Robert K

Indoor Tanning Association, Inc., 2025 M St, NW Suite 800 Washington, DC 20036 · Phone: 888-377-0477 · Fax: 202-367-2142






President's Message

As we close out 2012, we mark the fourteenth year the Indoor Tanning Association has been aggressively protecting the rights of your customers to suntan. I will be the first to admit, this past year presented the industry with its gravest challenges – from the restrictions on teen sun tanning that were passed in New York, Vermont and Rhode Island to efforts in Congress to force the FDA to reclassify sun beds to a more restrictive regulatory category.
Next year you can expect our enemies to come right back at us and you can also rest assured that we plan to be there fighting for you.
One challenge we continue to face is how best to deal with the media; we always seem to be playing defense. The board has realized for a long time that needs to change but we have always been constrained by lack of resources.
Over the past few years, various groups within the industry have approached us with plans to go on the offensive – to promote indoor tanning to the press and public. Today there is a new effort afoot and the sponsors seem very determined and serious about making it happen.
I think I speak for everyone on the board when I say the ITA will whole heartedly support any initiative that is well planned, inclusive of all segments of the industry, does not erode or harm the progress we have made both in Washington and in the state capitals, and does not interfere with the ITA's core mission; that is, defending the industry from intrusive federal or state regulations.
I also speak for the entire board when I say we will all be better served if we continue to work together towards a common goal of building a better future for our industry.



NRCC Battleground Fall Event

ITA President Rob Quinn was in Washington in September as a guest of the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) to attend two days of briefings and meetings with senior Republican lawmakers in the House of Representatives. Because of his extensive work with the NRCC, Rob sits on the NRCC's national finance committee.
During his visit, Rob attended a luncheon honoring one of the industry's most ardent supporters, Congressman Michael Grimm (R-NY). Congressman Grimm has a tough reelection battle but voiced optimism regarding how his campaign is going, noting that he was tracking a double digit lead on his Democratic challenger. Rob also met with members of the House Ways and Means Committee including Congressman Aaron Schock (R-IL). Congressman Schock expressed support for small business and stated that he shares ITA's concerns regarding the tan tax and its effect on jobs in our industry.
Rob attended a VIP reception with the House Leadership also sponsored by the NRCC. Many members of the House Leadership were present at this gathering and the informal setting provided numerous opportunities to develop new allies, put a human face on our industry and continue to voice concerns about the challenges of running a small business in the current economy.
The highlight of the two day conference was the keynote speech given by New Jersey Governor Chris Christie. Governor Christie talked about what it is like to be a newly elected Republican in a heavily Democratic state and how he has overcome many challenges he has faced. Governor Christie is a rising star in national politics and has been talked about as a future presidential candidate.


The Lame-duck Session of Congress

A full agenda awaits Congress when it returns after the November 6 elections. The "lame-duck” session will be dominated by fiscal issues, including addressing the debt ceiling and deciding what to do about key tax provisions which expire on December 31 -- including the tax cuts of 2001 and 2003 (which are often called the "Bush tax cuts” but which President Obama extended in 2010). These provisions include cuts to the individual tax rates, tax rates on capital gains and on estate/gift taxes. Congress must also address the payroll tax cut which expires at the end of the year.
Against this backdrop, a series of deep, automatic spending cuts are scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2012, absent Congressional intervention. The cuts are part of the sequestration that was enacted as part of the compromise when Congress last raised the debt ceiling in August, 2011. The goal at the time of enactment was to force Congress and the Administration to reach a grand bargain on spending and tax policy issues, but such an agreement has thus far been elusive.
The convergence of all of these issues has been nick-named the "fiscal cliff”, and it will consume most of Congress' attention in November and December. Most observers believe that the outcome of the election will determine whether Congress will have the willingness to address these issues meaningfully during the lame -duck session or whether they will simply kick the issues down the road by a few months until the new Congress takes office in January.

__________________
Robert Klem
Superior UV Technologies
(888) 526-7712 x77
robertk@superioruv.com