Money shot: Prostitute tax in Nevada defeated

It's not as good as getting a $5 off coupon, but prostitutes and their patrons in Nevada got a break last week when state lawmakers defeated a $5 tax on each customer served by a prostitute.

The tax would have raised an estimated $2 million a year in Nevada, which is dealing with a $3 billion budget crisis, high foreclosures, falling tourism dollars and a deep recession, according to a Reuters story.

Prostitution is legal in Nevada, but some lawmakers felt taxing it more would legitimize an industry they regard as distasteful and morally bankrupt. A Nevada state Senate committee voted 4-3 to kill the tax proposal.