Franken: Device Tax Repeal Will Win Support
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Minnesota Sen. Al Franken says he's confident House lawmakers and President Obama will support repealing the medical device tax, a provision of the Senate budget passed last week.
Franken said at a news conference Monday the tax burdens medical device startups and smaller businesses in Minnesota, where the industry is burgeoning. The tax was part of Obama's 2009 federal health care law.
The Senate passed a $3.7 trillion budget early Saturday on a 50-49 vote. The rival plan in the House aims to balance the federal budget in 10 years through deeper cuts.
Obama has been lukewarm to efforts to repeal the tax, citing the need for the estimated $30 billion in revenues. Franken says Congress can find a way to offset those revenues that the president will approve.
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