner decision compliant also stated claim injunctive relief attorney fees parties stipulated arkansas times newspaper religious professional trade sports journal relevant time period appellant paid sales tax chancery granted appellant summary judgment construing create two categories magazines sold subscriptions one religious professional trade sports journals one publications published printed within state arkansas pulaski cty chancery mar arkansas times came within second category held magazine exempt sales tax appellant entitled refund determined resolution dispute statutory grounds made unnecessary address constitutional issues raised appellant claim arkansas reversed decision chancery ark construed creating single exemption held order qualify exemption magazine religious professional trade sports periodical concluding neither party questioned constitutionality exemption state failed address appellant first fourteenth amendment claims ibid petition rehearing issued supplementary opinion acknowledged appellant pursued constitutional claims discussed original opinion rejected appellant claims discriminatory treatment reasoning exemptions granted publications need considered avail appellant nothing wins argument immaterial exemption favor taxpayer may invalid discriminatory exemption fall tax arkansas times noted probable jurisdiction reverse ii threshold matter commissioner argues appellant standing challenge arkansas sales tax scheme extending reasoning contends since appellant conceded arkansas times neither newspaper religious professional trade sports journal asserted injury redressed favorable decision therefore meet requirements standing set forth valley forge christian college americans separation church state accept commissioner notion standing effectively insulate underinclusive statutes constitutional challenge proposition soundly rejected orr orr commissioner position inconsistent numerous decisions considered claims others similarly situated exempt operation state law adversely affecting claimant see armco hardesty carey brown police dept chicago mosley contrary commissioner assertion appellant alleged sufficient personal stake outcome litigation holding arkansas cour stand total bar appellant relief constitutional attack holds promise escape burden derives challenged statut orr orr supra iii cases clearly establish discriminatory tax press burdens rights protected first amendment see minneapolis star grosjean american press supra minneapolis star discrimination took two distinct forms first contrast generally applicable economic regulations press legitimately subject minnesota use tax treated press differently enterprises tax singl es publications treatment unique minnesota tax law second tax targeted small group newspapers due fact first paper ink exempt tax thus handful publishers pay tax even fewer pay significant amount tax types discrimination established even evidence improper censorial motive see illicit legislative intent sine qua non violation first amendment selective taxation press either singling press whole targeting individual members press poses particular danger abuse state power tax differentially opposed power tax generally gives government powerful weapon taxpayer selected state imposes generally applicable tax little cause concern need fear government destroy selected group taxpayers burdensome taxation must impose burden rest constituency facts case fundamental question whether tax singles press whole whether targets small group within press indicated minneapolis star genuinely nondiscriminatory tax receipts newspapers constitutionally permissible arkansas sales tax characterized nondiscriminatory evenly applied magazines contrary magazine exemption means arkansas magazines pay sales tax respect operates much way exemption minnesota use tax arkansas sales tax scheme treats magazines less favorably others suffers second type discrimination identified minneapolis star indeed case involves disturbing use selective taxation minneapolis star basis arkansas differentiates magazines particularly repugnant first amendment principles magazine tax status depends entirely content bove else first amendment means government power restrict expression message ideas subject matter content police dept chicago mosley see also carey brown regulations permit government discriminate basis content message tolerated first amendment regan time articles arkansas times uniformly devoted religion sports magazine exempt sales tax however articles deal variety subjects sometimes including religion sports commissioner determined magazine sales may taxed order determine whether magazine subject sales tax arkansas enforcement authorities must necessarily examine content message conveyed fcc league women voters california official scrutiny content publications basis imposing tax entirely incompatible first amendment guarantee freedom press see regan time supra arkansas system selective taxation evade strictures first amendment merely burden expression particular views specific magazines rejected similar distinction content viewpoint restrictions consolidated edison public service new york stated case first amendment hostility regulation extends restrictions particular viewpoints also prohibition public discussion entire topic see fcc league women voters california supra san diego plurality opinion carey brown supra requirements first amendment avoided fact arkansas grants exemption members media might publish discussions various subjects