On Feb.13, a Post-Bulletin editorial stated that Sen. Amy Klobuchar and Sen. Al Franken, along with Rep. Erik Palusen, have been fighting the medical devices tax in Obamacare since its inception and fighting for its repeal after it was passed.
This statement is at best misleading and at worst an outright lie. Both Klobuchar and Franken, along with every Democrat representative from Minnesota, voted for the tax when they voted to pass Obamacare.
Rep. Erik Paulsen voted against Obamacare and, thus, is the only one of the three mentioned that is consistent in his opposition to the tax and has proven so with his votes.
The tax is a bad idea. It is a 2.3 percent tax on gross sales, not profit. Medtronic alone is expected to cut 1,000 workers and lose $175 million due in part to the tax.
Minnesota has over 350 med-tech companies, and this tax will hurt every one of them. Our senators could have demanded removal of the tax before they would support Obamacare, but instead, they chose to do what the Democratic leadership wanted ahead of what is good for Minnesota.
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To give Klobuchar and Franken credit for trying to repeal the tax while giving them a pass on voting for its passage in the first place is dishonest and irresponsible.
Jeff Lemke
Rochester
