Stormy Daniels lobbies in Springfield against 'sin tax'

SPRINGFIELD - Adult entertainer Stephanie Clifford, better known as Stormy Daniels, briefly appeared outside the Illinois Capitol on Friday to protest a state tax she called "sexist and wrong."

The Live Adult Entertainment Facility Surcharge Act became law six years ago and is commonly referred to as a "sin tax," though Daniels called it a "pole tax." It requires all facilities that serve or allow the consumption of alcohol and have live adult entertainment to either charge customers a $3 fee or pay a flat rate to the state.

The tax money goes into a fund that supports organizations that provide assistance to victims of sexual assault.

Daniels said rape crisis centers and other such groups "should be funded by the entire community."

The state's tax "incorrectly connects adult entertainment to rape, as though strip clubs cause rape," she said. "Though the hypocrites, zealots and prudes of the world would like you to believe that there is a connection, it simply isn't true."

There is no evidence, Daniels added, connecting adult entertainers and their places of business to rape.

"There's plenty of evidence connecting members of the clergy, and the Catholic Church in particular, with rape," she said. "Where's their special tax?"

Daniels read from prepared remarks in a brief appearance that lasted about two minutes. She said the fee causes strip clubs to raise their prices, which in turn drives away customers and "takes money out of the G-strings of the hardworking strippers of Illinois."

Daniels, whose Friday schedule included a book-signing event and late-night performance at a local adult entertainment facility, disappointed the small crowd at the protest with her quick appearance.

According to a spokesman for the secretary of state's office, organizers for the event had a permit for space in front of the statue of Abraham Lincoln on the east side of the Capitol from noon until 1:15 p.m., and another inside the statehouse's rotunda from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. The building staff had set up a podium and chairs.

In an email, though, a spokesperson for Daniels said her team had no part in organizing the protest. She was only asked to make a statement at 1 p.m., which she did, and her day was otherwise organized around "a tight schedule we'd planned around already."