Mustache Bill Puts Congressman in Hairy Situation
- Posted on February 29, 2012 at 7:23pm by
Christopher Santarelli
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(AP) — A Republican congressman from Maryland is in a hairy situation over a proposal to give tax breaks to Americans with mustaches.
The American Mustache Institute claimed Tuesday that Rep. Roscoe Bartlett had lent his support to the `Stache Act, which calls for a tax deduction of up to $250 a year for facial hair grooming.
But Bartlett’s office said he never supported the measure. Staffers said Wednesday that they only forwarded a copy of the proposal to the House Ways & Means Committee, without the congressman’s knowledge, after receiving a media inquiry about it. That led the institute to believe Bartlett, who has long had a mustache, supported the measure.
“For the record: Roscoe is pro-stache, but he does not believe Americans should pay for people’s personal grooming decisions,” Bartlett’s chief of staff, Deborah Burrell, said in a statement.
So far, no other representatives have supported the mustache proposal.
At least one of Bartlett’s Republican primary opponents is criticizing him over the facial hair flap. The longtime incumbent faces several challengers in the 6th District, which was redrawn to include more Democratic voters.
The American Mustache Institute, meanwhile, issued a statement faulting Burrell for what it called a “shameful reversal.”
“We are highly disappointed by their reversal based on the fact that the congressman’s opponents in the race are jumping on the bandwagon to criticize him,” chairman Aaron Perlut said. “They obviously don’t understand what it is to be a mustached American.”
The institute plans to send Burrell an autographed photo of Burt Reynolds as a goodwill gesture, Perlut said.
State Delegate Kathy Azfali, who is challenging Bartlett in next month’s primary, said the `Stache Act situation was a sign that the 10-term incumbent had lost control of his staff and “is out of touch with voters.”
Bartlett told WTOP-FM last fall that he grew his mustache in the 1950s as an affront to the clean-shaven.
“For someone who was kind of a nonconformist, it was kind of a symbol of rebellion,” he said.
Bartlett supports the Movember campaign, which encourages men to grow mustaches in the month of November to raise money and awareness for men’s health, specifically prostate cancer. The mustache institute has contributed to that campaign and other charities.
“I would encourage people who find out about the mustache institute’s efforts to make tax-deductible charitable contributions toward the serious Movember philanthropy effort,” said Lisa Wright, Bartlett’s press secretary.
Wright said she forwarded the mustache institute’s white paper on the `Stache Act to the Ways & Means Committee because it‘s the committee’s role to address media inquiries about tax policy.
“I looked at it, and I knew it was a joke,” Wright said of the `Stache Act.
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RedManBlueState
Posted on March 1, 2012 at 12:20pmI’ve got a full beard. Can I take $500?
Report Post »Wolf
Posted on March 2, 2012 at 12:20amAnd there isn‘t more to be concerned with in politics than your ’stache?
Report Post »And some people wonder why this country is so screwed up.
steveh931
Posted on March 1, 2012 at 12:16pmSend the staffers to Clinton, he’ll know what to do.
Report Post »andrewkboyle
Posted on March 1, 2012 at 11:01amThis puts the FU back in Fu-Manchu. As a “mustached-American” I am shocked by this story. What is the compelling national interest in subsidizing the grooming of the hair on my face? This would require the seizure of someone’s wealth to reduce the cost I incur to maintain my face. This is tyranny. If your independent enough to grow hair on your face, you should be independent enough to oppose this tax break.
Report Post »oldbat
Posted on March 1, 2012 at 10:19amSatire folks. Satire.
Report Post »ArtieR
Posted on March 1, 2012 at 9:12amMustache…. birth control whats the diff? give everyone enough tax breaks and than implement the flat tax…. genius!
Report Post »JRook
Posted on March 1, 2012 at 10:07amExactly, birth control, mustaches, Exxon ($5 billion tax credit), corporate jets, etc. I have no problem with eliminating all undeserved and unnecessary federal tax deductions and credits.
Report Post »duketurner
Posted on March 1, 2012 at 8:56amHere is why we are in trouble. “For the record: Roscoe is pro-stache, but he does not believe Americans should pay for people’s personal grooming decisions,” Bartlett’s chief of staff, Deborah Burrell, said in a statement.
OMG, really, is she that stupid. NO American will pay more for the grooming decisions of other. The people who have mustaches will just pay less. NOBODY will have to pay more. ARRRRRGHHH! My head is exploding.
I hate how these people twist words to make it sound like someone will pay!
