An Illinois lawmaker wants to tax admissions to strip clubs to raise money for sexual assault prevention, arguing that a mix of alcohol and nude dancing contribute to violence against women.
Sen. Toi Hutchinson, D-Olympia Fields, is calling for the clubs to pay a $5 tax for every customer. She plans a news conference Friday with Lt. Gov. Sheila Simon and women’s advocates to promote the legislation.
Simon said Thursday that she has no problem with the state collecting money from an industry that she considers harmful.
“I think it’s fair to lean on those sorts of entertainment to provide money for services intended to reduce violence toward women,” said Simon, a Carbondale Democrat.
Strip clubs strongly object to the plan — at least at the $5 level — and disagree with the claim that their clubs contribute to violence. They predict a tax would force smaller clubs to close their doors, putting people out of work.