Filed under: hookers, people from rhode island | Tags: crime, prostitution, rhode island, sadness

The anti-prostitution bill passed the Senate tonight. Here’s the Providence Journal story, and my (admittedly highly opinionated and angry) take. The governor will, I think, sign the bill tomorrow, and then it goes into effect immediately. That means no time for the women in the spas to find other jobs, or even look for them, mainly in a county pushing 14% unemployment and a real unemployment rate of over 21%. It also, of course, means a lot more rape and violence and women going to jail for non-violent crimes; the first offense is punishable by up to six months in prison. During the House committee meeting the other night, one Representative asked how much implementation would cost; nobody had checked. Later, that same Rep suggested job training, counseling and HIV risk education in lieu of jail time; he was told by the committee chairman that the state probably couldn’t afford that. But hey, they’re sure fixing that Asian spa problem! Right?
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