When liberal Democrat Martin Heinrich voted for President Barack Obama’s $1.76 trillion healthcare law, it slapped medical device companies in the country with a 2.3 percent tax and today Heinrich voted against the repeal of that tax in the House of Representatives.
Medical device companies employ more than 400,000 Americans and this burdensome tax could eliminate 10 percent of the jobs in the industry, while encouraging these companies to move their plants overseas.
As The Associated Press Reports:
The tax, which takes effect next January, applies to everything from replacement joints to imaging equipment but exempts consumer products like eyeglasses and bandages. … U.S. medical device makers employ more than 400,000 people. The industry’s largest trade group, AdvaMed, cites a study it commissioned that concluded the new tax could cost 43,000 of those jobs — about 10 percent — while doubling companies’ tax bills and encouraging them to move plants overseas. (Alan Fram, GOP plays offense in medical device tax fight, Associated Press, 06/05/12)
Heinrich’s vote is a slap in the face to the 300 medical device companies in the State of New Mexico.
“Not only did liberal Democrat Martin Heinrich support government-run healthcare, he also supported the job-killing medical device tax,” said National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) spokesman Jahan Wilcox. “Given that this tax could kill 43,000 jobs, it’s clear Heinrich would rather stand with his liberal allies than fight for the thousands of New Mexicans in the healthcare industry.”
BACKGROUND …
- Heinrich Supported President Obama’s Job-Killing Healthcare Bill. (H.R. 4872, CQ Vote #194: Motion agreed to, thus clearing the bill for the president, by a vote of 220-207: R 0-175; D 220-32, 3/25/10, Heinrich Voted Yea)
