One Less Thing To Worry About, Courtesy of "Chuck" Grassley

I don't know nearly as much as Chuck when it comes to many things, but I don't think he's found an answer to this one.

This article, widely published today and yesterday, reminds us that we should have put Art Small in office. Of course it's a good idea to punish people who kidnap little kids and sell them for sex, Charles, but I get the sense that the same people who do that are just about as likely to pay their taxes as the people who get busted for failing to pay their marijuana tax.

Oh, by the way. while he was doing this, he was also voting to restrict our freedom of speech by banning the flag burning.

Grassley: 'It's a no-brainer to have the IRS go after sex traffickers'

The Senate Finance Committee is expected to vote Wednesday morning on the pimp tax. The bill also calls for more jail time for sex workers.

If passed, the provision will authorize at least $2 million toward the establishment of an office in the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation unit to prosecute unlawful sex workers for violations of tax laws.

"Recent headlines have focused on sex trafficking in connection with the World Cup in Germany," Grassley said. "This vile crime is under our noses in the United States, 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."

Grassley said the problem is "especially horrible" when underage girls are involved.

Asked if taxing sex workers would legitimize their trade, a Grassley spokesman said the goal was simply to find "yet another alternative to track the money flowing in this industry to get at potential criminals."

Currently, the IRS has to prove a prostitute's or pimp's income to pursue a tax law violation. But under Grassley's proposal, a pimp could get up to 10 years in prison for each prostitute for whom the pimp hasn't filed a W-2, which means a pimp caught with 10 unregistered prostitutes faces a century in prison.

Carol Leigh, a representative of the Bay Area Sex Worker Advocacy Network in San Francisco, California, called the proposal short-sighted.

"Forced labor, kidnapping should be targeted. But this legislation broadly targets the sex trade in general, and could target your local strip club," Leigh said. "We want laws enforced against those who abuse us, against those who are violent, and enforcement of labor regulations. That is the only truly effective way to protect the welfare of the women who work in the industry."

  Leach Votes to Cut Estate Tax

By Jason Friedman

"Well, it looks like the House leadership is putting the reins on Jim Leach these days, despite the fact that its election season when he likes to remind of us of his moderate credentials.  Leach voted yesterday for the Bill Thomas plan to gut the estate tax.  Long an opponent of full repeal of the estate tax, Leach gave the repealers most of what they want. The bill exempts almost all estates from tax, slashes the tax rates on the rest and will cost at least $760 billion during its first full decade.

Another $600 billion would be added to the deficit along with an additional $160 billion in the interest on that borrowing, to be paid backby future generations so today's wealthiest families can get another Republican tax break.

Dave brought the staff together to talk about the bill and the vote.

"After thirty years in Congress, Leach has apparently decided it is more important to give millionaires a big tax break than it is to balance the budget, more important to heap more debt on the backs of middle-income families than it is to assure that our critical needs are met," he told us.

Dave reminded us about Leach's deciding committee vote earlier this week against an amendment to force companies that seek government financing for exporting to pledge to hire American workers at "livable wages."  He noted that the amendment which failed 33-34 would have passed if Leach truly represented the interests of the working people of Iowa's 2nd District.

As the meeting broke up, a volunteer that overheard part of the conversation asked, "So, what are Leach's priorities for middle-income Iowans?"  We looked at each other in complete silence.

We'll keep looking.....

Jason Friedman, Communications Director
Loebsack for Congress
385 E. College Street
Iowa City, IA 52240
(319) 321-5884www.loebsackforcongress.org