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IN BRIEF
Lawmakers look to tax
facelifts; fabulous cry foul
OLYMPIA, Wash. — Nip, tuck
and ... tax?
Lawmakers trying to plump up the
bottom line are considering a "vanity
tax" on cosmetic surgery and Botox
injections in Washington, Illinois and
other states.
Plastic surgeons and their patients
say the idea is just plain ugly.
"It makes no sense. Where does it
stop — massages, facials, teeth clean
ings?" asked Karen Wakefield, 51, who
has had a nose job, dermabrasion, li
posuction, tummy tuck and breast lift,
plus a little Botox here and there.
"Even having a baby is elective
surgery," added Wakefield, an event
planner in Woodinville, Wash. "Why
not tax that, too?"
The Washington state senator who
proposed the tax said she has never
gone under the knife for beauty, but
wouldn't rule it out.
"I, too, look in the mirror and see
my mother," said Seattle Democrat
Karen Keiser, 57. But she thinks cos
metic surgery patients can afford the
state's 6.5 percent sales tax. She
wants to earmark the money for poor
children's health insurance.
"We could do Botox-for-babies
parties. It might be the new thing,"
Reiser said. "Anyone who can af
ford the money for cosmetic proce
dures, I don’t think they would be
deterred by a little sales tax. You pay
it on your lipstick."
The tax would not apply to recon
structive surgery for, say, burn vic
tims or women who have undergone
mastectomies.
In September, New Jersey became
the first and so far the only state to
tax plastic surgery, at 6 percent.
The tax is projected to bring in
$25 million a year.
In Illinois, the state comptroller
has proposed a 6 percent tax on cos
metic surgery to create a stem cell re
search institute. If the Legislature ap
proves, the question could be put to
the voters in 2006.
In California, the very capital of
cosmetic surgery, such procedures
are tax-free.
The cosmetic surgery tax is a cousin
to the "sin taxes" many states slap on
drinking, smoking and gambling
during tough budget times.
"In this anti-tax climate, these
user-based, selective tax proposals
are more palatable than broader
ones," said Bert Waisaner, tax policy
analyst for the National Conference
of State Legislatures.
The American Society of Plastic
Surgeons frowns on this new wrin
kle, calling New Jersey's law a
"dangerous precedent."
Seattle surgeon Dr. Phil Haeck
noted that 86 percent of cosmetic
surgery patients are women.
— The Associated Press
Palestinian leader
bans people from
carrying weapons
BY MOHAMMED DARAGHMEH
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
RAMALLAH, West Bank — The
new Palestinian leadership on Thurs
day banned civilians from carrying
weapons and indicated it will appoint
a new security minister known for his
tough stance against militants — clear
signs of seriousness about reining in
violence, an Israeli precondition for
peace talks.
The Palestinians came in for praise
from Israeli Prime Minister Ariel
Sharon, who said Thursday that con
ditions are right for a breakthrough
toward peace.
Before the weapons ban was an
nounced, Sharon said he was “very
satisfied” with the actions of new
Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas,
who has been pressing hard for a
declaration by militant groups of a
halt to attacks against Israel, ending
four years of bloody violence. For
now, the militants have agreed to a
temporary suspension of violence to
test Israel's response.
Also Thursday, Palestinian police
prepared to deploy in central and
southern Gaza to stop militants from
attacking Israelis. The new deploy
ment was set for Friday morning,
Palestinian officials said.
In local elections in 10 localities in
Gaza on Thursday, meanwhile, the
Islamic Hamas movement scored
some big victories, according to exit
polls, handily defeating Abbas’ Fatah
party in three of the four communi
ties polled. The Hamas victories re
flected widespread support in Gaza
for the violent Islamic movement,
which provides welfare, schools and
kindergartens to residents, alongside
its attacks against Israel.
The decree banning Palestinian
civilians from holding weapons was
a gesture toward Israel and the Unit
ed States, which have long demand
ed the disarming of militant groups
responsible for attacks that have
killed more than 1,000 Israelis. It also
sent a message to Palestinians that
the Abbas regime will be based on
law and order, and that police will
not allow militants to strut in public
with their weapons.
The decree, issued by Prime Min
ister Ahmed Qureia, emphasized the
law and order issue, noting “the in
crease in the number of violent
crimes in all the governates because
of the chaos of weapons.”
Soon after the violence started in
September 2000, Israel targeted
Palestinian police posts for destruc
tion in response to allegations they
were involved in violence. The Is
raelis declared they would open fire
on any armed Palestinian — in effect
disarming the police.
The main result was to weaken the
authority of the Palestinian police
forces. The vacuum was filled by
large militant groups, like Hamas,
Islamic Jihad and Al Aqsa Martyrs'
Brigades, as well as small armed
gangs who ruled neighborhoods
by force of arms, often clashing
among themselves.
The northern West Bank town of
Jenin is a well-known center of mili
tant groups and gangs, and police
have no authority there. Residents
say they live in fear.
“I feel insecure with guns in
the hands of the people on the
street,” said Wissam Asaadi, 40. “I
am worried about the security of my
children and my home,” he said. “For
me, personal safety is more impor
tant than the national goals” of an
end to the occupation and creation of
a Palestinian state.
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You are invited to 50 deeper.
Walk the Labyrinth
Walking the labyrinth is an ancient form of prayer and meditation
that has been revived in recent years.
Friday, January 26
10:30am - 4:30pm
EMU Fir Room
Sponsored by die Wesley Foundation
United Methodi/k Compur Mini/try
Come and 30 a! anytime during the above hours.
Questions con be directed to Jeremy at 346-4694 or
jeremyhp@darkwing.uoregQn.edu
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