Health clubs sweat taxes (MD)

The Washington Times ^ | 10-31-07

[JZelle]

A health club is not the place you would expect to discuss tax policy.

But at Sport Fit gym in Bowie, exercisers are being asked to write their state lawmakers to oppose a proposal by Gov. Martin O'Malley, a Democrat, to expand the state sales tax to include health clubs.

As the General Assembly convenes in Annapolis this week for a special session to consider Mr. O'Malley's budget plan, his proposal to expand the sales tax to services that currently aren't taxed is getting a lot of attention in certain quarters.

"It's ridiculous," said Joe Bottner, who works the front desk for the gym's 10,000 members. "It defeats the purpose of trying to keep obesity down and keep people in good health."

Mr. O'Malley also proposes to legalize slot-machine gambling and increase other taxes, including the state sales tax and personal income tax, to resolve the state's $1.7 billion budget shortfall.

Taxing services might seem like an easy fix as the country moves from a manufacturing economy to a service economy, but Maryland officials have found strong opposition to the plan. Service-industry groups call it a terrible idea, and a 6 percent sales tax on pricey services such as accounting or legal representation could add hundreds, or even thousands, of dollars to the cost.

A plan to expand the sales tax was considered, then abandoned, during the regular session earlier this year. When Mr. O'Malley proposed an expansion of the sales tax for the special session, he included three services: health clubs, massage therapy and property management.

[JZelle]

Tax Smoking and exercise!!

[goldstategop]

Democrats want to raise new taxes? Gee, what a surprise!

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[Sgt_Schultze]

and a 6 percent sales tax on pricey services such as accounting or legal representation could add hundreds, or even thousands, of dollars to the cost.

Since most legislatures are home to scores of lawyers, the prospect of such taxes applying to legal services are nil. One has to protect one's own nest.

[alice_in_bubbaland]

Sounds like NJ, Corslime enacted 94 new taxes this past year and increased the sales tax to 7% on top of it.

Vote in a Dim, get screwed!

[Kellis91789]

“It defeats the purpose of trying to keep obesity down and keep people in good health.”

Clearly a firm believer in the Nanny State deciding how people should live their lives.

Why not apply the sales tax to EVERYTHING, including all services, groceries and medicine. Stop trying to influence people’s INDIVIDUAL life choices through taxation.

[the_devils_advocate_666]

So explain to me why NJ has just about the cheapest gas prices in the country?

[VeniVidiVici]

So explain to me why NJ has just about the cheapest gas prices in the country?

Um, because New Jersey is just one big petroleum storage tank?

[G8 Diplomat]

It is high time I move out of Maryland.

Now you get taxed just for exercising? Good grief! Probably so the government can pay for your health care when you’re in the ER with obesity from a lack of exercising driven by the desire of not wanting to pay extra taxes for it.

[alice_in_bubbaland]

Believe me, that's the only thing in this darn state that's cheaper than anywhere else. Don't worry they're working on that too!

They have to wait until after the election, they don't want additional voter outrage from the sheeple.

They're also working on increasing the sales tax yet again, to pay for stem cell research. It's up for voter referendum next week. Knowing the fools who vote here, it will pass.

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

I’ll pay the stupid gym tax if they eliminate my income and property taxes. :-)

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

Why not apply the sales tax to EVERYTHING, including all services, groceries and medicine.

I agree, and in return, lets get rid of:

• all state and local income taxes,
• all state and local capital taxes (capital gains, dividends, etc.),
• all state and local inheritance taxes,
• all state property taxes,
• all state and local corporate taxes,
• all regulations that effectively ban certain businesses in the state,
• all state and local cigarette, alcohol, and other sin excises,
• the 20% increase in the sales/service tax.

Sounds good to me. :-)

[Kellis91789]

Absolutely right !

If a person owns their property and can live off it, they get off tax-free. If they spend any money anywhere then the sales tax ought to be enough to pay for whatever local government involvement they get the benefit of.

This whole business of taxing people every year on stuff they already own means they don’t really own it. Taxing them on the money they earn means the state is making itself a partner when it’s done nothing to earn it. The State shouldn’t claim to be the fount of all wisdom by deciding what are “good” activities to be encouraged and what are “bad” activities to be discouraged via fees and taxes.

We should strip all levels of government of the right to levy new taxes and insist on just ONE tax that applies to everything — a goods and services sales tax.