Iowa Senator Takes Aim At Sex Workers

Washington--Hookers beware. Iowa Republican Senator Charles Grassley wants to use the U.S. tax code to put you in jail.

A Senate committee approved legislation yesterday that would target criminals in the sex-slave trade as well as "run-of-the-mill pimps" using a new provision of the U.S. tax code.

"This vile crime is under our noses in the United States," Grassley said, "And it's a no-brainer to have the IRS go after sex-traffickers. Prosecuting these tax code violations can get these guys off the street and yank from their grasp the girls and women they exploit."

Using a mind-bending Catch-22, the new law will make it even more illegal to be a prostitute in this country. Pimps will now face up to ten years in prison for each person who works for them without filing a proper W-2. Also, the law will require more jail time for prostitution offenses and allows the IRS to guestimate unreported wages when assessing fines for sex workers.

(Now, as a "john", can I write off my weekly visits to the local massage parlor as a tax deduction?)

Some voices from the sex industry are expressing concern that the law will be too indiscriminate when choosing who to prosecute.

"Forced labor, kidnapping should be targeted," said Carol Leigh of the San Francisco sex worker advocacy group, BAYSWAN, "but this legislation broadly targets the sex trade in general and could target your local strip club."

Although Leigh agrees that legislation is needed, she believes this law takes us a step back when it comes to protecting women in the sex trade.

"We want laws enforced against those who abuse us, against those who are violent, and enforcement of labor regulations," Leigh said. "This is the only truly effective way to protect the welfare of the women who work in the industry."