Senate approves $5 strip club surcharge...to help fund sexual assault prevention...

[sws4420]

Patrons of sexually oriented businesses would be charged a $5 admission fee imposed by the state under legislation the Senate approved early Wednesday.

The money would go to sexual assault prevention and services, sexual assault research and indigent health care, said Sen. Royce West, a Dallas Democrat. Senators approved the measure 28-1 in the early morning hours as legislative bill passage deadlines approached.

"The victims of violent crimes and also those who cannot afford health care in the state of Texas thank you for your vote on this," West told fellow lawmakers.

Rep. Ellen Cohen, a Democrat from Houston and president of the Houston Area Women's Center, is the sponsor in the House, which approved a slightly different version of HB 1751 earlier in May.


http://www.news8austin.com/content/top_stories/default.asp?ArID=184733

[MedicCook]

I don't really agree with this. It sounds like a way to hurt the adult entertainment business. Now it will cost twice as much just to walk into the door of the club. Why are they not imposing a $5 surcharge against bars to go towards DWI victims foundation?

[sws4420]

I simply don't see the correlation between strip clubs and sexual assault. Why don't they auction off the possessions of convicted rapists? At least that's related.

[MedicCook]

It is because strip clubs have had a bad rap for years. People who have never been to a strip club have no idea what it is that goes on in there. There are always going to be some bad places like with any business but most of these club are already held to strict guidelines.

[sws4420]

I haven't been to one since my bachelor party.

[MedicCook]

I have been to a handful over the years. Some where dumps and a some where middle to upper class. Then you have the strip club (topless) vs the juice bar (nude).