Toomey, Casey plan to strip Obamacare tax wins Senate OK
A plan co-sponsored by both Pennsyvlania senators that would repeal a tax on the sale of medical devices -- created to help fund President Obama's health care law -- won overhelming, bipartisan Senate support Thursday night.
Toomey, Casey plan to strip Obamacare tax wins Senate OK
WASHINGTON -- A plan co-sponsored by both Pennsyvlania senators that would repeal a tax on the sale of medical devices -- created to help fund President Obama's health care law -- won overhelming, bipartisan Senate support Thursday night.
The amendment to a proposed budget was approved 79-20. It would roll back the 2.3 percent tax on the sale of medical devices such as pacemakers and artificial joints.
Sen. Pat Toomey (R., Pa.) said the tax would have a huge impact nationally, but particularly in Pennsylvania, which he said ranks among the top three states in terms of producing such devices. Many come from the medical industry in southeastern PA, he said.
"It is very important to Pennsylvania, to the economy, to jobs, to the innovation that’s happening ... and it’s important to people’s health care," he said Thursday morning, before the vote.
In a statement after the vote Thursday night he said the tax would cost Pennsylvania's economy $100 million a year.
Toomey and Sen. Bob Casey (D., Pa.) were two of 29 co-sponsors of the amendment. Its prime sponsor was Utah Republican Orrin Hatch.
The vote, though, was largely symbolic. It was passed as an amendment to the Senate Democratic budget, which is non-binding.
Still, Republicans were energized by the opportunity to offer a bipartisan rebuke to at least a piece of Obama's signature law.
The lopsided vote "has to be a (White House) embarassment," the New York Times' Jonathan Weisman wrote on Twitter.
The embarrassment is that these fools would propose it and vote for it. The market for medical devices isn't exactly price sensitive, and 2.3% would not have this sort of effect on Pennsylvania's economy. How do they propose to cover the costs under the health care law if they repeal the provisions meant to cover those costs?— HolidayinCambodia- I'm sure one look at Casey and Toomey's campaign contribution reports will answer any questions you have about the purpose of this bill.
- Cambodia, you have no idea what you are talking about. Many medical devices are near commodity status and have very thin margins. Wipe out those thin profit margins and you'll see more jobs sent offshore. — jfar86
- The Republicans and the Democrats alike still don't get it.... This country has been over since Bush and is only going to get worst for everyone.... except for: Wall Street, Corporate America and the wealthy elite.— APhillyDump
- Wait, I thought Obamacare was the greatest thing since sliced bread? Why are we making so many changes to it AFTER it was passed? Also why is every elected politician EXEMPT from Obamacare?— Taxpaying Voter
- The fact that PA ranks 2nd nationally in medical malpractice lawsuits I'm sure is a pure COINCIDENCE. Obviously both PA senators are in it for the public good and not at all concerned about any bottom line for the industrial medical complex that funds both their careers.— CiceroSpuriousDeodatusTheSecond
- "But we have to pass the bill to find out what's in it." Remember when the Congress debated legislation?
— theodotius - I just went to a Morgan Stanley financial planner. According to their projections. 15 years fron now when I retire, I should budget healthcare insurance at 7000 a month. Wait til th bill actually takes effect next year...then you will really find out what is in it!— Fritz and Alice
- "Obamacare" is at best, a slight improvement on the perverted system the US has that puts medical care at the mercy of the financial predators in the for-profit arena instead of treating it as the national priority it should be.
Those of us who have been watching this farce unfold for the past five years know the truth - it is NOT medical "reform" - it is a sell-out to the parasites who make fortunes off the health misery of others while denying care to people in need.
Single-payer through taxation, non-profit (except for the actual care-givers), and government-administered is the only sane, fair way to provide health care for all.
BUT, as is evident from the current system, IF it exists only to enrich the already-wealthy and provide quality care only to the rich, the ACA does little to advance the cause of universal medical care (not universal insurance).
But it does give those who oppose quality care for all something to complain about - though they complain about the wrong aspects of it.
— JeffJenk - Jeff, you ever heard of free markets? They assign the prices of goods and services based on supply and demand. Supply and demand determine the actual value of goods and services in the economy. That allows individuals in business and consumers use their money and other resources in a rational way to meet their needs. When governments try to control economies, the markets are manipulated based on politicians' agendas. That does not serve the needs of a healthy economy or the people within that economy.— Falls Ed
- You will never have free markets in a country whose government is infested with lobbyists whose job is to cut special deals for businesses. — carl and sons
- Do people realize that this tax was effecting more than just hospitals. This was raising the cost of vets also since they use some of the same medical devices.— skills
- Another red herring as if we didn't have real issues in this country. Just the fact that Orrin Hatch sponsored it is enough to make it suspect. He's the guy who stood up and defended giving $500 millions of our tax money to Amgen which had just been fined by the US government, to the tune of $762 million for committing fraud. I'd love to know where they get off giving our tax money out to multi-nationals. It's all BS, they use the debt to make people afraid, but they know it's baloney.— palmer1619
Jonathan Tamari is the Inquirer’s correspondent in Washington, where he follows the Philadelphia area’s interests and representatives. Tamari comes to D.C. after two years as a beat writer reporting on the Philadelphia Eagles and the NFL (where, a political source once told him, there are at least rules against hitting below the knees). He previously wrote about politics and government from Trenton, reporting on the characters and color of New Jersey state government.Jersey born and bred, Tamari now lives in the capital city, where he is looking for stories, places to run, soccer bars and good meals.
Reach him at jtamari@phillynews.com.
Follow Jonathan on Twitter: @JonathanTamari.
