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Tag: Refuses

  • GOP Lawmaker Refuses to Read Their Own ‘Tanning Bed Tax Break’ Out Loud for Democrat in Congressional Hearing

    GOP Lawmaker Refuses to Read Their Own ‘Tanning Bed Tax Break’ Out Loud for Democrat in Congressional Hearing

    A Democratic lawmaker challenged Republicans on Capitol Hill over a provision in their sweeping budget bill that repeals the federal excise tax on indoor tanning services.

    When asked to read the line item during a public hearing Tuesday, Rep. Jason Smith (R-MO) refused.


    “So that the American public knows what this bill does… Would you please read page 901, line 20?” New Mexico Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez asked Smith.

    “I think it’d be better if you read it,” Smith responded.

    “Oh, he doesn’t want to read it. This is in their bill. They don’t want to read a line from their own bill,” she said, as the back-and-forth continued. “This is amazing.”

    Rep. Gwen Moore (D-WI) eventually read the provision aloud: “Section 11106: Repeal of excise tax on indoor tanning services.”

    Leger Fernandez contrasted the provision incentivizing tanning bed-ownership with funding cuts to vital services in a critique of GOP priorities. “So if you have a tanning bed, you get a little bit of a tax break,” she said. “And if you need a hospital bed in rural America, I’m sorry, you’re out of luck.”

    In a more pointed jab, she alluded to President Donald Trump. “There are certain elected officials who appear to have a certain orange hue about them,” she quipped, “maybe they want to make sure tanning beds get a little bit of special credit.”

    “Really, we are prioritizing tanning beds over hospital beds in rural America,” Leger Fernandez emphasized.

    The tanning bed tax, originally enacted as part of the Affordable Care Act in 2010, was intended to both raise revenue and discourage use of ultraviolet tanning services due to health risks.

    The exchange underscored ongoing Democratic criticism that the Republican-led bill favors narrow interests and tax breaks for the wealthy over essential services like rural health care.

    Originally published on Latin Times



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  • Virginia Woman Forced to Raise Money for Prosthetic Hand After Insurance Refuses to Cover It Despite Doctor Recommendation

    Virginia Woman Forced to Raise Money for Prosthetic Hand After Insurance Refuses to Cover It Despite Doctor Recommendation

    A Virginia woman who lost her hand in a shark attack is now turning to the public for help after her insurance company refused to cover the cost of a prosthetic device recommended by her medical team.

    Elisabeth Foley, a 45-year-old mother of three, was bitten by a shark in June while vacationing in Florida. She was one of three people attacked within 90 minutes that day. Foley’s injuries were devastating, leading to the loss of her left hand and severe damage to her midsection. Her recovery involved 60 days in the hospital, where she endured multiple surgeries, including nerve and laser procedures, according to WWBT.

    Despite these challenges, Foley has made remarkable progress. Now, her doctors recommend a myoelectric prosthetic hand, an advanced device that uses residual muscle signals in the arm to control its movements.

    This prosthetic would dramatically improve her mobility and independence, according to her GoFundMe page.



    Without it, Foley claims she faces “a diminished quality of life,” marked by limited mobility. Her insurance company has declined to cover the $73,000 prosthetic, deeming it “not medically necessary,” her fundraiser explains.

    The device would enable her to regain some normalcy and tackle tasks many take for granted.

    As of Thursday, Foley’s GoFundMe campaign had raised over $60,000.

    Her journey and updates on her recovery are also documented on her Instagram, where she has received an outpouring of support.

    Foley’s struggle for a prosthetic comes amid a national reckoning over frustrations with the healthcare system prioritizing profits over people. The killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson has sparked a wave of support for the suspect, Luigi Mangione, with many applauding him as a symbol of growing frustration and anger toward the insurance industry.



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