Klobuchar and Franken push to remove "fee" on medical device makers

Posted at 2:39 PM on September 15, 2009 by Tom Scheck

DFL Sen. Amy Klobuchar and DFL Sen. Al Franken are pushing to remove a "fee" on medical device manufacturers in his Committee's health care reform bill. The action comes just one day after Gov. Tim Pawlenty raised the issue in a letter to Klobuchar and Franken. Here's the release from Klobuchar's office:

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Evan Bayh (D-IN), Dick Lugar (R-MN) and Al Franken (D-MN) today called on Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus to reconsider the proposed fee on medical device manufacturers in his Committee's health care reform bill.

In the letter, the Senators say that the provision would harm economic development and health care innovation nationwide as well as in states like Minnesota and Indiana. They also point out that even without the proposed tax, the medical device industry will be impacted by health reform proposals.

"While we support efforts to ensure that any health care reform bill does not add to our country's deficit, this industry should not be forced to pay more than its fair share," said the Senators in today's letter.

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