House Republicans Put Forth a Bill To Revoke the Tanning Tax

A team of House Republicans put forth legislation on Friday to repeal the ten percent tax on services of tanning, explaining that the measure taken in Obama’s health reform is a negative thing for owners of small businesses across the country.

Rep. Michael Grimm who is a New York freshman Republican (in his first term) said that the dedicated middle class and the small businesses of America need not have to foot the bill for Obama Health Care Reform. With the possibility of economic growth slowing down and job losses as the health care law imposes heavy taxes unfairly on consumers and business owners of the nation.

Another freshman co-sponsor of the legislation, Rep. Phil Roe says that around eighteen thousand small businesses that employ 120,000 employees can be subject to filing business tax due to the law. The tax along with the recession has brought around three thousand tanning businesses to close down since 2009 which is fifteen percent of the industry, Roe stated when asked about the creation of the repeal bill.

The often named tan tax became a common punch line during protracted negotiations over the new law, as critics of Obama health legislation often cited it as an example of federal government overreach on an individual industry not directly involved in health care.

During the healthcare debate of 2009 and 2010, the tanning tax, that has been put to action since July 1 was the topic of dispute amongst many members of congress. It was said by the supporters that the tax is required for the Patient Protection and Affordable Act that was put to effect in March 2010 by Obama. Raising taxes 2010 on the industry would reduce tanning and therefore reduce skin cancer health care costs was the feeling at the time.