I do not have a mustache, but if this bill means people pay less taxes to this bloated overspending monster sized federal government, then so be it. I would like to add a tax credit for people who shave. Razors & shaving cream cost money and I would like a tax credit. $1,000 a year will do.
Actually I don’t want the Federal Government doing anything with my face because next thing you know they will make a law about when we should shave or something stupid like that.
Report Post »merchantsailor
Posted on March 1, 2012 at 9:14amWhy not???? We need to pay for contraception right?? We cannot deny the mustached people their RIGHT to pay less taxes because they have facial hair. sarc off now
Report Post »TwoLazy
Posted on March 1, 2012 at 8:35amI hate to say this but they nut is a nut, and this is reminiscent or Nero fiddling while Rome burned ….
Report Post »Meyvn
Posted on March 1, 2012 at 7:53amI have a stache and a soul patch on my chin, but this is stupid.
Report Post »MYHEROISRON
Posted on March 1, 2012 at 8:18amAnd congress wonders why their popularity is nonexistent. This frivilous crap is treasonous!
Report Post »clingingtogodandguns
Posted on March 1, 2012 at 6:36amThis is the reason we need a part time congress!!!! If this is all this guy can think about with all that’s going on.He should quit, then he will have plenty of time to work on it.Now a tax break for BEER drinkers, now that’s a good bill.Do you know how many hours a day i spend on perfecting my elbow bending.lol
Report Post »Arc
Posted on March 1, 2012 at 6:03amThis is just another instance of complete an total AMBIVALENCE to the JOB AT HAND by the members of our CONGRESS.
This falls in line with, ” voting on naming a highway after a politician, a post office after a politician “ or voting on whether or not they should ” go on recess”
And they wonder why their approval rating is about 10%. Just imagine who that 10% are. All relatives of Congress or Congressional Aides etc.
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on March 1, 2012 at 5:56amMaryLand… is Weird!
Report Post »bigdaddyt46
Posted on March 1, 2012 at 3:14amthey need to make this a law. poor pelosi is spending a small fortune to maintain and control her mustache. can’t we all help a little?
Report Post »hogtrashhd
Posted on March 1, 2012 at 12:49amoh come on.. if it’s such a burden and expense shave the damn thing off.. this is ludicrous gone wild..
Report Post »spreadcommonsensenot pc
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 11:48pmO, I forgot……..from our university system………….
Report Post »spreadcommonsensenot pc
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 11:47pmWhere in the WORLD do these kooks come from………….
Report Post »spreadcommonsensenot pc
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 11:46pmJust another “HAIRY-BALLLLLLZ” progressive tax……..
Report Post »ModerationIsBest
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 10:47pmInsanity run amuck.
Report Post »DividedWeFail
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 10:45pmThere was an guy on Cavuto (fox business) today promoting this “Stash Bill”.
He wants a $250 tax deduction to care for mustaches (and for women to get rid of facial hair). Cavuto said WE ARE BROKE!!!!! What is to stop people from asking for a Tattoo Tax Deduction or some other “life style” deduction.
This mustache bill guy gave a Pelosi answer. The $250 Mustache deduction WILL STIMULATE THE ECONOMY.
How PATHETIC we are so far from the Constitution that we have a income tax that can manipulated by every lobbyist like this guy. But he has a point. His lifestyle mustache tax deduction is no different than a life style deduction for being married or having children which discriminates those who are not married or have no children. Growing corn is a JOB some farmer choose as a life style work – why are we giving ethanol, cotton, sugar and other farmers tax deductions?
We need to repeal the income tax and all these mustache deduction – GO WAY. A national sales tax (NOT a flat tax) is far better.
Report Post »South Philly Boy
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 10:30pmI LOVE that idea
Report Post »USAMEDIC3008
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 10:42pmYea Hillerl,Nancy,and Rose could use the deduction
Report Post »DividedWeFail
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 10:46pmDon’t forget that newest female Supreme Court member. She could use a good shave.
Report Post »MS-GlenNBC
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 11:07pmElena Kagn…. I could see her with Biker Handlebars, i.e. Fu Manchu
Just makes you want to throw up.
Report Post »Winedude
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 11:26pmYou guys are pathetic. You couldn’t think of anything evil with this stupid idea. All you could do is tear down someone else…I guess it’s a vast lack of self-esteem (if you stupid phucks even know what that means!)
Report Post »loriann12
Posted on March 1, 2012 at 7:00amI guess that would mean women would get a tax break on what it costs to remove said mustache. IT’S NOT A MUSTACHE….it’s stray eyebrow hairs.
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