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Old 02-24-2013, 11:06 AM   #1 (permalink)
Robert K
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Join Date: Aug 27 2002
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ITA Update 2/22/13




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



Member Update 02/22/2013:
In This issue:
President's Message
Washington Update
Meeting Your Elected Officials
State Legislative Season


President’s Message
Our political action committee (ITA-PAC) has become one of our most important tools in Washington. In 2012 we contributed approximately $52,000 to Federal candidates in addition to the money the industry contributed directly to the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) which added another $30,000.

As we began the new election cycle, ITA Political Action Committee Chairman Marty Gallagher (Suntan Supply) and PAC committee member Max Recone (MR International) were in Washington in early February to attend a fundraiser for the National Republican Senatorial Committee hosted by Akin Gump. The dinner included Senator Hatch (R-UT), ranking member on Senate Finance; Senator Jerry Moran (R-KS), ; NRSC Chairman, Appropriations Committee and Small Business Committee; Senator Rob Portman (R-OH), NRSC Finance Committee chair; Senator Kelly Ayotte (R-NH), ;Commerce Committee and Small Business Committee; Senator Mike Lee (R-UT ) and Senator Johnny Isakson (R-GA). This was a small gathering and an excellent opportunity to continue to introduce our industry and further our Washington efforts. At this event Akin Gump raised $300,000 for the NRSC.

Unfortunately, with the ITA’s contribution of $5000 to this event, the PAC account is almost empty. Please consider contributing to the ITA’s Political Action Committee. The PAC is overseen by a committee that includes industry leaders from every sector and it is a critical component of the ITA’s strategic initiatives. In addition to Marty and Max, Rob Quinn, (TanPro), Lewis Henry (Devoted Creations) and Ed Jerger (Four Seasons Sales and Service) serve on the committee to make sure your money is spent wisely and in the best interests of the industry. If you would like to contribute to the PAC, email
admin@theita.comor call 703 336-3632.
Thanks, Rob



Washington Update


We are already working on an aggressive program to introduce our industry to the 98 new Representatives and Senators that make up the new Congress. It is vital that each understands the important role our industry plays in local economies and the challenges that government often erects for small business either knowingly or unknowingly.


On February 13, the House Committee on Small Business held a hearing on "The State of the Small Business Economy.” The purpose of the hearing was to review current economic indicators that measure the health of the economy, with a specific focus on access to capital. The hearing examined the general economic concerns that small business owners will face in the coming year. We used this hearing as an opportunity to provide the committee with information about our industry, specifically the impact of the recession and the tan tax.

We prepared a state-by-state chart which details indoor tanning business closures since the imposition of the tan tax (see attached). Rep. Chris Collins (R-NY) made the chart a part of the official hearing record. In addition, we provided each member of the committee with a fact sheet regarding the impact of the recession and the tan tax specific to that Representative’s state and met with a number of the committee members individually to discuss the industry, including:
· Rep. Sam Graves (R-MO) –Chairman
· Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-MO)
· Rep. Mick Mulvaney (R-SC)
· Rep. Richard Hanna (R-NY)
· Rep. Chris Collins (R-NY



Meeting Your Elected Officials – We’ll Be Glad to Help


The ITA regularly receives calls from business owners across the country seeking advice regarding the issues that should be raised when meeting with elected officials and their staff members. While the issues can vary widely state to state, the Federal issues facing the industry have remained fairly constant over the past few years.

In Washington, our primary concern since 2009 is repealing the tan tax. The path is straight forward. The challenge is building bi-partisan support for amending the tax code. The best way to accomplish this is through establishing a local angle.
The other major issue concerns the Food and Drug Administration’s regulation of our industry. There are some elected officials who want to inject politics into the agency’s work and attempt to force the FDA to take actions against our industry that are not justified by sound science. This is a more complicated issue than discussing the impact of the tan tax but the arguments are still based on common sense.

For both issues, we have developed concise fact sheets and talking points which we are happy to send you. If you are able to schedule a meeting with your congressman or senator, please contact the ITA if you need help getting prepared.

Regarding meetings with state and local elected officials, we are more willing to help you prepare for that too. Just send an email to admin@theita.com or call the ITA and we will get back to you right away.



State Legislative Season in Full Swing


Our enemies hit the ground running this year with anti-tanning legislation already on the schedule in twenty-two states and some legislatures just getting organized. In 2012, the industry saw 53 separate bills introduced in 29 states. This year, we are already aware of 28 bills in 21 states and some legislatures have not yet convened.

What is different this year is that bills have been introduced in a number of states that have been quiet over the past few years. The Alabama, Hawaii, Indiana, Montana, Nebraska, Texas and Virginia legislatures are considering legislation that would restrict teen tanning, some for the first time.

Why should the industry care so much about attempts to restrict youth access when the number of customers under the age of 18 makes up such a small part of the business? We care because their ultimate goal is shut your business down! The Derms have stated that goal publicly on many occasions both on the state and national levels. However, they have learned that the only way to accomplish that end is by attacking your business one small step at a time.

The history is clear.Over the years, we have attempted to make deals with the Derms and they never keep their end of the bargain. In California and New York, in years past we have compromised only to see a new, more restrictive bill the next year. In state after state, every time we make a deal, the restriction becomes the floor from which the battle begins.

Although we are not taking the lead this year, the ITA is committed to working with any organization willing to fight these battles.If you live in one of the affected states and want to get involved, call or email us and we will make sure you get in touch with the right people.

These are the introduced bills to date:
State Legislation 2013
Alabama HB179Under 18 ban
Arizona HB2402 - Under 18 ban
Colorado HB1215 – under 15 prescription required, additional penalties
Connecticut HB 5108- Under 18 banSB 872- Under 18 ban
Hawaii
SB399 – Under 18 ban
HB611 – Under 18 Ban
Illinois HB188 - Under 18 ban SB2244- Under 18 ban
Indiana S.269 – Under 18 ban
Maine LD272 – Under 18 ban
Maryland SB488 – Under 18 ban
Massachusetts SD252 - Requires anti-sun tanning school curriculum
SD672 - Under 18 ban
Minnesota HF676 – Under 18 ban
Missouri HB 47 – Under 17 parental consent
HB 72--Under 6 ban
Montana HB 456– Under 18 parental consent, limits number of visits
Nebraska LB132 Under 18 ban
New Jersey S1172 – Under 18 ban, amended to under 17 ban and passed by both the House and Senate. Awaiting the Governor’s signature
A2142 – Under 18 ban
North Carolina HB 18– Under 18 ban
North Dakota HB 1188 – repeals state laws regulating tanning facilities
Oklahoma SB345 – Under 18 ban
SB816 - Under 18 ban
Oregon HB2896Under 18 ban
Texas HB598 - Under 18 ban
Virginia SB1274 – Under 15 ban, additional restrictions, passed the Senate; tabled in the House.
Washington State HB1585 Under 18 ban
SB5521 – Under 18 ban
SB5455 – Under 18 ban

Please pay attention to what is going on in your state.You may hear of something before we do and we need you to let us know. It is imperative that we all work together to protect our industry.

Click the link Below to see the impact of the Excise Tax on Indoor Tanning

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