Rahm proposes service taxes on limos and tanning salons

What? Another tax?

Chicago mayoral candidate Rahm Emanuel wants to raise some taxes--oops, close some loopholes--on some luxury services such as pet grooming, tanning salons,and limousine rides, which are exempt from city sales taxes. There is already $4.00 per-ride fee for pick-ups at O'Hare and Midway Airports for most limos. Larger vehicles pay more.

Such a tax will hurt, well, people who drive limos for a living. It's part of Emanuel's plan to cut the city's share of the sales tax from 1.25 percent to 1.00, which he touted as a 20 percent decrease on Don Wade & Roma's WLS-AM show this morning. Technically I guess it is, but I think he was misleading the audience.

But Rich Miller at Capitol Fax doesn't think there is much of a chance of Emanuel's plan becoming law.

On the radio show Emanuel spoke eloquently about the need to reform city pensions and fulfilling the promise to pay for them--except he didn't get around to explaining how he would pay for it.

Tanning salons must feel that they are under the crosshairs. Yes, I meant to write it that way. ObamaCare added a 10 percent tanning tax at the parlors. Which makes me wonder: Was Rahm the brainchild behind that tax?

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