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Tanning Tax
12/27/09 - 06:09 PM
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Mary Scott Speigner - bio
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click for larger image Panama City, Fla:

There’s a couple of ways the Senate plans to pay for the $871 billion health care bill, including increasing the Medicare payroll tax on high income families.

But one you maybe haven’t heard of is 10% tax on indoor tanning.

On Christmas Eve, their version passed, causing tanning enthusiasts to speak out.

Kami Harper says her time in the tanning bed is some of the only alone time she has all week with a six month old little boy to take care of.

“It’s very relaxing… very relaxing,” said Harper.

She’s one of many people opposed to the tax increase.  “I feel that the government shouldn’t tell me what I can and cannot do with my body it’s my body. I can tan when I want to,” said Kayla Trawick.  She tans several times a week and thinks even though healthcare reform is necessary, taxing one of her favorite activities isn’t right.

“Whenever I’m having a bad day I look forward to it because it’s something I can go and do by myself,” said Trawick.

Supporters of the tax hope it will discourage people from using tanning beds.  According to the World Health Organization, tanning under 30 has been associated with a 75% increase in melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer. 

“I’m aware of what can happen and I don’t think they should be telling me what to do,” said Trawick.

Harper and others believe they can control the health risks.

“I put lotion on everywhere on my body and I make sure every piece of my body gets covered,” said Harper.

But the American Cancer Society and WHO classified tanning beds in its highest cancer risk category - “carcinogenic to humans.”  They say the benefits claimed by tanning beds are “too difficult to quantify.”  Knowing those risks, doesn’t stop people from tanning.

“I’m not going to change.  I’m not going to quit coming,” said Michael Campbell.

This tanning tax replaced the 5% tax on elective cosmetic procedures.  It was greatly lobbied against by plastic surgeons and dermatologists.

The bill must be passed by the House and signed by the President before it will be enacted.

User Comments

then they would fine us for littering, and there would be taxes assesed to that, we just need to kick their sorry butts out of office next election.

Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)  on  12/28  at  01:14 PM

Alright, Gator, you grab one end of the tanning bed, I’ll grab the other and let’s see if we can toss it over the side of the boat into Boston harbor…

That’d make one helluva tea party.

Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)  on  12/28  at  12:51 PM

I am so frakkin’ tired of this democratic ideology of “tax everything!”  The government needs to quit spending so much damn money and let the people spend their money the way they see fit.

Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)  on  12/28  at  12:46 PM

well gammie, i guess there should be a tax on items that you eat that contain high levels of fat? it causes people to get fat, and cause heart disease? thats one of the next things. lets see, cars cause deaths so lets tax the hell out of that, opps they already did. hummm what else… theres been a link between cell phones and brain cancer, tax the hell out of that. it has nothing to do with safety and who is paying, they want your freedom!!

Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)  on  12/28  at  06:56 AM

The kind of people who tan are the people who want to be dark.  The people who want to be dark are most likely the ones who get melanoma.  The ones who get melanoma are the ones who end up getting skin spots removed or even more serious, getting other in-curable forms of cancer.  They are the ones who decided that they can do what they want with their body, yet I’m the one who ends up paying for their healthcare when they can’t work due to their condition.  Tax on tanning beds? I say good.  Get over it people.

Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)  on  12/28  at  12:35 AM

ebernays, i think the big deal isnt the money, its govt taking over our lives, limiting freedom. get used to it, we have 3 more years of this kind of stuff, the issues and limitations are only going to get bigger and larger freedom grab. the question is from whatever party is next in office, can they repeal all this crap and give is back our freedoms, and get their hands out of our bank accounts?

Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)  on  12/27  at  09:55 PM

So let’s add another 10% tax to gas,power, and water. The point is the government keep rising their budget on the back of business and the working person. let just have a 100% tax and let the government give us all our need and wants.

Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)  on  12/27  at  09:06 PM

What is a 10% tax?  If a tanning session costs $6, that means a tax of 60¢. Is this really a budget buster for tanning salon owners and users?

Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)  on  12/27  at  09:01 PM

People is giving the Government the right’s to tax any thing. Most people was thinking it was good to add the tax on smoker’s But it was only open the door to tax any thing that the government thinks that is not good for the people.

Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)  on  12/27  at  09:01 PM
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