Maryland Governor Proposes New Tax On Tanning Services

[Ezliving_Jim]

If there is a message coming from the Maryland Legislators this Special Session, it is that apparently the State of Maryland is doomed if tanning salon owners don't start paying a sales tax on our services. I am exaggerating only a little.

There are now 4 bills introduced that call for tanning services to be taxed. This is overwhelming.

Tanning services is the only service that is tapped in all 4 bills for new taxation! How did we get so lucky?

Honestly, I was sick with the flu for a few days and I missed 2 days of hearings already! I am going to try to see as many Legislators at the Statehouse tomorrow as possible.

The next Hearings are scheduled for this weekend, on Saturday.

If anyone representing the indoor tanning industry spoke out at the hearings on Wednesday or Thursday, I don't know who that person is. My money is on "nobody."

I pray everyone is calling and emailing all the Delegates and Senators on the committees and your home districts.

I wish I could say I feel optimistic, but I am not. Tanning salons are painted targets and the Sales Tax Missiles are headed towards your front door.
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House of Delegates HB-11 http://mlis.state.md.us/2007s1/billfile/hb0011.htm

Hearing 11/3 at 10:00 a.m. Ways and Means

House of Delegates HB-18 http://mlis.state.md.us/2007s1/billfile/hb0018.htm

Hearing 11/3 at 10:00 a.m. Ways and Means

House of Delegates HB-2 http://mlis.state.md.us/2007s1/billfile/hb0002.htm

Hearing 10/31 at 1:00 p.m. Ways and Means & Appropriations Hearing 11/1 at 10:00 a.m. Ways and Means & Appropriations

Senate SB-2 http://mlis.state.md.us/2007s1/billfile/sb0002.htm

Hearing 10/31 at 1:00 p.m. Budget and Taxation
Hearing 11/1 at 10:00 a.m. Budget and Taxation

[Ezliving_Jim]

I spent some time down at the Maryland Legislature today.

Long story short, MD Republicans are all against the $2 Billion state tax increases.

Most Democrats will do as they are told by their leadership and vote for the tax increases.

A few moderate Democrats will join the Republicans to oppose the bills.

Will there be enough opposition to kill the bills? I don't know.

Odds favor it getting passed in the HoD. Hopefully, it all dies on the floor of the Senate.

[coldgyn]

If it passes keep your prices the same - just add the tan tax like hotels started a few years back

[Ezliving_Jim]

More time spent today in Annapolis at the Legislature.

I'm beat, but not beaten.

The strategy I wrote about yesterday is getting better organized.

If just 5 Democratic Senators join Republicans, the Governor's $2 Billion Tax Increase (including the tanning tax) can be filibustered to death in the Senate.

There are, of course, indoctrinated tax and spend Democrats that haven't ever seen a tax increase that they didn't like. It's a waste of time to call them because they will vote for the new taxes even with a tsunami of opposition.

The moderate Democrats who are still listening to voters are the only hope to kill the tax bills.

To make your calling easier, here is a list: http://www.mdgop.org/images/MD/Call20Today.pdf

There are 20 on the list including Gov O'Malley and Speaker Busch. So there are only 18 Senators that may make the difference.

We only need 5!

Please, call today. Call everyday.

[Ezliving_Jim]

Keep making calls and sendng emails to legislators! It is working!

In the Senate, yesterday, the sales tax bill was amended to eliminate a new sales tax on tanning, health clubs, massage and tattoos.

Instead, computer services, landscaping and arcades will get hit with the new sales tax in the current amended version.

More: Source


The sales tax rate on products and some services is pegged to increase 20%, from 5% to 6%.

[Ezliving_Jim]

ANNAPOLIS, MD -- The Maryland Senate Budget and Taxation Committee voted Tuesday to remove health clubs from a list of services to which a proposed expansion of a sales tax would be applied.

Senate Bill 2 would have taxed health club membership dues. Tanning salons and real estate management were other services deleted from the original proposal by Gov. Martin O’Malley, who called a special legislative session to address a $1.7 billion budget deficit.

According to the International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association, there were 12,000 e-mails, phone calls, postcards and petition signatures to protest O’Malley’s proposal.

A Maryland health club owner said earlier in the week that she feared the extra expense would have prompted people to give up their health club memberships.

In place of health clubs, tanning salons and real estate management, the Senate committee voted to extend the sales tax to computer services, landscaping and video arcades.

Unlike health clubs and real estate management, which had representatives lobbying for a change in the proposal, lobbyists for computer services, landscaping and video arcades had little opportunity this week to voice their opinion about the last-minute changes. Landscaping was taken off the bill Thursday night.

Source
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Maryland tanning salon owners owe a huge debt of gratitude to the Maryland fitness industry for their organized opposition to the proposed new sales tax on our services.

It is remarkable that the Maryland fitness industry was able to generate 12,000 e-mails, phone calls, postcards and petition signatures on very short notice to protest the new tax proposals. Maryland tanning salon owners were lucky to catch a ride on that wave.

[Jim Fisher]

Cool
Thanks