GOP leaps to the defense of the tanning industry

While the Senate considered the health care bill, the GOP honed in on a provision that would increase taxes on tanning salons.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• gop
• conservatives
• senate
• health
• care
• bill
• tanning
• salon

[kaysandesses]

Anyone with the slightest bit of sense knows Boehner is behind this faux outrage.

[callouschristian]

I didn't think there was a tanning bed lobby but I guess anyone can bribe a GOP congressperson.

[lakepunk]

Good thank God someone is doing something to stop these misinformed girls from intentionally damaging the skin. Look at anyone who started tanning in the 80's. They all have wrinkles and many of them have to get treatment for skin cancer. If your going to bitch about money. I think I'll just go light up a cigarette and put the tanning bed on high. Then you will all be paying for my treatment in 30 years.

[blur880]

@Axekick11 What does rare have to do with anything? I'd say nothing. What does writing my congressman have to do with anything? And, my first comment was not sarcastic, but thanks for agreeing. :) Perhaps I was presenting too much of a legal argument--or at least thinking in those terms. I'm thinking of this all on a constitutional/jurisprudence level--not a "this is okay just because or because I like it" level.

[Axekick11]

@blur880 look, shark attacks are extremely rare, more so than toll bridges and roads. I don't know what point you're attempting to make with this repeated back and forth, I truly do not see one. You started with a sarcastic comment that I agreed with and since you wont drop it. Don't like it, write your congressman, don't like him, vote him out or relocated to another country.

[blur880]

@Axekick11 Again, tolls are completely different. Tolls are taxing the use of specific roads--to help pay for those roads. It is not an absolute tax on a behavior. You just take other roads. Also, tolls are extremely rare throughout the country. And, lastly, and most importantly, perhaps, tolls are done on the local and state level. Local levels have different constitutional power sources, so taxing is totally different. So, it's different in about every way.

[Axekick11]

@blur880 If you've ever been on a toll highway such as in central Florida, or on a toll bridge then your driving has been taxed.

You began this with "where do we draw the line" and my point is that type of thinking doesn't apply to a constantly evolving and changing society. I'm not as opposed to being taxed as I am to tax revenues being wasted.

[blur880]

@Axekick11

Driving isn't taxed. Oil is taxed. This is the difference. The activity of tanning is being taxed--beyond sales tax. The activity of driving is not taxed. Perhaps electric cars help explain the difference to you. I'm not talking about property tax, either. It is a completely different type of tax.

Sounds like you are just saying yes to everything for the fun of it. I dought you'd like to be taxed at 80% of your income. But, your "yeses" seem to be adding up.

[blur880]

@Axekick11 Well, the problem is that it isn't what I personally want or care about or what you want or care about. Hopefully, most people would agree that taxing abortions would be kind of crazy. We do have a constitution and hundreds of years of jurisprudence--hopefully things that have meaning.

As far as winter vacations, I was thinking more ski lodge and mountains, but whatever. Bahama's poses danagers, too. You have to get there for one, which is a risk to one's health. Sharks?

[Axekick11]

@blur880 You could tax abortions a million percent for all I care. I didn't know that tatttoos were hazardous if regulated, but if so, fine, tax it. Skiing, check, Winter vacations? like to Bahama's, how is that dangerous? I dont want to pick and choose. Driving is taxed via gasoline tax and automobile tax, pay road and bridge taxes, drivers lisence tax, car insurance taxes, etc.. but imposing a tax per accrued per mile suits me too.

[blur880]

@Axekick11 Think your statement through. Tax anything that is voluntary and hazardous---okay most abortions fit that category. Driving a car is voluntary and more dangerous than sky diving. Tattoos--you cares if it is regulated. It is voluntary and hazardous. You can't just pick and choose.

Let's just tax skiing, winter vacations, boat rides, swimming, bull riding, rock climbing.

Another problem is that many "hazardous" activities have many health benefits--see alcohol for one.

[blur880]

@Axekick11 First, we have nothing yet. Second, my issue has nothing to do with government oversigh and regulations on the industry. Rather, it is about the legal ramifications of funding such legislation. I'm not against reform. I'm against stupid legislation.