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Facelifts to fund stem cell study in IL?

Ambulatory Surgery Reimbursement Update, December 14, 2004

For some people, physical appearance is a life-or-death priority. Now, one Illinois lawmaker is proposing that the pursuit of that beauty have a real impact on the lives of people everywhere. 
 
Illinois Comptroller Dan Hynes has raised eyebrows among the facelift set in his state by proposing a 6% tax on elective cosmetic surgery in order to repay state bonds that would be issued to fund an institute that would award grants for stem cell research. The proposed Illinois Regenerative Medicine Institute would offer $1 billion to stem cell research over the next 10 years, according to the November 30 issue of the Belleville News-Democrat.

While Hynes defines his proposal as "a very narrowly defined luxury tax that is applicable to less than 2% of the population," the concept is understandably drawing opposition throughout the state from various fronts: tax advocacy groups, religious leaders and, of course, plastic surgeons have expressed displeasure with the initiative.
 
"The people of Illinois should be very concerned about what this tax may mean to their health in the future," said Dr. Scott Spear, president of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. "That idea that the legislature will decide whose operation is politically acceptable and whose deserves to be taxed is scary."
 

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