Pimps and Congressmen (but I repeat myself)

Yeah, it must be nearing election time. Via USA Today

Pimps and sex traffickers could soon find themselves being chased by tax collectors, not just the vice squad.

Sen. Charles Grassley, chairman of the tax-writing Senate Finance Committee, wants the Internal Revenue Service to chase after pimps and sex traffickers with the same fervor it stalked gangster Al Capone for tax evasion.

Grassley, R-Iowa, would hit pimps with fines and lengthy prison sentences for failing to file employment forms and withhold taxes for the women and girls under their command.

The proposal would make certain tax crimes a felony when the money comes from a criminal activity. A one-year prison sentence and $25,000 fine would become a 10-year sentence and $50,000 fine for each employment form that a pimp or sex trafficker fails to file.

Grassley planned to propose the penalties when his panel meets Wednesday.

“The thugs who run these trafficking rings are exploiting society’s poorest girls and women for personal gain,” Grassley said. “The IRS goes after drug traffickers. It can go after sex traffickers.”

That whole drug war thing has been going so well that it is time to branch out. Of course, another way to protect these women would be to legalize prostitution and afford prostitutes the same legal protections as any other workers.

It is interesting that sex can be legally given away, but not legally sold. Can the reader think of any other such services or products?

Posted on June 27th, 2006 by pwyll
Filed under: nanny state, politics

2 Responses to “Pimps and Congressmen (but I repeat myself)”

  1. NOTR, on June 28th, 2006 at 3:48 pm Said:

    Ah yes, the War on Drugs and War on Poverty. Both are shameful examples of what happens when the government tries to “hep someone.” I keep waiting for some politician to stand up and demand an “exit strategy.” If we ever needed to declare victory on anything and end it, it is these two continuing cancers.

  2. Paco Malo, on June 29th, 2006 at 5:27 pm Said:

    I’ve followed the antics of Senator Charles Grassley over the years. This latest missive is just more of his trademark foolishness.

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