Last month it was revealed that the proposed sales tax on cosmetic surgery and wrinkle injections, the so-called “Bo-Tax,” was taken out of the Heath Care reform package in the U. S. Senate. It was replaced instead with a proposed 10% tax on all visits to tanning salons.
My reaction was both excitement and satisfaction knowing that a lot of hard work had paid off for everyone who recognized this would be a disaster if it had been passed. Of course I can’t resist one last chance to talk about it.
First of all, plastic surgeons everywhere need to give a big hearty thanks to all of the patients who took a moment to contact their Senators. The message that this was unfair to women was heard loud and clear. It is also apparent that whether you were male or female this was an issue that the majority of people in national poles around the country disagreed with.
But before the political deal making took place that eventually ended the tax for good a lot of hard work went into getting the issue to the forefront in the first place. Lobbyists from over a dozen national doctor’s associations converged in mass on the Senate’s doorsteps once the word of the tax got out.
In addition the manufacturers of breast implants and botulinin toxins and fillers also stepped up to the plate in D.C. to make themselves heard as well. And the national media, always looking for fresh debate on a controversial issue played right into the hands of the surgeons on this one.
I was personally interviewed by over two dozen reporters, both for print stories and radio. I was about ready to be interviewed on a national news broadcast but was unfortunately bumped by the Tiger Woods disaster at the last minute. Andy Warhol was right, everybody gets their fifteen minutes of fame eventually. Nevertheless the coverage of this story was immense and it picked up a life of its own. One interview for the Associated Press where I was quoted in two lines was published in over 250 newspapers around the country! It was the perfect storm for an issue that had never gotten national attention like this before.
Secondly, the Grassroots efforts stimulated by web sites such as this one, had a huge impact. With little time to spare, the coalition of medical associations built a web site specially milled up to tell patients how to contact their Senators and tell them what they thought of this tax. This involved a toll free number that got anyone who wanted to be heard directly connected to their Senator’s office, and plastic surgeons around the country got this out to their patients in mass.
So the end result of all of this spares plastic surgeons form becoming tax collectors, spares patients the agony of giving the government money just because they want to do something about their appearance, and puts a different tax on a self inflicted treatment that may cause cancer, and cost all of us more money to treat the offenders.
Once again, thanks to all who helped get the word out in November and December.
Recent comments
Posted to Stop the Bo-Tax with a Phone Call on 6 Jan 2010
This is an update to my post.
Last month it was revealed that the proposed sales tax on cosmetic surgery and wrinkle injections, the so-called “Bo-Tax,” was taken out of the Heath Care reform package in the U. S. Senate. It was replaced instead with a proposed 10% tax on all visits to tanning salons.
My reaction was both excitement and satisfaction knowing that a lot of hard work had paid off for everyone who recognized this would be a disaster if it had been passed. Of course I can’t resist one last chance to talk about it.
First of all, plastic surgeons everywhere need to give a big hearty thanks to all of the patients who took a moment to contact their Senators. The message that this was unfair to women was heard loud and clear. It is also apparent that whether you were male or female this was an issue that the majority of people in national poles around the country disagreed with.
But before the political deal making took place that eventually ended the tax for good a lot of hard work went into getting the issue to the forefront in the first place. Lobbyists from over a dozen national doctor’s associations converged in mass on the Senate’s doorsteps once the word of the tax got out.
In addition the manufacturers of breast implants and botulinin toxins and fillers also stepped up to the plate in D.C. to make themselves heard as well. And the national media, always looking for fresh debate on a controversial issue played right into the hands of the surgeons on this one.
I was personally interviewed by over two dozen reporters, both for print stories and radio. I was about ready to be interviewed on a national news broadcast but was unfortunately bumped by the Tiger Woods disaster at the last minute. Andy Warhol was right, everybody gets their fifteen minutes of fame eventually. Nevertheless the coverage of this story was immense and it picked up a life of its own. One interview for the Associated Press where I was quoted in two lines was published in over 250 newspapers around the country! It was the perfect storm for an issue that had never gotten national attention like this before.
Secondly, the Grassroots efforts stimulated by web sites such as this one, had a huge impact. With little time to spare, the coalition of medical associations built a web site specially milled up to tell patients how to contact their Senators and tell them what they thought of this tax. This involved a toll free number that got anyone who wanted to be heard directly connected to their Senator’s office, and plastic surgeons around the country got this out to their patients in mass.
So the end result of all of this spares plastic surgeons form becoming tax collectors, spares patients the agony of giving the government money just because they want to do something about their appearance, and puts a different tax on a self inflicted treatment that may cause cancer, and cost all of us more money to treat the offenders.
Once again, thanks to all who helped get the word out in November and December.