Apparently Nevada's $2 billion budget deficit isn't big enough for state lawmakers to consider legalizing prostitution in the state's largest counties: Lawmakers meeting in Carson City for the biennial legislative session scuttled a bill draft that would have allowed the mayor of Las Vegas to issue up to three brothel licenses.
After agreeing in December to discuss the idea with Nevada Brothel Owners Association President George Flint, Assembly Speaker Barbara Buckley broke the bad news to him last week. Buckley explained her rationale to the Las Vegas Sun: "I do not support legalizing prostitution."
Contrary to long-held myth, prostitution is illegal both in the city of Las Vegas and in Clark County, where Las Vegas is located.
Brothel owners were seeking to overturn a state law that allows prostitution only in counties with less than 400,000 residents. Both Clark and Washoe counties, where Reno is located, exceed that limit.
Brothel owners were willing to pay taxes for the chance to expand near Nevada's biggest cities.