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Dems join in calling for delay to ObamaCare medical device tax
FoxNews.com ^ | 12/11/2012

Posted on 12/11/2012 9:17:05 AM PST by RoosterRedux

Democratic lawmakers have joined with Republicans in raising alarm about a looming ObamaCare-tied tax on medical devices, saying the additional tax is causing "uncertainty and confusion for businesses" and should be delayed.

The previously obscure tax has, over the last several months, emerged as one of the most controversial in the health care overhaul and one of the few with bipartisan opposition. Starting Jan. 1, the Affordable Care Act imposes a 2.3 percent tax on medical devices with the goal of raising nearly $30 billion over the next decade.

But a group of U.S. senators this week revived concerns that the tax could hurt one of the few U.S. industries "that enjoys a net trade surplus."

"The medical technology industry directly employs over 400,000 people in the United States and is responsible for a total of 2 million high-skilled manufacturing jobs," Minnesota Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar and North Carolina Democratic Sen. Kay Hagan wrote in a letter with 16 other senators and senators-elect Monday to Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid. "In an environment focused on increasing exports, promoting small businesses and growing high-tech manufacturing jobs for the future, we must do all we can to ensure that our country maintains its global leadership position in the medical technology industry and keeps good jobs here at home."

(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: healthcare; obama; obamacare
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1 posted on 12/11/2012 9:17:10 AM PST by RoosterRedux
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To: RoosterRedux

Y’all should have read the bill before you voted on it. Morons.


2 posted on 12/11/2012 9:18:16 AM PST by Enterprise ("Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities." Voltaire)
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To: Enterprise

Here’s the problem. Republicans are now in the mode of fine tuning and trying to improve this turd. I say leave it alone. Let the people fully experience what they voted for, without any further adjustments or changes.


3 posted on 12/11/2012 9:20:33 AM PST by Arthurio
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To: RoosterRedux
"The medical technology industry directly employs over 400,000 people in the United States and is responsible for a total of 2 million high-skilled manufacturing jobs," Minnesota Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar and North Carolina Democratic Sen. Kay Hagan wrote in a letter with 16 other senators and senators-elect Monday to Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid.

Of course, Klobama voted for the bill. She is frantically backtracking because Medtronic and St. Jude Medical both have huge presences in Minnesota.

4 posted on 12/11/2012 9:22:24 AM PST by Colonel_Flagg ("Don't be afraid to see what you see." -- Ronald Reagan)
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To: RoosterRedux
OBAMACARE DELIVERED
5 posted on 12/11/2012 9:24:22 AM PST by FrankR (They will become our ultimate masters the day we surrender the 2nd Amendment.)
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To: RoosterRedux

The time to make changes to the damn thing was when the jacka$$es were ramming the stupid thing through. In other words, Read the damn thing!


6 posted on 12/11/2012 9:26:36 AM PST by Duckdog (If it wasn't for NASCAR my TV would have gone out the window years ago!)
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To: RoosterRedux

Bump


7 posted on 12/11/2012 9:27:26 AM PST by lowbridge (Joe Biden: "Look, the Taliban per se is not our enemy.")
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To: FrankR

Do not refine it. Let it play out. Just don’t fund it and make the federal government own it. It will keep them so busy trying to run this POS maybe they will leave us alone.


8 posted on 12/11/2012 9:28:21 AM PST by arkfreepdom
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To: Colonel_Flagg

She’ll get them a waiver like they do for unions. Then when she runs for re-election, the employees and CEO will come out and smooth her giant buttocks in a TV ad.


9 posted on 12/11/2012 9:29:16 AM PST by TurboZamboni (Looting the future to bribe the present)
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To: Arthurio
I agree with you. And so what happens if they delay these taxes? There is less revenue making Obamacare more costly adding to the debt and deficit.

Obamacare is supposed to reduce payments to hospitals and doctors by 31% for Medicare patients starting next year. Do we really think those cuts will be permitted to be implemented? Of course not. This will make Obamacare even more expensive exploding the idea that Obamacare is cost neutral or will actually cut healthcare spending.

The Reps would be crazy supporting such changes to alleviate the pain of Obamacare. It is bad politics and bad fiscal policy. And cuts in taxes should be matched by cuts in spending by multiples, not one for one.

Congress has already fixed part of Obamacare last year by reducing the reporting paperwork for businesses. The more the Reps help "fix" Obamacare, the more we own it.

10 posted on 12/11/2012 9:29:16 AM PST by kabar
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To: Arthurio

I agree. Shove this thing right down the throats of the Dems. No repreives, no adjustments... let them face what they passed. And let them explain to the dumb masses why things are suddenly so expensive.


11 posted on 12/11/2012 9:30:58 AM PST by brownsfan (Behold, the power of government cheese.)
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To: Arthurio

I agree. Shove this thing right down the throats of the Dems. No repreives, no adjustments... let them face what they passed. And let them explain to the dumb masses why things are suddenly so expensive.


12 posted on 12/11/2012 9:31:12 AM PST by brownsfan (Behold, the power of government cheese.)
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To: Arthurio
"Here’s the problem. Republicans are now in the mode of fine tuning and trying to improve this turd. I say leave it alone. Let the people fully experience what they voted for, without any further adjustments or changes."

Agree, we don't need Republicans helping the Obama Marxist power and control machine to run better. The Democrats voted for this, let them own it complete with all of destruction and privation that will come from Obamacare.

13 posted on 12/11/2012 9:32:38 AM PST by Truth29
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To: Arthurio

I agree. Republicans should stand back and force the Democrats to fight with Obama over this tax.


14 posted on 12/11/2012 9:32:46 AM PST by Enterprise ("Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities." Voltaire)
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To: RoosterRedux

So now they fear their vibrators will be really expensive?


15 posted on 12/11/2012 9:33:55 AM PST by Hardraade (http://junipersec.wordpress.com (Vendetta))
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To: Colonel_Flagg

Couple of lady parts Dems in panic mode. Eff ‘em.


16 posted on 12/11/2012 9:34:14 AM PST by Enterprise ("Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities." Voltaire)
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To: Hardraade

Naw. The Dems will introduce a “Sandra Fluke” law to make employers provide single women with free vibrators.


17 posted on 12/11/2012 9:35:51 AM PST by Enterprise ("Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities." Voltaire)
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To: RoosterRedux
Democratic lawmakers have joined with Republicans in raising alarm about a looming ObamaCare-tied tax on medical devices, saying the additional tax is causing "uncertainty and confusion for businesses" and should be delayed.

Remind me again, but wasn't it Democrats who not only passed this bill but wrote it as well?

18 posted on 12/11/2012 9:39:44 AM PST by Hoodat ("As for God, His way is perfect" - Psalm 18:30)
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To: kabar
The Reps would be crazy supporting such changes to alleviate the pain of Obamacare. . . . The more the Reps help "fix" Obamacare, the more we own it.

You got that right.

19 posted on 12/11/2012 9:42:47 AM PST by Hoodat ("As for God, His way is perfect" - Psalm 18:30)
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To: Hoodat

Repubs should say we do not need to raise rates because we already have a tax going into effect on medical devices. The Dems prepared plenty of taxes 3 years ago in the medical industry to raise more revenue. Point out every day how many new taxes are already coming next year.


20 posted on 12/11/2012 9:47:23 AM PST by taterjay
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