Cosmetic Surgery Tax Weighed By Senate

usatoday.com:

Last week, the Senate began debate on an $848 billion health care reform bill that includes a 5% excise tax on elective cosmetic surgery, beginning Jan. 1, 2010. The provision would raise an estimated $5.8 billion in the next decade.

Read the whole story: usatoday.com

Comments

[Cheapthrills]

11:37 AM on 12/09/2009

Cosmetic surgery, heh? Isn't Viagra, etc. a form of cosmetic doings for something that you want bigger?
Br.ea.st enhancement, p.en.is enhancement; what is the difference?
Tax Viagra and all those other ED meds; now that would bring in some $$$$

[invest in jobs]

11:00 AM on 12/09/2009

it;s unfortunate Obama is taking advice from neoconservative, globalist economists like Bernanke, Geithner & Summers instead of being more receptive to Krugman & Volcker.

hat tip to: http://financeopinionss.blogspot.com

[ejhickey]

04:02 AM on 12/09/2009

Congress comes up with this idea AFTER Pelosi has had her face lift and othe rnips and tucks.

[GerryS]

11:02 PM on 12/08/2009

hahahahaha-------

this idea is rich,

nouveau rich.

hahahahahahahahahahahah

[GeoLee]

08:30 PM on 12/08/2009

I have no problems at all supporting a cosmetic surgery tax. Getting botox because of vanity ha snot medical need. If you are doing tit to enhance your career as Jill Pilipovic says in the article, it is no different than going to the nearest Saks and buying a new suit and should be treated as such. About the only reason I know that people NEED botox is if they have cerebral palsy or if they have blepherospasm and a few other muxcle related conditions. It has become the most lucrative way for doctors of all sorts and not just dermatologists, to make fast money. IN doing so, many are reducing their actual medical practice to make more money. Doctors should be doctors, not cosmetologists. . Competence, not looks, goes a long way in any field. Trust me, I know this from experience ...as I never had to rely on looks, nor could have, but I never had any problem getting ahead as the interviews along with an outstanding resume seemed to do just fine by themselves. And once hired, every boss I ever had would tell me how much they valued my work and abilities. I have turned down jobs, but have never been turned down for one and I also turned down botox recommended for a medical reason, too. Stunned the doctor but then he did one more test and found out Iwas right in denying it..

[ElsaIndy]

08:03 PM on 12/08/2009

Pathetic. How much money are they going to raise taxing plastic surgery patients?

They need to put healthcare in the budget. Then they can work on cost containment which is real healthcare reform.

[lvdragonlady]

04:26 PM on 12/09/2009

You would be surprised how much could be raised. You are not even thinking about ALL the "starlets" and wannabees and real stars that get it every day.........

[GringoThe Dingo]

06:05 PM on 12/08/2009

freedom can be found here. wink,wink:

http://hp-lostcomments.blogspot.com/2009/12/no-freedom-for-you-no-freedom-for-me.html

[rbchilds]

05:41 PM on 12/08/2009

Hollywood isn't going to like this.

[pj-smith]

04:59 PM on 12/08/2009

this is a great idea.

[invest in jobs]

03:37 PM on 12/08/2009

This is further proof that the US government is ineffectual at everything except enabling the plundering of everything we, the American people, work for by the corporate elite.
good articles; http://financeopinionss.blgospot.com

Government & multi-national corporations like peas in a pod

[ResoluteBob]

03:28 PM on 12/08/2009

This is more B.S.. The tax brackets need to be extended at the top end--6 new brackets on top of the existing ones--with an upper limit of 48% at $900K.
All of the other proposals are coming from cowardly legislators afraid to face the truth.

[Oxonian2001]

05:10 PM on 12/08/2009

Agreed with more tax brackets--but I think we need to hike it all the way for those making well over a million.

Take a look at this:

http://www.truthandpolitics.org/top-rates.php

[OB-GYN]

08:27 AM on 12/09/2009

Agree. They throw us a bone here, thinking we'll be full, when the real meat they continue to eat themselves.

[Bytown]

02:58 PM on 12/08/2009

Nancy Pelosi won't allow this to happen.

[curiousasheck]

02:36 PM on 12/08/2009

Would probably pay down a huge portion of the deficit how bout a 5% tax on woman's consumer spending in general we'd be debt free by 2012.

[yourmonscalling]

01:29 PM on 12/08/2009

OMFG THEY WILL STOP AT NOTHING TO KEEP TAXING PEOPLE BECAUSE THEY (CONGRESS) MADE MISTAKES AND NOW !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THEY KNOW THE FINANCIAL SITUATION ( THEY MADE THE BED FOLKS ) THEY HAVE TO DO SOMETHING FRIGGED ANYTHING TO RAISE MONEY FOR THERE BLOOD SUCKING MACHINE !!

[WA-violins]

01:08 PM on 12/08/2009

Ooops...pollution.