Religious Right not acting very Fiscally Conservative as 2,500 Kansans could lose their Jobs

From Eric Dondero:

The Kansas House has been furiously debating new legislation to severely restrict gentleman's clubs in the State. A split has developed between the libertarian wing, and social conservatives.

From The Capitol Journal "Bold Strip Club Bill bumped to Senate":

A majority of House members cast aside calls for moderation Thursday by adopting for the second time a bill imposing broad regulations of the Kansas adult entertainment industry resisted by Senate leadership.

House Republicans with a libertarian streak sought to amend the bill to appease Senate critics and improve chances of sending a slice of reform to Gov. Sam Brownback. However, passionate speeches by supporters of the full regulatory package pointing to side effects of adult bookstores and topless clubs prompted rejection of the bid for middle ground.

The three leading social conservatives: Reps. Owen Donohoe, R-Shawnee (photo - right), Rep. Forrest Knox, R-Altoona and Joe Patton, R-Topeka (photo - left). The two libertarian-leaning legislators who fought for "moderation" in the legislation: Rep. Amanda Grossrode and Rep. Willie Prescott, R-Osage City.

If passed, the Bill would limit adult-oriented businesses from locating 1,000 feet near a school, church, or library.

Additionally:

Existing clubs would no longer be able to offer nude performances. Entertainers wouldn’t be permitted to touch customers because all dancers would remain 6 feet from clients and perform on an elevated stage. Each of these specialty businesses would close from midnight to 6 a.m., while normal bars could still stay open until 2 a.m.

The libertarian wing tried to moderate provisions which would make the Bill more likely for Senate passage. Some even brought up the issue of jobs.

Rep. Willie Prescott, R-Osage City, offered an amendment that would have deleted nearly all provisions of the bill touted by Knox.

It would have retained the 1,000-foot distance requirement for new adult businesses, but this more modest approach didn't have sufficient support to advance in the Republican-led House.

A proposed amendment that would have allowed strip clubs in Junction City to remain open until 2 a.m. also went down to defeat.

From LJWorld.com:

Some critics of the bill said the measure would shut down such businesses and put at least 2,500 Kansans out of work.

The clubs are particularly popular on the Kansas-side of the metro-Kansas City area.

As passed, the measure seems doomed for passage by the upper chamber.

Note - Prescott (photo), a farmer, is House Majority Whip. Grossrode, a freshman, was elected in 2010 as a Tea Party Republican.

Editor's comment - Honestly, stuff like this doesn't help relations between social conservatives and libertarian Republicans going into the 2012 election season, when the Party should be united against the Democrats.