Tanning tax angers American salon owners
guardian UK ^ | December 23, 2009
Posted on Wednesday, December 23, 2009 12:17:47 PM by La Lydia
The health reform bill passing through Congress may hold out the hope to 30 million Americans that they will at last be able to get medical insurance, but for another 30 million people it will mean more taxes: the frequenters of indoor tanning salons. In a last-minute change to the Senate bill that was agreed on Friday, a 10% tax was introduced into the legislation on all indoor tanning sessions as a way of reducing the cost of extending healthcare to many of the medically uninsured. Democratic organisers expect the levy to bring in almost $3bn over 10 years.
The move has angered owners of the 20,000 tanning salons that are thought to exist across America who protest this is additional punishment for an industry that is already suffering extreme pain as a result of the economic downturn.
Dan Humiston, president of the Indoor Tanning Association and the owner of 34 salons in New York state, said they was being picked upon. "Out of all industries you could chose, why the tanning industry? Because we're so wealthy? Because we're making so much money? From customers who pay $6 for a tan? No, it's because we're not going to fight back..."
The bulletin boards of tantoday.com, a web forum for salon owners, were full of irate posts. One said: "Thanks Obama for helping a family of 4 trying to get on track and plan for our kids future in a struggling economy after 5 years of personal financial struggles. Please no more help for us small business owners, I can't afford it!"...
(Excerpt) Read more at guardian.co.uk ...
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The last quote was priceless.