The health care reform bill passed last week will levy a 10 percent tax on indoor tanning -- which may force some Penn State students to move from the salon to the HUB lawn this summer.
Taking effect in July, the tax is expected to raise $2.7 billion in revenue and will cover a small portion of the health care bill's expenses, U.S. Rep. Glenn Thompson, R-Centre, said.
But by his calculations, it'll also put 9,000 jobs in jeopardy and affect 1,000 businesses nationwide. The tax targets female middle-class business owners, he said.
"It's a high price that falls on the shoulders of Penn State students," he said.
Ultimate Tans, 111 W. Beaver Ave., hasn't made any changes based on the tax yet, manager Ellen Fryer said. The owners have not decided whether they or the customers will be picking up the extra 10-percent tab.
But some students think the tax won't have a significant effect on business.
"Devoted tanners will still come -- they're not gonna care," Kelsie Pedone (sophomore-advertising) said.
"People who smoke cigarettes still smoke even though there's a tax on it."
Students who tan agree, but some think the tanning tax unfairly targets a very narrow group of citizens.
Tanner Stephanie Mitchell knows the health consequences of going to the salon, but she doesn't think the government should use taxes to deter her visits.
"It's not fair because not everyone does it," Mitchell (freshman-nutritional sciences) said.
But other students think the tanning tax is actually a positive step.
"It does have the risk of affecting your health, so it should be taxed," Ellen Kipp (senior-public relations) said. "I think things that are not essential to your survival or your needs should be taxed."
Laura Pica (junior- architectural engineering) agrees. She said the high prices will be an incentive for people to quit tanning, which causes health problems and wastes electricity.
But even with the tax, Ultimate Tans isn't too worried about losing customers, Fryer said.
"People are going to be vain, no matter what," she said.
