Posted on 07/27/2009 4:30:30 PM PDT by jakerobins
Face-lifts, tummy tucks and hair transplants could be hit with a new tax to help finance the trillion-dollar healthcare overhaul plan, according to sources familiar with the Senate talks.
The Senate Finance Committee has discussed imposing a 10 percent excise tax on cosmetic surgery deemed unnecessary for medical purposes. The idea was broached in a meeting with OMB Director Orszag in mid-July, after which Senate Finance Chairman Max Baucus told reporters he had heard some "interesting," "creative," and "kind of fun" ideas.
The tax, which has not been officially scored, would plug some of the revenue gap senators are seeking to fill to keep on schedule for a markup the week of Aug. 3. It would target procedures prohibited under Section 213 of the tax code, which deals with itemized deductions for medical expenses not covered by health insurance.
The 1990 deficit-reduction law prohibited taxpayers from taking deductions for cosmetic surgery "unless the surgery or procedure is necessary to ameliorate a deformity arising from, or directly related to, a congenital abnormality, a personal injury resulting from an accident or trauma, or a disfiguring disease."
The law defines cosmetic surgery as "any procedure which is directed at improving the patient's appearance and does not meaningfully promote the proper function of the body or prevent or treat illness or disease."
(Excerpt) Read more at nationaljournal.com ...
why not tax...abortions?
What is it with Max Baucus? It’s like new tax revenue is the Holy Grail for this guy.
I’m not sure if this is serious or not, but I haven’t laughed so hard in quite a long time. All the Hollyweird people are going to start marching in the streets and there will be riots if this tax goes through. How much will Michael Jackson’s estate have to pay back taxes?
Tax coffee. Seriously, anyone that would pay more than a buck or two for a cup of Joe certainly wouldn’t mind (or even know).
I’m sure the Dems will make sure we are all taxed for Abortions.....The Tremendous Taxes that will be required to maintain the GOV’T RUN HEALTHCARE will be a burdeon on everyone for Generations! My Generation...Gen X so we were once called are completely ruined....
How is this different from abortion?
Is this proposed tax related to Obama’s remark: “You will not to stop spending money on things that will not make you healthier?” He cannot be talking about the normal sins (smoking and drinking). He needs smokers and drinkers to fund his Utopian plans. I am not sure why spending on plastic surgery would imperil his Utopian dreams.
I’m not a strong supporter of taxes, but if they’re fishing with putting balloons up to see which way the wind is blowing, here’s my suggestion. A 50% excise tax on any and all prescription medication advertising. That should certainly raise a lot of revenue. Oh, and same excise tax on any law firm solicitation of people to sue a drug company.
What’s the definition of “surgery”? Lot’s of cosmetic procedures are not surgical.
What’s next....turning over the sofa cushions looking for spare change?
Would this tax apply to organisms undergoing “sex change” operations?
Tax clean needles when given to degenerate druggies who could care less about costs bestowed upon society.
This will alienate the core RAT constituency: women!
So now the boobs want to tax the boobs??!!!???
Must every act be taxed? and if so under what legal theory?!
Now that there’s funny. And scarily true.
Except maybe Nancy Pelosi...
Having to reach this deep to fund government will teach the government a real lesson, right?
If voters want to pay for subsidized healthcare, it should be the general taxpayers who pay for it. NOT other sick people (current system). And NOT people needing cosmetic surgery (proposed system).
You can argue whether or not it’s fair to have government subsidize any healthcare. It think it is fair and a reasonable function of government to an extent.
But to make other health care users pay for indigent costs is just WRONG. It penalizes sick people.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.