Strippers to be hit hard by healthcare bill's new taxes on tanning and boob jobs

steve229
Provisions of the healthcare bill include a 5% tax on tanning salon visits and a 10% tax on elective cosmetic surgery.

Luckily, my Baby already got her boob job, and the spray tans she favors will apparently not be taxed.

http://www.businessinsider.com/healthcar…

http://www.businessinsider.com/check-out…

23 comments

Latest

georgmicrodong
15 years ago
Hmmm. Maybe we'll get to see and feel more real boobs now. The worst ones are the way too big without enough skin ones that feel like a rock.
Philip A. Stein
15 years ago
The elective cosmetic surgery tax didn't make it through the Senate bill. Evidentally Beverly Hills doctors are better at lobbying than strip mall nail and tanning saloon owners.

Regardless, isn't it just stunning that a government that is $12 trillion in debt thinks it can spend a trillion on health care and ultimately save money?
samsung1
15 years ago
I heard since that movie Twlight came out spray tan sales have gone down. (the main characters in that movie are pale/pasty white).

Your baby will probably need follow up work in a few years on her boob job though so she does not escape this price hike/tax.
Dudester
15 years ago
Last summer the strippers I talked to were revved up about voting for Obama. Reason is, they're independent contractors. They have no health insurance. They were thinking they were going to get free medical.
SnakePlissken
15 years ago
My roommate voted for Obama for the same reason, he wanted free health care since he got a liberal arts degree and won't have ever make a lot of money.

And Philip, stop thinking so rationally, you're raining on the Obama fan parade.

Just for the record, I think that bitch Palin is just as bad as Obama.
Clubber
15 years ago
There is no such thing as "FREE" anything! It might be "FREE" to someone, but somewhere someone else is paying the tab.
casualguy
15 years ago
The government will save money. It's called tax increases. Raise your taxes you pay and they claim it as savings. Apparently not everyone understood how Obama was going to save us money. I'm afraid he wants the government to save money when it comes to energy costs next. Either that or the rumour I heard about creating a one world government ruled by the rich and elite was true (Copenhagen) and they are working on putting us into so much debt that we will be forced to comply. Technically the US is already bankrupt using some Alan Greenspan and somebody else I forgot method of accounting. Our government is just printing money and attempting to borrow and spend like there's no tomorrow.

The typical method of tax increase here. Raise the taxes on the rich first. Then share the burden and raise taxes on the middle class and then the poor. The method for saving on Healthcare might be, fine everyone $1000 if they don't have it and promise subsidies for the poor. Then later due to budget cuts, cut back on those subsidies. If you hear a politician say he's going to take your money, believe it. If he says he's going to give you money, don't believe him.
casualguy
15 years ago
I got a letter stating my healthcare insurance costs would be going up over 21 percent next year. Family plans are going up over 30 to 40 percent. This is with the cheaper private insurance. Government plans will likely need bigger tax increases to keep up.
MisterGuy
15 years ago
"isn't it just stunning that a government that is $12 trillion in debt thinks it can spend a trillion on health care and ultimately save money?"

Not really, considering that health care spending has been out of control for many decades now, and something has to be done to curb the runaway financial mess that it will eventually cause our nation. Many, many countries pay less than than half what the USA pays for health care & they get better health results than we do.

Taxing cancer-causing tanning salons, the rich, big pharma, and the health insurance industry (which does nothing to actually dole out actual health care) doesn't sound like a bad idea to me.
Clubber
15 years ago
Employee meeting:

I would like to start by thanking you for attending this meeting, though it's not like you had much of a choice. After all, attendance was mandatory. I'm also glad many of you accepted my invitation to your family members to be here as well. I have a few remarks to make to all of you, and then we'll retire to the ballroom for a great lunch and some employee awards.

I felt that this meeting was important enough to close all 12 of our tire and automotive shops today so that you could be here. To reassure you, everybody is being paid for the day --- except me. Since our stores are closed we're making no money. That economic loss is mine to sustain. Carrington Automotive has 157 full time employees and around 30 additional part-timers. All of you are here. I thank you for that.

