Senate Votes to End Medical Device Tax

Washington, DC, March 22, 2013 — The Hill reports that the United States Senate on Thursday approved a bipartisan budget amendment calling for the end of a medical device tax enacted as part of President Obama’s Affordable Care Act.

However, the budget resolution is not binding, so even if the Senate resolution is reconciled with a competing House version, the device tax would still be in effect.

The amendment — which was sponsored by Senators Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) — was agreed to by a vote of 79 to 20.  

The 2.3 percent tax has proven unpopular since passed in 2010, but was key to ensuring that the Obama health law did not add to the deficit.

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT), whose committee controls tax policy, voted no on the amendment.

To read the full story in The Hill, click here.