A last minute deal was cut on the Senate floor to switch the originally proposed tax on cosmetic procedures for an equal percentage tax on tanning salons. Lobbyists for the cosmetic industry had pushed hard for the removal of the tax. Tanning salon small business owners were caught off guard.

Breaking News from the LA Times:

Senate plan would tax tanning services

Democrats replace the 'botax' on cosmetic procedures with a 10% sales tax on the use of tanning beds, citing skin cancer concerns. The tax would raise an estimated $2.7 billion over 10 years.

Citing concerns over skin cancer, Senate Democrats inserted a last-minute provision into their healthcare overhaul that would tax the use of tanning beds.

The 10% sales tax would be imposed on individuals who purchase tanning services...

The tanning tax would help pay for the massive overhaul by raising an estimated $2.7 billion over 10 years. It replaces a proposed excise tax on elective cosmetic surgery that was previously included in the bill. The "botax" would have raised more than twice the amount as the tanning tax. But cosmetic surgeons, who argued that it would discriminate against middle-class women, launched a successful lobbying campaign against it.

Jennifer Fermino at the NY Post opines this morning:

If Botox users could move their faces, they'd be smiling wide over the proposed Senate health-care plan, but tanning-bed fanatics are sure to be seeing red.

The bill's provisions that will likely sail through the Senate will slap a 10 percent tax on all trips to the tanning bed.

The fake-bake tax replaces an earlier tariff on cosmetic procedures like Botox, tummy tucks and hair transplants, which were scrapped in the latest negotiations.

A number of prominent Democrat Senators and even a Vice-President have been known to have Botox procedures and hair-transplants.

Blogger Far Right Democrat quipped:

The tanning association trade organization (if there is one) needs to hire better lobbyists and start giving campaign donations to Obama.

Neshoba County, Mississippi

There's been a wave of Democrat Party switchers to the GOP since September. They include new Republicans in Vermont, North Carolina, Alabama, over 20 in Texas, and a growing number in Mississippi.

The latest? Neshoba County Chancery Clerk Larry McMillan. RNC Chairman Michael Steele and MS Gov. Haley Barbour even showed up for the switching ceremony.

From the Madison County Journal on-line, Dec. 18:

On hand at the event were Gov. Haley Barbour, Lt. Gov. Phil Bryant and dozens of other statewide elected GOP leaders.

The occasion was used to recognize Neshoba County Chancery Clerk Larry McMillan, who announced his intentions to switch to the Republican Party, having been a lifelong Democrat.

Steele joked with McMillan, noting all the big-name state Republicans who came out for the event.

"You really bring them out Larry," Steele said. "It's a great honor that I get to welcome you to the Republican party."

McMillan attributed his switch to being fed up with the Democrat Party's push for health care reform.

McMillan is the 9th county or municipal elected official in Mississippi to switch to the Republican Party this year.

Neshoba County (pop. 28,000) is located in Central Mississippi. The County seat is Philadelphia. It is home to one of the oldest and largest casinos in the State: Pearl River Resort.

Even Military Guys deserve some Personal Privacy

by Eric Dondero

Looks like the State of Vermont may have to reverse its gender neutral bathroom policies in its dorm rooms.

From Fox News:

Nineteen-year-old Jennifer Weiler filed a civil complaint last week against the Department of Public Safety, which enforces building and plumbing codes she claims were violated.

All seven of the school's residence halls are co-ed. According to the lawsuit, Weiler and others are uncomfortable with the flimsy curtains on the shower doors and men using the toilets without closing the door.

Weiler's father, Ron Weiler, told The Burlington Free Press that school officials agreed to label the bathroom on her floor "female" but males continue to use it. A college spokesman declined to comment.

The same could be applied to homosexuals in the military.

Straight men or straight women for that matter, would be forced to share close quarter bunking facilities, with members of the same sex who are attracted to them sexually.

This is inherently discriminatory. Members of the same sex will be allowed to peer and gawk at people they're attracted too in shower stalls, in bathroom facilities, and even sharing bunks.

In the Navy, in which I served, the rules and regulations governing males entering a females quarters were severe. A straight male caught gawking or pleasuring himself in or around female sailors could be sentenced to captain's mast or even court martialed.

Gays in the military? Those same rules governing sailors attracted to other male sailors would be non-existent.

In such a situation, shouldn't the young sailor, male or female, have the right to sue, so as to protect his or her privacy? Shouldn't they have the right not to be gawked at for the sexual pleasure of another? Imagine the first discinplinary action against a young straight male sailor caught peering into female quarters, after gays in the military is implemented. His defense? Simply that gay sailor "Bobby," or "Jeremy" has the right to gawk at him.

What could be more basic in life than some expectation or personal privacy in regards to bathing, hygeine and taking care of bodily functions? Even military personnel deserve some sort of expectation of privacy in this regard. If it's good enough for some college girl at a state-subsidized institution in Vermont, it's certainly good enough for our brave soldiers and sailors in uniform.

Navy Veteran, 1981-85 (hon.), 4-years sea duty, USS Kittyhawk CV-63 & USS Luce DDG-38.