When you walked into this auditorium you were handed a rather thick 78-page document. Many of you have already taken a peek. You were probably surprised to see that it's my personal tax return for 2008. Those of you who are adept at reading these tax returns will see that last year my taxable income was $534,000.00. Now I'm sure this seems rather high to many of you. So ... let's talk about this tax return.

Carrington Automotive Enterprises is what we call a Sub-S - a Subchapter S corporation. The name comes from a particular part of our tax code. Sub-S status means that the income from all 12 of our stores is reported on my personal tax return. Businesses that report their income on the owner's personal tax return are referred to as "small businesses." So, you see now that this $534,000 is really the total taxable income - the total combined profit from all 12 of our stores. That works out to an average of a bit over $44,000 per store.

Why did I feel it important for you to see my actual 2008 tax return? Well, there's a lot of rhetoric being thrown around today about taxes, small businesses and rich people. To the people in charge in Washington right now I'm a wealthy American making over a half-million dollars a year. Most Americans would agree: I'm just another rich guy; after all ... I had over a half-million in income last year, right? In this room we know that the reality is that I'm a small business owner who runs 12 retail establishments and employs 187 people. Now here's something that shouldn't surprise you, but it will: Just under 100 percent ... make that 99.! 7 percent of all employers in this country are small businesses, just like ours.

Every one of these businesses reports their income on a personal income tax return. You need to understand that small businesses like ours are responsible for about 80 percent of all private sector jobs in this country, and about 70 percent of all jobs that have been created over the past year. You also need to know that when you hear some politician talking about rich people who earn over $200,000 or $500,000 a year, they're talking about the people who create the jobs.

The people who are now running the show in Washington have been talking for months about raising taxes on wealthy Americans. I already know that in two years my federal income taxes are going to go up by about 4.5 percent. That happens when Obama and the Democrats allow the Bush tax cuts to expire. When my taxes climb by 4.5 percent the Democrats will be on television saying that this really isn't a tax increase. They'll explain that the Bush tax cuts have expired.. Nothing more! Here at Carrington we'll know that almost 5% has been taken right off of our bottom line. And that means it will be coming off your bottom line.

Numbers are boring; I know ... but let's talk a bit more about that $534,000. That's the money that was left last year from company revenues after I paid all of the salaries and expenses of running this business. Now I could have kept every penny of that for myself, but that would have left us with nothing to grow our business, to attract new customers and to hire new employees. You're aware that we've been talking about opening new stores in Virginia Beach and Newport News. To do that I will have to buy or lease property, construct a building and purchase inventory. I also have to hire additional people to work in those stores. These people wouldn't immediately be earning their pay. So, where do you think the money for all of this comes from? Right out of our profits .. right out of that $534,000. I need to advertise to bring customers in, especially in these tough times. Where do you think that money comes from? Oh sure, I can count it as an expense when I file my next income tax return .. but for right now that comes from either current revenues or last year's profits. Revenues right now aren't all that hot ... so do the math. A good effective advertising campaign might cost us more than $300,000.

Is this all starting to come together for you now?

Right now the Democrats are pushing a nationalized health care plan that, depending on who's doing the talking, will add anywhere from another two percent to an additional 4.6 percent to my taxes. If I add a few more stores, which I would like to do, and if the economy improves, my taxable income ... our business income ... could go over one million dollars! If that happens the Democrats have yet another tax waiting, another five percent plus! I've really lost track of all of the new government programs the Democrats and President Obama are proposing that they claim they will be able to finance with new taxes on what they call "wealthy Americans."

And while we're talking about health care, let me explain something else to you. I understand that possibly your biggest complaint with our company is that we don't provide you with health insurance. That is because as your employer I believe that it is my responsibility to provide you with a safe workplace and a fair wage and to do all that I can to preserve and grow this company that provides us all with income. I no more have a responsibility to provide you with health insurance than I do with life, auto or homeowner's insurance. As you know, I have periodically invited agents for health insurance companies here to provide you with information on private health insurance plans.

