It looks like the Democrats are at it again, and will be looking to tax the tanning industry should the Senate’s new healthcare bill be signed into law. What was originally going to be a tax on cosmetic surgery has now turned into a ten percent tax on all indoor tanning services and products, and leaving more than a few people seeing red.

The law will exclude tanning therapies that are prescribed by a medical professional, such as phototherapy, but will affect all people that purchase indoor tanning services for their own purpose of achieving a suntan. The president of the Indoor Tanning Association recently spoke out against this Democratic move, calling it ironic, since tanning has been proven to have some benefits. The American Medical Association, however, is citing increased risks of cancer, especially skin cancer, as one reason for the tax, hoping it wil discourage individuals that purchase indoor tanning services.

The new tanning tax is expected to raise about $2.7 billion within the first ten years it’s in effect.

taxing tanning salons?