Safe Sex Is About To Get More Expensive

[Patranus]

Safe sex is about to get more expensive, now that Congress has levied a new tax on condoms - and bedpans, bandages and thousands of other implements - to help pay for the just-enacted $940 billion health care overhaul.
The change is courtesy of a 2.3 percent excise tax on medical devices that was embedded in the final version of the health care package and is expected to raise $20 billion over the next 10 years.

Under the final deal, the 2.3 percent tax would apply to the sale of most medical devices regulated by the Food and Drug Administration - including the least risky class of products such as tongue depressors and latex gloves that had been exempted under earlier versions of the proposal. The final measure kept exemptions for eyeglasses, contact lenses, hearing aids and other retail products.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/03/28/MNEL1CM039.DTL

I thought that the Democrats were trying to lower the cost of these things....

 

[Tristicus]

What the fuck...

 

[Freshgeardude]

bull fucking shit. I fucking hate this new administration. can it be 2012 already please

 

[GTaudiophile]

ROFL!

Making these things more expensive = companies will pass it on = you pay more...twice!

 

[Matthiasa]

Eh so few pennies more expensive per use.
Condoms are so overrated anyways.

 

[EXman]

Sex is one thing I'm willing to pay more for!

wait that sounds bad!

 

[Sclamoz]

Safe sex is about to get more expensive, now that Congress has levied a new tax on condoms - and bedpans, bandages

I think someone is doing it wrong.

 

[Schadenfroh]

Damn bedpan tax, I need a toilet recliner from Idiocracy.

 

[TruePaige]

The final measure kept exemptions for eyeglasses, contact lenses, hearing aids and other retail products.

Umm..doesn't that include condoms?

 

[Matthiasa]

Shh... don't tell them that.
However, it might not have been one of the other retail products listed.

 

[ShawnD1]

Umm..doesn't that include condoms?

It's the government. They don't know what the fuck.

Taxing condoms seems like a really really bad idea. Groups pushing for people to be responsible give out free condoms so people are more likely to use them. Jacking up the price means the exact opposite - discourage condom use. Sure it's only pennies but the concept itself is downright irresponsible.

 

[Throckmorton]

If you're concerned about a 2% tax on cheap products, you need to take a step back and reassess, especially since that money will literally save lives.

 

[TruePaige]

Shh... don't tell them that.
However, it might not have been one of the other retail products listed.

I think this might just be bad journalism. I'll wait to hear more.

 

[Matthiasa]

Well they could just switch to a cheaper brand.

 

[Brainonska511]

From the Reconciliation Bill (HR 4872); Section 1405 (on the excise tax):

‘‘(b) TAXABLE MEDICAL DEVICE.—For purposes of this section—
_‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The term ‘taxable medical device’ means any device (as defined in section 201(h) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act) intended for humans.
_‘‘(2) EXEMPTIONS.—Such term shall not include—
__‘‘(A) devices classified in class I under section 513 of such Act,
__‘‘(B) eyeglasses,
__‘‘(C) contact lenses,
__‘‘(D) hearing aids, and
__‘‘(E) any other medical device determined by the Secretary to be of a type which is generally purchased by the general public at retail for individual use.’’,

Looks like (E) would exclude condoms from this excise tax.

 

[Tristicus]

Doubt it, that isn't talking about things like condoms as far as I can see...

 

[ShawnD1]

If you're concerned about a 2% tax on cheap products, you need to take a step back and reassess, especially since that money will literally save lives.

I sleep a with a shitload of prostitutes. That 2% adds up fast, bro.

 

[Hacp]

If you're concerned about a 2% tax on cheap products, you need to take a step back and reassess, especially since that money will literally save lives.

2% adds up REALLY fast.

 

[nonlnear]

I sleep a with a shitload of prostitutes. That 2% adds up fast, bro.

The bedpans must add up too, what with the shitload and all...

 

[ShawnD1]

The bedpans must add up too, what with the shitload and all...

I can only use the same condom like 3 times but a bedpan lasts years. Just clean it with dish soap every few months.

 

[DonInKansas]

Four cents on a 2 dollar pack of condoms. Yeah, there's something to get riled up about.

 

[lothar]

From the Reconciliation Bill (HR 4872); Section 1405 (on the excise tax):


Quote:
‘‘(b) TAXABLE MEDICAL DEVICE.—For purposes of this section—
_‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The term ‘taxable medical device’ means any device (as defined in section 201(h) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act) intended for humans.
_‘‘(2) EXEMPTIONS.—Such term shall not include—
__‘‘(A) devices classified in class I under section 513 of such Act,
__‘‘(B) eyeglasses,
__‘‘(C) contact lenses,
__‘‘(D) hearing aids, and
__‘‘(E) any other medical device determined by the Secretary to be of a type which is generally purchased by the general public at retail for individual use.’’,

Looks like (E) would exclude condoms from this excise tax.

You missed the underlined part.
There's nothing stopping a secretary from imposing the 2% tax on condoms, KY Jelly, Astroglide, dildos, penis pumps, *insert other items here*, etc...all in the name of promoting abstinence.

 

[shira]

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/03/28/MNEL1CM039.DTL

Safe sex is about to get more expensive, now that Congress has levied a new tax on condoms - and bedpans, bandages and thousands of other implements - to help pay for the just-enacted $940 billion health care overhaul.
The change is courtesy of a 2.3 percent excise tax on medical devices that was embedded in the final version of the health care package and is expected to raise $20 billion over the next 10 years.

I thought that the Democrats were trying to lower the cost of these things....

Just re-use your condoms and save big.

 

[IGBT]

wheel chairs are going to be obama taxed too.

 

[ShawnD1]

wheel chairs are going to be obama taxed too.

You whipper snappers better not take my Rascal!


I think I've come up with the ultimate solution to the budget problem. Legalize cocaine and tax it. Legalize meth and tax it. Legalize prostitution and tax it. People will do coke and meth, get horny as hell, buy a hooker. We get to tax them thrice!