Saturday, January 29, 2011

Trash the tanning tax

At a House Ways and Means Committee hearing on Wednesday, White House chief economic advisor Austan Goolsbee was asked about the 10% tax on tanning services whether or not it was in fact a tax. Mr. Goolsbee said sun tanning was a choice and not a tax and belittled the livelihood of tens of thousands of hardworking Americans employed in this industry.
"Rather than scoffing at small business owners and employees in the indoor tanning industry," ITA President Dan Humiston said, "we encourage policy makers in Washington to support the men and women in our industry who are looking to create jobs and expand economic opportunity. Repealing the 10% tan tax -- which the Administration seems to think is not a tax -- would be an important place to start."
Click here to view the exchange between Rep. Pat Tiberi and Mr. Goolsbee at the Ways and Means Committee hearing.


The Committee issued a policy document pointing out the discrepancy between administration claims of not raising taxes and the 10% levy on tanning.
The Indoor Tanning Association is a national trade association representing all major manufacturers, suppliers and distributors of indoor sun tanning equipment as well as professional sun tanning facilities nationwide.  The industry includes approximately 18,000 small businesses employing approximately 120,000 people.

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