The Democrats are proposing to levy yet another tax against Carrington in the amount of 8 percent of my payroll as a penalty for not providing you with health insurance. You should know that if they do this I will be reducing every person's salary or hourly wage by that same 8 percent. This will not be done to put any more money in my pocket. It will be done to make sure that I don't suffer financially from the Democrat's efforts to place our healthcare under the control of the federal government. It is your health, not mine. It is your healthcare, not mine. These are your expenses, not mine. If you think I'm wrong about all this, I would sure love to hear your reasoning.

Try to understand what I'm telling you here. Those people that Obama and the Democrats call "wealthy Americans" are, in very large part, America 's small business owners. I'm one of them. You have the evidence, and surely you don't think that the owner of a bunch of tire stores is anything special. That $534,000 figure on my income tax return puts me squarely in Democrat crosshairs when it comes to tax increases.

Let's be clear about this ... crystal clear. Any federal tax increase on me is going to cost you money, not me. Any new taxes on Carrington Automotive will be new taxes that you, or the people I don't hire to staff the new stores I won't be building, will be paying. Do you understand what I'm telling you? You've heard about things rolling downhill, right? Fine .. then you need to know that taxes, like that other stuff, roll downhill. Now you and I may understand that you are not among those that the Democrats call "wealthy Americans," but when this "tax the rich" thing comes down you are going to be standing at the bottom of the mud slide, if you get my drift. That's life in the big city, my friends ... where elections have consequences.

You know our economy is very weak right now. I've pledged to get us through this without layoffs or cuts in your wages and benefits. It's too bad the politicians can't get us through this without attacking our profits. To insure our survival I have to take a substantial portion of that $534,000 and set it aside for unexpected expenses and a worsening economy. Trouble is, the government is eyeing that money too ... and they have the guns. If they want it, they can take it.


I don't want to make this too long. There's a great lunch waiting for us all. But you need to understand what's happening here. I've worked hard for 23 years to create this business. There were many years where I couldn't take a penny in income because every dollar was being dedicated to expanding the business. There were tough times when it took every dollar of revenues to replenish our inventory and cover your paychecks. During those times I earned nothing. If you want to see those tax returns, just let me know.

OK .. I know I'm repeating myself here. I don't hire stupid people, and you are probably getting it now. So let me just ramble for a few more minutes. Most Americans don't realize that when the Democrats talk about raising taxes on people making more than $250 thousand a year, they're talking about raising taxes on small businesses. The U.S. Treasury Department says that six out of every ten individuals in this country with incomes of more than $280,000 are actually small business owners. About one-half of the income in this country that would be subject to these increased taxes is from small businesses like ours. Depending on how many of these wonderful new taxes the Democrats manage to pass, this company could see its tax burden increase by as much as $60,000. Perhaps more.

I know a lot of you voted for President Obama. A lot of you voted for Democrats across the board. Whether you voted out of support for some specific policies, or because you liked his slogans, you need to learn one very valuable lesson from this election. Elections have consequences. You might have thought it would be cool to have a president who looks like you; or a president who is young, has a buff body, and speaks eloquently when there's a teleprompter in the neighborhood. Maybe you liked his promises to tax the rich. Maybe you believed his promise not to raise taxes on people earning less than a certain amount. Maybe you actually bought into his promise to cut taxes on millions of Americans who actually don't pay income taxes in the first place. Whatever the reason .. your vote had consequences; and here they are.

Bottom line? I'm not taking this hit alone. As soon as the Democrats manage to get their tax increases on the books, I'm going to take steps to make sure that my family isn't affected. When you own the business, that is what you're allowed to do. I built this business over a period of 23 years, and I'm not going to see my family suffer because we have a president and a congress who think that wealth is distributed rather than earned. Any additional taxes, of whatever description, that President Obama and the Democrats inflict on this business will come straight out of any funds I have set aside for expansion or pay and benefit increases. Any plans I might have had to hire additional employees for new stores will be put aside. Any plans for raises for the people I now have working for me will be shelved. Year-end bonuses might well be eliminated. That may sound! rough, but that's the reality.