contained arkansas times example exempting newspapers tax see change fact state discriminates determining tax status magazines published arkansas hardly answers one person objection restriction speech another person outside control may speak regan taxation representation washington blackmun concurring see also virginia pharmacy bd virginia citizens consumer council aware general principle freedom speech may abridged speaker listeners come message means arkansas faces heavy burden attempting defend approach taxation magazines order justify differential taxation state must show regulation necessary serve compelling state interest narrowly drawn achieve end see minneapolis star commissioner advanced several state interests first asserts state general interest raising revenue recognized interest important one see explain selective imposition sales tax magazines others based solely content minneapolis star interest invoked support differential treatment press relation businesses ibid context noted interest raising revenue tanding alone justify special treatment press alternative means achieving interest without raising concerns first amendment clearly available state raise revenue taxing businesses generally avoiding censorial threat implicit tax singles press ibid omitted commissioner also suggests exemption religious professional trade sports journals intended encourage fledgling publishers limited audiences therefore access volume advertising revenues general interest magazines arkansas times brief appellee even assuming interest encouraging fledgling publications might compelling one find exemption religious professional trade sports journals narrowly tailored achieve end contrary exemption overinclusive underinclusive types magazines enumerated exempt regardless whether fledgling even lucrative religious professional trade sports journals pay sales tax contrast struggling general interest magazines struggling specialty magazines subjects specified ineligible favorable tax treatment finally commissioner asserted first time oral argument need foster communication state tr oral arg state interest might support blanket exemption press sales tax justify selective taxation certain publishers arkansas tax scheme fosters communication religion sports professional trade matters therefore serve alleged purpose significant way appellant argues arkansas tax scheme violates first amendment exempts newspapers tax magazines appellant contends applicable state regulations see nn supra critical distinction newspapers magazines format rather content newspapers distinguished magazines contain reports current events articles general interest distinctions magazines impermissible prior decisions appellant claims distinctions different members media also impermissible absent compelling justification hold today state selective application sales tax magazines unconstitutional therefore invalid ruling eliminates differential treatment newspapers magazines accordingly need decide whether distinction different types periodicals presents additional basis invalidating sales tax applied press iv chancery appellant asserted first fourteenth amendment claims well corresponding entitlement attorney fees found constitutional violation appellant urges us consider cause action order award attorney fees however state courts yet indicated whether exercise jurisdiction claim therefore remand give opportunity parties recognize federal state courts concurrent jurisdiction actions brought see martinez california although tax injunction act ordinarily precludes federal courts entertaining challenges assessment state taxes parties disagree however whether state must exercise jurisdiction cases leave courts remand consider necessity entertaining claim stated minneapolis star tax singles press targets individual publications within press places heavy burden state justify action case arkansas failed meet heavy burden advanced compelling justification selective taxation certain magazines tax therefore invalid first amendment accordingly reverse judgment arkansas remand proceedings inconsistent opinion ordered footnotes magazine exemption added ark acts regulations define publication pamphlet magazine journal periodical newspaper designed information entertainment general public segment thereof reproduced record term regular subscription defined purchase advance payment specified number issues publication certain period time delivered subscriber mail otherwise reproduced record appellant first amendment claims obviously intertwined interests arising equal protection clause see police dept chicago mosley however since arkansas sales tax system directly implicates freedom press analyze primarily first amendment terms see minneapolis star tribune minnesota revenue appellant maintains arkansas times arkansas publication pays sales tax app affidavit alan leveritt commissioner contends two periodicals addition arkansas times pay tax tr oral arg whether three arkansas magazines paying tax one burden tax clearly falls limited group publishers challenge made courts addressed either chancery arkansas since chancery construed magazine exemption cover sales arkansas times necessary reach issue arkansas ruled sales tax generally applicable regulation examine impact magazine exemption newspaper exemption ark chancery construed magazine exemption apply sales arkansas times therefore reach federal cause action arkansas reversed chancery construction statute held first amendment violation found necessary consider