"Burned By Taxes"

Feeling burned: Tanning salon owners say health reform bill targets their business. September 1, 2010.
http://billingsgazette.com/business/features/article_e843126a-b133-11df-9e77-001cc4c002e0.html

Article 1, The Legislative Branch,Section 8, Clause 1
"The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes"


       Tanning salon owners and tanners are "feeling burned" by the Congress's decision to impose a ten percent tax raise on indoor tanning.

      
       The tax raise is not only supposed to raise more than $2.7 billion for the health care reform bill, but it is also supposed to reduce the dangerous amount of tanning done by Americans all across the country. Although tanners do not realize it now, this tax could potentially save their lives. "The International Agency for Research on Cancer found that the use of indoor tanning by those under age 35 can increase that person's risk of melanoma by up to 75 percent. Of the $1.8 billion spent on treating skin cancer each year, $300 million is spent on treating melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer." Therefore, melanoma is for the most part preventable, and because of tanning, too much money is spent on treating melanoma.
      
       However, not everyone, tanning salon owners in particular, agrees with this. Julie Wegner, owner of two Sun Haven tanning salons in Billings, feels that she is being “singled out” and that this is a “sin tax.” Despite this disapproval, the tax raise still takes effect.
      
      This is an example of the Congress’s power to lay and collect taxes because that is exactly what they did, even though many disapprove.
      
       I do not think that this will reduce the amount of tanning that people do, but I do think that the money will be raised for the health care reform bill. Some people in America are so addicted to tanning, that of course, they will notice the tax rise, but they want care. They know the risks of getting melanoma, and if that has not stopped their addiction, nothing but seeking professional help will.