Dem. Pelosi faults Senate on medical tax repeal
Dem. Leader Pelosi faults Senate for medical tax repeal; Sens. Warren, Cowan backed repeal
BOSTON (AP) -- House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi is faulting the U.S. Senate for voting to strip away a portion of President Obama's landmark health care law.
Last week the Senate voted 79-20 to repeal a 2.3 percent sales tax on medical devices such as catheters, pacemakers and MRI machines. The tax was intended to help to finance coverage for the uninsured that starts next year.
Among those voting to eliminate the tax were Massachusetts Sens. Elizabeth Warren and William "Mo" Cowan, both Democrats.
Pelosi said the tax was actually a compromise and the Senate initially wanted a higher tax.
Democratic U.S. Rep. Michael Capuano said he didn't like the tax, but said repealing it would chip away at the foundation of the 2010 federal health care law.
Medical device companies employ nearly 24,000 people in Massachusetts.
