Posted 5/10/2007 05:38:00 PM by Douglas

We all know strip clubs are an easy target for the bloody do-gooders that want to keep lonely guys from seeing boobs while they drink a beer. That's easy enough to understand, because who is going to defend them? But that doesn't mean anyone can just extort from them, does it? Meet Ellen Cohen.

Strip club patrons will have to pay an extra $5 at the door, under a bill that passed the House on Wednesday.

State Rep. Ellen Cohen, a freshman Democrat and president of the Houston Area Women's Center, sponsored the measure, which would provide $18 million for sexual-assault programs by tacking a $5 state fee on admissions to sexually oriented businesses that provide live entertainment.

"I am simply thrilled that this bill will help provide much-needed services for sexual assault survivors," Cohen said. "To me, this victory was in honor of the over 1.9 million sexual assault survivors in Texas today and in memory of those who did not survive."

First off, I don't see the connection. Women's centers need funding, too, but why get it from strip club cover charges? If you're going to extort money from strip club patron, why not put it to something that will have a greater impact on those that work there? Regrettable tattoo removal? How 'bout counseling and/or lessons for the dancer's kids in the delicate art of awkward breakfast conversation with strange men?

But the do-gooding puritanicals that want to legislate morality will introducing this stupid bullshit while the titty-bars rake in money hand over lap. Meanwhile, Houston spends millions in a vain attempt to keep two consenting adults from doing what they want to in a dimly lit bar.

It's a big bill for so few clothes.

The city has spent nearly $1.3 million since 1997 on outside lawyers to defend a sweeping sexually oriented business ordinance against legal challenges from topless bars, adult book stores and "modeling" studios, officials say.

That figure doesn't include the likely equal amount of time city lawyers have spent over the years supporting and advising the outside legal team.

Sleep tight, Houston, knowing the city and state are working overtime protecting the public from your dangerous boner.

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