Posted on 11/19/2009 2:57:53 AM PST by reaganaut1
Senator Harry Reid’s health care bill included an array of new provisions that are being scrutinized on Wednesday night, but one particular tax proposal in particular already has attracted a buzz — a 5 percent levy on elective cosmetic procedures that was quickly dubbed the “botax.”
Hold the guffaws.
For all the instant punchlines about taxing nose jobs, breast enlargements and facelifts — cynics righteously demanded to know if members of Congress had written in an exemption for themselves (they did not) — the proposed tax is both serious and controversial policy.
It would raise an estimated $5 billion over 10 years toward the projected $849 billion cost of the health care legislation, and it is certain to be opposed by plastic surgeons and their patients.
The tax would have to be paid by the person receiving the cosmetic procedure and collected by the doctors. If the patient fails to pay the tax, the medical professional who performed the procedure would be liable, according to the bill. The tax would be owed regardless of whether the procedure is paid for out of pocket or by insurance.
But the tax would not apply to any cosmetic surgery to correct a congenital deformity or any disfigurement resulting from accident, injury or disease.
(Excerpt) Read more at prescriptions.blogs.nytimes.com ...
Ahhhh creative revenue generation by the Gubermint!
This obsessive need to TAX EVERYTHING is REALLY starting to WEAR THIN...VERY THIN.
This is a tax on burn victims and cancer survivors (who can’t travel elsewhere to save money), not on Dear Leader’s Hollywood celebrity supporters who will evade this tax too.
No kidding. Lol.
Our Congress and taxes are really out of control.
As Hillbilary stated, “we tax everything in the US”.
We couldn't have asked for better news PRIOR to the Senate vote on healthcare. A tax on cosmetic surgery, screwing around with breast exam policy, what's next?? Keep ‘em coming Reid!
Has he checked with Nancy and Hillary?
That could bankrupt them.
If you want cosmetic surgery, go to Costa Rica. It’s cheaper, the surgeons are world-class, and you get a nice vacation to boot! And now you can add giving the finger to Dingy Harry and his new tax to the list of benefits!
Just out of curiousity, would reconstructive surgery from mastectomies fall under this heading. Oh, wait, can’t get a mastectomy if you’re not allowed to get the mammogram to find the cancer in the first place. This is all a huge cluster****
re: TAX EVERYTHING
You NEVER hear these bastards say anything about cutting spending but they are forever thinking up new ways to tax.
I’m with you, it’s growing very old.
Somehow we’ve got to find the way to kick these people out of office. If we don’t they will be the end of our country.
I seldom use the word ‘hate’, it’s a bad word in my mind, but I have to say that I really do HATE these people and what they are doing to America. I’m beginning to think I sound like the Bush haters who did nothing but pick and bitch about him, but I honestly can’t think of a single thing he’s done to better our country.
That, and a federal tax on abortions, are two tax increases I can support.
I wonder how much back taxes Nancy Pelosi will owe.
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