ALERT MARCH 30, 2010

The FDA's Open Public Hearing on March 25, 2010
AGENDA
GENERAL & PLASTIC SURGERY DEVICES PANEL
of the
MEDICAL DEVICES ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Representing OUR right to tan I was present at the meeting.  Although the majority
of the media decided to run with the AAD's press release to summarize this story it
was based on a few minutes of one anti-tanning Dermatologist that suggested an
under 18 ban.  Below you will find a link to the summary that the FDA released that
is very different to what the media is currently reporting.

On another note the Dermatoligists overwhemlming voted to make it mandatory
for salon workers to have a high school diploma.  I'm not sure how many high
school students would lose their jobs if this is mandated.  One particular 
Dermatologist somehow thought that the employees working at salons did not
need to know how to read.  It was scary to see how out of touch with reality
some of the panel members were.  That being said some were also excellent.

LINK HERE FOR A COPY OF THE FDA SUMMARY

ALERT MARCH 30, 2010

THE TAN TAX IS NOW SIGNED INTO THE HEALTHCARE BILL.  THIS IS A BATTLE LOST BY MOSTLY 
FEMALE TANNERS ALL ACROSS THE NATION!  OUR LOCAL TANNING OWNERS STARTING
JULY 1, 2010 ARE REQUIRED TO CHARGE  US AN ADDITIONAL 10%
OF OUR TANNING SERVICES MONEY TO HELP PAY FOR OBAMACARE.

ALERT FEBRUARY 22, 2010:

The proposal just released by the White House proves that the Tan Tax is still "ALIVE".  Indoor tanning industry gets hit twice; once for an excise tax on medical devices and then the Tan Tax on services.  We as tanner's will have to pay for
these increases Obama has announced in his version of the Health Care bill today.

Title IX. Revenue Provisions

Health Industry Fees

The Act will impose fees on various sectors of the health industry, intended to recapture some of the benefits they get as more Americans purchase health insurance. These include: (i) a fee on branded prescription drug pharmaceutical companies in proportion to their federal sales; (ii) an excise tax on medical devices; (iii) an annual fee on health insurance companies; and (iv) an excise tax on indoor tanning services.

ALERT: Senate leaders have withdrawn the tax on cosmetic medical procedures from the health care reform bill now being considered on the Senate floor and passed it onto the Tanning Industry.

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CLICK HERE TO WRITE YOUR US CONGRESSMAN, REPRESENTATIVE OR SENATOR (www.stopthetantax.com)

CLICK HERE TO WRITE YOUR REPRESENTATIVES

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Buried in the massive health reform bill being debated in the Senate is a provision that would add a ten percent tax to "tanning services" to help cover the $849 billion price tag for health care reform.  The tax would be targeting the small businesses in our Country where many are already running on very low margins.

This tax on our right to tan should be opposed because:

• The tax mistakenly puts tanning services in the same category as unhealthy habits such as cigarettes which don't have over 25,000 peer reviewed studies on the benefits of moderate UV exposure.
  
• The tax is punitive and places an additional burden on the middle class
  
• The tax discriminates against businesses that are mostly owned and operated by women
  
• The tax does not serve the goals of the health reform
  
• The tax will be impossible to effectively and equitably administer, converting salon owners into tax collectors
  
• The tax ignores scientific medical studies and tanning has been FDA-approved and responsible procedures taught by industries like Smart Tan have been salons main goal in the past few years.

Why is this bill unfair and biased?

• It discriminates against an estimated 67% female small business owners.
  
• It discriminates against people who live in northern states without sunshine.
  
• It opens the door to other national service taxes like hair, nails, fitness and teeth whitening.
  
• Americans opposed to additional taxes on individuals and small businesses to cover the costs of health reform.

Who will be impacted?

• Approximately 180,000 female employees.  Many of which are in high school and college.
  
• Employees of companies who manufacture tanning equipment and supplies.
  
• Americans opposed to additional taxes on individuals and small businesses to cover the costs of health reform.
  
• Many small business owners who are already struggling to stay open.  Some have marginal profits.
  
• The government when all the guaranteed SBA loans default from closed salons.
  
• Landlords when salons close because they can't afford to pay such a huge tax burden.
  
• Clients with skin conditions where their Doctors sent them to salons because their current healtlh
  insurance company turned them down for coslty prescriptions.

How you can help

It's simple.  By taking the following easy steps, you can help put a stop to Senator Reid's proposed tax on tanning services which will predominantly affect women. Your support matters, so please take a moment to partake in this important effort!

• Click on the "Contact your Senator" link at the top of this page and send a message to Congress that you oppose the self-improvement tax.
  
• Click on the "Sign the Petition Link at the top of the page.
  
• Cllick above to order a "No Tan Tax"  T-Shirt to help raise funds for the ITA and Smart Tan
  
• Join the "Say No To Tan Tax" Opposition Movement to protect your rights and stop Washington from adding these arbitrary and discriminatory new taxes.
  
• Tell Your Friends about the unfair tax and www.myrighttotan.com