The end of the “loophole” is near. On October 28th or 29th, the RI General Assembly will come back and vote on a new version of a prostitution bill. WRNI reports House, Senate Close to Agreement on banning indoor prostitution.
Negotiators for the House, Senate and law enforcement officials, including the state police and Atty. Gen. Patrick Lynch’s office, have been involved in negotiations to forge a compromise between the two chambers.
Sen. Rhoda Perry, D-Providence, argued against the tough penalties but now says she is resigned to their approval. Perry says she is pleased that the compromise bill will include sanctions against customers of prostitutes, commonly referred to as `Johns.’
The measure is expected to be approved when the Assembly reconvenes on October 28.
I am sad that the politicians have given up, and decided to appease the zealots who have been pushing for this horrible bill. We all know that all this will do is hurt the women who are doing sex-work. I think the politicians are hoping for a little positive press, seeing that the Providence Journal’s Editorial page has been harping on this subject. However, I do find it ironic that the projo claims that changing this law will help the women, when they (the projo) keep publishing names of the women. They did it just today, revealing the name of the woman who was attacked by the “Craigslist Killer”. (I will not link, because I don’t wish to further publicize names of women who are victims).
I have not seen the bill yet, but I doubt that it will not pass. If Rhoda Perry has even resigned herself to its passage, it is almost a guarantee that Rhode Island will pass the law. I am starting to think I might want to pick up my camera again, passing a law and enforcing it equally are two different things. I have a feeling that the real show is about to begin, I mean this is Rhode Island, where the police were taking money from the spas.