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So, the WSJ just reported that the Senate has voted overwhelmingly (79-20) to repeal the Medical Device Tax that was part of ObamaCare. This included the votes from among the Bluest of Blue Staters:

Here’s Mr. Franken: “The industry is being punished for its innovation and growth.” Or as Ms. Klobuchar put it, “The tax is a burden on medical device businesses but, most importantly, it is a disincentive for jobs. It stifles innovation, and it makes it more difficult for the next generation of lifesaving devices to make it to the market.”

Just a little question for our dear Senators: what makes this particular tax any different than any other one you actually DO support? And if you actually think this device tax is a disincentive for investment and growth, why are you such ardent supporters of the minimum wage increase? After all, that “tax” is far more than a 2.3% tax on device makers, it is a 24% increase on wage costs for low skilled workers. If low skilled workers make up 10% of the workforce at a firm or more, it would seem to be a larger burden than the device tax. What’s different?

2 Responses to “Bizarro World in the Senate”

  1. Harry says:

    Remember that the medical device tax was one of the revenue measures cooked up to “pay” for the toxic soup the senators voted for that Christmas Eve. As Joe Biden put it, it was a big ******* deal.

    As the WSJ points out, this provision is part of Patty Murray’s budget, which is ten parsecs away from becoming law, at least until 2015. Classify this one under You Can’t Have It Both Ways.

  2. chuck martel says:

    Naturally, Klobuchar and Franken are going to speak out about this, Medtronic, St. Jude Medical, Boston Scientific and a mess of other medical device manufacturers are headquartered in Minnesota.

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