An email letter circulated to indoor tanning professionals this week is making the case that tanning facility owners need to mobilize to vote against congressional representatives who put the 10 percent excise tax on indoor tanning in health care reform legislation this year.

“Are you mad about the Sun Tan Tax that was included in the Healthcare Reform Legislation? Are you angry that the Federal Government is taking money out of your pocket and your customers’ pockets to fund the a health care program that you don’t want and America can’t afford?” the letter asks. “Then do something about it. Election Day is Nov. 2 and this industry and its customers need to send a message to Washington: ‘You are fired if you voted for this absurd tax!’ If the millions of indoor tanners will vote on November 2, we can have a major impact on who makes decisions in the next Congress!”

The letter makes this case: “If the Republicans win [back] 39 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives, they will have majority” which would mean that “Rep. Jack Kingston, a Republican Congressman from Georgia who is a friend of the tanning industry (see his letter below; click on it to enlarge), will [become] Chairman of the FDA Congressional Oversight Committee that is currently determining the reclassification of tanning beds and their future use. The current FDA Congressional Oversight Committee chair is Rep. Rosa DeLauro, a Democrat who has been an outspoken critic of tanning, indoor tanning equipment and tanning salons.”

The letter asks tanning community members to make sure they are registered to vote (if not, visit www.rockthevote.com). It also urges everyone to learn about their candidates by visiting www.votesmart.org.