AUSTIN, TX – The Texas government can’t seem to decide whether adult entertainment in the state exploits women or is itself something to be exploited. On a vote that received little debate and passed the Texas House of Representatives by a whopping 110-28 margin, a bill sponsored by freshman Democrat Rep. Ellen Cohen imposes a $5 tax on all patrons who enter a strip club in the state of Texas.While some have argued that taxing adult services amounts to a government sanction of the activity, the stated purpose of the measure is to raise 18 million dollars for the state’s sexual assault programs. Although there is no known link between strip club patrons and sexual predators, some critics believe that the Texas measure nonetheless suggests that the one is somehow connected to the other – and therefore the men and women who visit strip clubs should pay the bill for sexual assault programs. Additionally, what happens to funds that are collected above and beyond the 18 million earmarked for sexual assault programs is not immediately clear.

This latest “sin tax” effort from the Democrats is not the first time the state of Texas has looked at taking some of the profits from adult entertainment businesses. In 2004, Governor Rick Perry suggested a similar measure, saying the funds would be used to lower property taxes and raise funds for public schools; that measure was ridiculed by opponents as “tassels for tots” and never picked up steam.

Not to be outdone, the Texas state Senate is also working on its own version of a sin tax. Sen. Royce West, another Democrat, is sponsoring legislation that would require strip club businesses to pay an annually recurring $5000 registration fee.

“There’s broad-based support for it in the Senate,” West said. “It will be interesting to hear the argument against it. I would think that a fee charged to see women exhibit their bodies would be welcomed by those that frequent those establishments. A portion of the money they spend would go to worthwhile cause.”

Oddly though, the “fee” being charged in this case is not to see women exhibit their bodies, as is the case in the House measure, but rather to operate a live adult entertainment business in Texas. And since only a “portion” of the money would go to a “worthwhile cause,” that has some Texas residents wondering if the rest of the money will just end up in the hands of politicians.