LANSING, MI — Democratic Sen. Ray Basham believes that most of the state’s social woes can be laid at the feet of the adult entertainment industry – and that it should be forced to pay for its sins. As is traditional, that punishment will hopefully come by way of increased taxation and licensing. Basham justifies his selective targeting of the exotic dance world by observing that “We had a young lady a couple years ago who died working in an adult entertainment facility in Lincoln Park.”
The “young lady” in question had been 17-year-old Stephanie Brown, who worked as a dancer illegally and suffered an overdose of cocaine in 2007.
Basham insists that Brown’s death and the attempt by a new Hustler club to join the 81 already legally existing and licensed clubs in the state has motivated his proposal that everyone employed by an adult club apply for a special-work permit and that all guests who enter the establishment accrue a $3-per-visitor excise fee to be paid to the state by the club.
Angelina Spencer, executive director of the Association of Club Executives doesn’t think the fees or licenses have anything to do with protecting minors or social order.
“We’re an easy scapegoat,” the Lancing State Journal quotes her as observing.
Additionally, Spencer questions the safety of dancers whose identities could be revealed by such licensing requirements and uncertain protection of that information, observing that “Many dancers use stage names to separate their private and public lives.”
According to Michigan ACLU legislative director Shelli Weisberg, that’s not an unrealistic concern.
“A permitting process is generally public,” Weisberg points out. “Someone could, potentially, find one of these employees. It does seem like a safety concern.” She continues by stating that “Anecdotally, I have heard stories especially of women being stalked. Clubs take great measures to see their workers are protected.”
Dancer and club employee safety aside, Basham is focused on the good works he believes his proposal and produce, with fees targeting the state’s Domestic Violence Prevention and Treatment Fund. The senator insists that domestic violence is directly related to the activities indulged in within the walls of adult entertainment establishments, insisting that “Those kinds of facilities create and harbor those kinds of problems.”
Spencer, unsurprisingly, disagrees.
“I haven’t seen a scientifically reviewed study that correlates those claims. It’s like proposing a flower tax to help pay for funerals because you always see flowers at funerals,” she opines.
Also unsurprisingly, Basham admits that he is unable to provide research or studies to support his legislation and the strongly held philosophy upon which is relies for support.
While Spencer applauds Basham’s desire to help women in distress, she proposes that similar treatment for alcohol and prescription drugs might find more scientific support, given the high correlation between them and domestic violence.
“Michigan is one of the worst cash-strapped states in the union,” she observes. “I understand the need to generate revenue, but the state of Michigan has better things to concern itself with. How about education and job growth?”
In addition to an utter lack of credible evidence to support Basham’s claims, many believe that the pole tax is unconstitutional, based on findings in court cases associated with states that have attempted to enact them.
