Minnesota bill proposes sales tax on plastic surgery

[Doondoo]

Getting the perfect lips or nose would cost you extra if state Rep. Phyllis Kahn has her way. She wants to extend Minnesota's 6.5 percent sales tax to cosmetic surgery and appearance-enhancing procedures including chemical skin peels, laser hair removal, cosmetic injections and spider-vein treatments.

Anybody who has the money for plastic surgery can afford to pay the tax, said Kahn, DFL- Minneapolis. Kahn said her proposal would raise about $7 million a year. The proposal got its first hearing before a House tax panel Monday. No vote was taken.

The bill excludes medically necessary procedures, such as facial reconstruction after an accident or burns. It also wouldn't apply to laser eye surgery or braces to correct bite problems.



http://www.startribune.com/587/story/1011675.html

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

1. "Tax the rich, feed the poor, til there are..no rich no more". Seems like a good start. :-)

:toast:
MKJ

[Just-plain-Kathy]

2. Sounds good to me..... n/t

[TheCowsCameHome]

3. Whoa! A first I thought your name was Bondo.

Silly me.

[trotsky]

4. I think this is a great idea, but...

there might be a rather fine line between cosmetic and necessary procedures. Breast reduction, for instance, is not considered a medically necessary procedure by many insurers - but I'm willing to bet there are plenty of women who feel (in their backs and shoulders!) otherwise.

But yeah, botox, etc., all that crap should be taxed. The sales tax here in MN doesn't apply to basics like unprepared food or clothing, but it does apply to prepared meals and jewelry. The logic holds.

[SeattleGirl]

5. That's an excellent point, trotsky

Not every instance of plastic/cosmetic surgery is solely one of choice. There are instances, such as birth defects, the aftermath of injury, etc., where such surgery is necessary. And your example of breast reduction is another good example. I have a friend who had that done; she continually had back and neck problems and her bra straps were digging trenches in her shoulders. She feels so much better now. Instances like that should not be taxed. It would be like taxing cardiac surgery.

[Bake]

6. The problem is, who decides?

Who decides what's "medically necessary" and therefore subject to the tax? It can get a little subjective.

Bake

[kestrel91316]

7. Hey, works for me.