You're going to continue to hear a lot of anti-wealth rhetoric out there from the media and from the left. You can chose to believe what you wish .. .but when it comes to Carrington Automotive you will know the truth. The books are open to any of you at any time. I have nothing to hide. I would hope that other small business owners out there would hold meetings like this one, but I know it won't happen that often. One of the lessons to be learned here is that taxes .. all taxes ... and all regulatory costs that are placed on businesses anywhere in this country, will eventually be passed right on down to individuals; individuals such as yourself. This hasn't been about admonishing anyone and it hasn't been about issuing threats. This is part of the education you should have received in the government schools, but didn't. Class is now dismissed.

Let's eat.
txtittyfan
15 years ago
Good post clubber, the only problem is that most liberals still feel enttiled to wealth distribution and logic is irrelevant.
txtittyfan
15 years ago
Clubber's post reminds me of a story I see published in editorials every few years. It goes something like this.

Five friends of various incomes meet weekly for drinks at a local bar.

They pay their tab according to their income levels. Of the $100 tab, Tony, who is a wealthy business owner pays 50%, and the rest chip in for the balance. The bar owner one day says that since they have been such good regular customers, he is going to discount 10% from future tabs. ( kind of like getting a tax decrease). On the next visit, the tab was $90. Tony pays 45 and leaves. The remaining four split the $45. Afterward they become angry because they only saved $1 each, but Tony saved $5. In their drunken fury, they find Tony and beat him up. Tony says fuck this and stops attending the weekly drinkfest.
The remaining four now have to pay more for their drinks, but they can not afford it and stop meeting.

Clubber
15 years ago
ttf,

And that is what will happen here. Hopefully a peaceful revolution, but one not so peaceful has occurred.
MisterGuy
15 years ago
clubber...you diatribe re-post of someone else's work is so full of greedy "trickle-down" lies that I don't even know where to start...lol... Oh whoa are the rich that will likely have to pay taxes at the same rate that they were paying only a mere decade ago...spare me the violins wing-nut!

And I just love the mindless fear-mongering as well...no one is out to "place our healthcare under the control of the federal government"...that's a blatant Right-wing lie, period end of story.

"I've pledged to get us through this without layoffs or cuts in your wages and benefits."

What "benefits" Mr. completely-fictitious-small-business-owner?? You just finished telling us how you don't provide any life or health care benefits & how you were going to cut our wages to save you from paying your fair share in taxes...LOL!

"Maybe you actually bought into his promise to cut taxes on millions of Americans who actually don't pay income taxes in the first place"

...which, of course, Obama never made, period.

Run along now clubber...you NEVER have any shred of valid information to provide to these kind of discussions...ever!
Clubber
15 years ago
YAWN!
MisterGuy
15 years ago
LOL...pwned once again old man...just like always...
Clubber
15 years ago
YAWN!!
how
15 years ago
MisterGuy is a leftist. Therefore ignore him, because he is anti-American. MisterGuy's only possible positive contribution to the universe would be to kill himself immediately.
Clubber
15 years ago
how,

Or a poster boy for the uniformed, delusional masses!
Clubber
15 years ago
uninformed, sorry!
how
15 years ago
Clubber, that was an interesting typo. If leftists have their way to a greater extent, uniforms are de rigeur...
MisterGuy
15 years ago
"MisterGuy's only possible positive contribution to the universe would be to kill himself immediately."

LOL...by my count, that's at least the second time that you've advocated violence against another member of this website "how". How truly desperate you really must be at this point...ugh...
Clubber
15 years ago
how,

Maybe the left will just tattoo those of us on the right for identification.
You must be a member to leave a comment.Join Now
Got something to say?
Start your own discussion