Thuggery by Rahm Emanuel over "luxury gym" tax

Rahm Emanuel has proposed a cut in the Chicago portion of the sales tax. But he favors new taxes on limousine services, tanning salons, and "luxury gyms." Yesterday Gery Chico, another candidate for mayor, tried to hold a press conference at a gym. By the way, who is to decide what is a luxury gym as opposed to a place with just some free weights and showers? Chico is right, if such a tax is approved, it will end up applying to all gyms. That's how government works.

Meanwhile, the man who "Rahmed" cap and trade and ObamaCare through Congress is up to his old thuggery, as the Chicago Sun-Times exhales:

In the ongoing argument over what "luxury" services would be taxed under Emanuel’s sales tax proposal, Chico held a news conference Monday to complain the tax would put neighborhood gyms out of business.

But the first neighborhood gym that Chico tried to hold his news conference at cancelled at the last minute after getting a call from the Emanuel campaign, Chico said.

"It was a supporter and not the campaign itself," Emanuel spokesman Ben Labolt later clarified.

Chico's campaign scrambled to line up the second gym, in West Town. Then the Emanuel campaign called that gym. But owner Sharone Aharon told the caller he planned to let Chico do his news conference there anyway.

Chicagoans, get ready for four years of these antics.

Hat tip to Capitol Fax.

Related post:

Rahm proposes service taxes on limos and tanning salons

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