State to save us from danger of unauthorized massages
The PA House voted 193-5 to create a new board to license massage therapists (HT GrassrootsPA). The board will collect licensing fees fees, certify educational requirements, test would-be masseurs, and punish those who massage illegally.
The five legislators who think that state government preventing people from earning a living by touching your back isn't such an amazing idea are Ellis, Hutchinson, Metcalfe, Moul, and Perry (all Republicans). The lead sponsor of this bill, Keith McCall uses the old justification "well lots of other states are doing it" (in my head, this line is voiced by Bullwinkle Moose, rather than McCall).
For more on what other states are doing, and why it doesn't benefit the public, here is a Reason study (which was discussed on The BOX). You should also read Steve Albert's commentary on more inane regulation in Pennsylvania, and the Institute for Justice report detailing how professional licensing is used to create and protect industry cartels.
1 comment:
Well I was looking for something harmless for the legislature to do rather than leasing away the turnpike, tolling I-80, using gambling revenue for anything except what we voted gambling in for, and passing impossible spending packages in the budget, but I guess this isn't it. Licensing because everyone else is doing it? Nice rationale. Hmmm... Maybe we can create a board to license legislators (they can do an awful lot more harm than masseurs if they're not certified!), then instruct the board to put a moratorium on new licensing. Overnight we'll have no new legislation! Problem solved.
Post a Comment