Allen West: Tanning Salon Tax 'Racist'

Allen West Levels Racism Charge Against Obama Health Care Law

Rep. Allen West (R-Fla.) may support parts of President Obama's health care law, but he has a problem with the 10 percent tax on tanning salons. He told a mostly Democratic group of seniors at a retirement home near West Palm Beach, Florida, that he thinks the provision is racist, according to the Palm Beach Post.

"You want to talk about something that's really racist? They have a tanning tax," he said. "I'm not tanning."

It was not the first time a conservative has made the claim that the tax discriminates against light-skinned people.

At another event Wednesday, West blasted the Affordable Care Act but admitted he likes two of its provisions, the requirement that insurance companies allow children to stay on their parents' plans until age 26 and expanded coverage for people who have pre-existing conditions.

"The things I just outlined could probably fit in about 10 to 15 pages," he said. "It's the other 2,680 pages of the Patient Protection Affordable Care Act that will be detrimental to the United States.

Like all House Republicans, West voted to repeal the entire law last year.

Sarah Palin and Nikki Haley have named West among their top picks for the GOP vice presidential candidate.

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