Blunts Team Up To Fight Oppressive $1.70 Tanning Tax

It's apparently a slow news day in the Blunt household, where Roy Blunt and Matt Blunt both complained about the new 10% tax on tanning bed use that takes effect today. Passed as part of the health care reform bill this year, the tax is intended to reduce the rate of melanoma and will generate about $2.7 billion over ten years. 

Roy called it a "job-killing tax hike" without providing any evidence that the change will cost any jobs, and Matt called it "an intrusive and ridiculous thing" to do.  CBS reports that the average tanning session costs $17 (I'm taking their word for it), meaning that the new tax will raise the price by $1.70 per visit.  (That said, I'm sure John Boehner and Charlie Christ probably pay a lot more than that when they go to more luxurious tanning beds.)

Count me among the folks who have no problem with this tax whatsoever. If the increased risk of cancer isn't enough to dissuade folks from using the beds, I have a hard time believing that a little extra on the bill is going to destroy the industry.  But more importantly, if the tax does reduce exessive use of tanning beds, a little less skin cancer and a reduction in associated costs would be a very good thing.