Call for OHS in porn industry; just gotta be California

Cartoon: By Ted Rall 

You tend to get used to crazy, or at least quirky or eccentric ideas coming out of California, but LA County Measure B, the safe sex initiative really takes the cake. Funded and placed on the ballot by the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, it would require the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health to license and permit adult movie productions in the county and require performers to wear condoms along with on-set inspections and enforcement by county personnel.

On this occasion you can’t even blame the politicians for it.  The Libertarian Party and the Republicans have both come out in opposition to it, and the Democrats are being more circumspect by declining to endorse it.  Even business groups and healthcare advocates are opposing it: 

Adding to the groundswell of opposition building against Measure B, the so-called "Safer Sex" initiative on the Nov. 6th ballot in Los Angeles County, the Republican and Libertarian Parties of Los Angeles County both joined in announcing their opposition to the controversial ballot initiative, said the No on Government Waste Committee.  

"With the Republican and Libertarian Parties both announcing their opposition to Measure B, the truth about this ridiculous proposal is finally getting out and voters are beginning to see what the consequences will be for taxpayers and public health should Measure B pass," said James Lee, communications director for the No on Government Waste Committee. "As ballots are being mailed out this week to voters, they can read the arguments for themselves and come to the same conclusions both parties did in opposing this measure.” … 

According to the California Dept. of Public Health, from June 30, 2008 to June 30, 2011, there were 6,447 new cases of HIV reported in Los Angeles County, but only two were adult performers, both of whom did not contract the disease on-set. Since 2004, there have been no documented cases of HIV transmission on an adult entertainment set. … 

No on Government Waste Committee
The Committee is comprised of entertainment companies, local business organizations, community activists, adult entertainment performers and healthcare advocates who oppose Measure B's plan for creating an underfunded government inspection program diverting badly needed resources from local community clinics and underserved minority communities. 

H/t Libertarian Republican