News & Press
Stop the ‘Wheelchair Tax:’ Repeal the Bill(MONTGOMERY, AL) – Each day more details of the Democrats’ health care takeover come to light, meaning bad news for businesses and consumers. In order to pay for their massive overhaul of the health care system, the Democrats in Washington included a 2.3% tax on medical devices that has been described as the equivalent of “throwing a hand grenade in the middle of the health care economy.” This tax applies to products such as pacemakers, stents, heart valves, artificial hips, and wheelchairs. Companies that manufacture these products have recently warned that the tax could force them to cut American jobs and pass the cost on to consumers. “This health care legislation taxes critical medical devices that save lives and improve the quality of life for millions of Americans,” said Martha Roby, Republican candidate for Congress in Alabama’s Second District. “This ‘wheelchair tax’ will kill jobs, discourage research and development, and increase health care costs across the board. President Obama sold this bill to the American people by saying it would reduce our health care costs and create new jobs. It turns out neither of those are true.” Congressman Bobby Bright (D-AL) has stated that he believes that calls to repeal the Democrats’ health care legislation or challenge it in court are “premature” and says it’s not worth fighting against the bill because it has “good parts.” “Bobby Bright voted against this legislation and told us that he was standing up for our beliefs,” Roby said. “Now he’s saying it’s premature to fight to repeal the bill. It’s time for our congressman to let us know where he stands and what he stands for. Is he for repealing this flawed bill, or does he want to impose the ‘wheelchair tax’ and lose even more American jobs?” “We must elect true conservatives to Congress to stop Nancy Pelosi’s agenda,” said Roby. “I have pledged to repeal this law, and I am ready to go to Washington and fight for our values.”
Dems’ Takeover ‘Like Throwing a Hand Grenade’ into Healthcare Industry: Medical Companies Face Job Cuts as a Result “The law includes a 2.3% excise tax on the sale of all medical devices except for consumer goods, such as contact lenses and hearing aids. . .Among established medical device companies, Invacare Corp. of Elyria, the world's largest wheelchair maker, has been a vocal opponent of the tax. Invacare CEO A. Malachi Mixon III in a January interview with Crain's went so far as to say the tax was the equivalent of 'throwing a hand grenade in the middle of the health care economy.'” SOURCE: Chuck Soder,“Tax On Medical Device Manufacturers Could Be Taxing,” Crain’s Cleveland Business, 3/29/10) Bobby Bright wants to let the Obama/Pelosi health care takeover become law, calling the fight to stop it “premature”: “While Rep. Bobby Bright, D-Montgomery voted against the bill he said he is hesitant to jump on board with a full-scale appeal. ‘While I strongly disagree with many aspects of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and voted against the bill, I believe it’s premature to discuss repealing a bill that was just passed and has yet to be signed into law by the President,’ he said. ‘A wholesale repeal, or legal challenge, of the bill ignores the fact that this legislation contains some good parts, many of which will go into effect soon.’” SOURCE: Ryan Charles, “State may join in lawsuit over health care bill,” Troy Messenger, 3/22/10 ### |