appellant claim attorney fees whether state courts must assume jurisdiction cases entirely clear see note section state remedy unconstitutional state taxation yale see also spencer south carolina tax aff equally divided course affirmance equally divided entitled precedential weight see neil biggers justice stevens concurring part concurring judgment extent opinion relies proposition government power restrict expression message ideas subject matter content see ante quoting police dept chicago mosley unable join however agree state burden justifying discrimination plainly failed accordingly join parts ii iv opinion concur judgment see separate opinions consolidated edison public service new york widmar vincent regan time see also fcc league women voters california justice scalia chief justice joins dissenting government displays enduring tendency silence facilitate silencing voices disapproves case judicial branch government principal restraint upon tendency upon judicial error requirement judges write opinions providing logical reasons treating one situation differently another dissent today decision provides rational basis distinguishing subsidy scheme challenge many others common unquestionably lawful thereby introduces first amendment law element arbitrariness ultimately erodes rather fosters important freedoms issue opinion dispute think evident tax exemption case rational basis sufficient sustain tax scheme ordinary equal protection attack see massachusetts board retirement murgia per curiam though assuredly narrowly tailored reasonably related legitimate goals encouraging small publishers limited audiences advertising revenues category state judgment includes publishers religious professional trade sports magazines avoiding collection taxes administrative cost exceeds tax proceeds see brief appellee exemption found invalid however pass strict scrutiny test applicable discriminatory restriction prohibition speech namely necessary serve compelling state interest narrowly drawn achieve end ante cf police department chicago mosley discriminatory ban picketing carey brown earlier decision minneapolis star tribune minnesota revenue application strict scrutiny test rests upon premise first amendment purposes denial exemption taxation equivalent regulation premise demonstrably erroneous consistently applied opinions long recognized first amendment contexts elsewhere reality tax exemptions credits deductions form subsidy administered tax system general rule legislature decision subsidize exercise fundamental right infringe right thus subject strict scrutiny regan taxation representation washington upholding denial tax exemption organization engaged lobbying even though veterans organizations received exemption regardless lobbying activities see also cammarano deduction lobbying activities buckley valeo declining apply strict scrutiny campaign finance law excludes certain candidates harris mcrae declining apply strict scrutiny legislative decision subsidize abortions even though medical procedures subsidized maher roe reason denial participation tax exemption subsidy scheme necessarily infringe fundamental right unlike direct restriction prohibition denial general rule significant coercive effect may course manipulated case courts available provide relief remotely case implausible sales tax generally applicable sales state enumerated exceptions meant inhibit effect inhibiting appellant publication perhaps stringent prophylactic rule appropriate consistently applied subsidy pertains expression particular viewpoint matter political concern tax exemption example expressly available publications take particular point view controversial issue foreign policy political speech accorded special protection elsewhere see fcc league women voters california invalidating ban editorializing recipients grants corporation public broadcasting part ground political speech entitled exacting degree first amendment protection connick myers discussing history first amendment protection political speech public employees red lion broadcasting fcc upholding fcc fairness doctrine imposes special obligations upon broadcasters regard controversial issues public importance need however realistically quite impossible extend speech degree protection exclusion subsidy one might think appropriate opposing shades political expression seeking majority casts doubt upon wide variety tax preferences subsidies draw distinctions based upon subject matter postal service example grants special bulk rate written material disseminated certain nonprofit organizations religious educational scientific philanthropic agricultural labor veterans fraternal organizations see domestic mail manual must preference justified compelling governmental need nonprofit organization devoted purpose dissemination information boxing example receive special rate kennedy center subsidized federal government amount million per year see authorized statute present classical contemporary music opera drama dance poetry subsidy subject strict scrutiny kinds expressive activity learned lectures political speeches excluded government research grant programs funding activities corporation public broadcasting see subject strict scrutiny provide money study exposition subjects others principled basis distinguish subsidization speech areas surely uphold subsidization strike decision today places granting denial protection within idiosyncratic discretion view threatens first amendment rights infinitely tax exemption issue dissent