Did You Know...

**Written by Doug Powers

In December of last year, more than a dozen Democrats who voted for the ironically titled Affordable Care Act wrote a letter to Harry Reid. The letter requested a delay in implementation of the “job killing” medical device tax that was contained in the law those same senators couldn’t wait to pass. Yesterday, over 30 Senate Democrats went on record as wanting to repeal the tax.

From The Hill:

The Senate on Thursday approved a bipartisan budget amendment calling for the end of a medical device tax enacted as part of President Obama’s healthcare reform bill.

The amendment was agreed to by a vote of 79 to 20. It was sponsored by Sens. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.).

“Today’s action shows there is strong bipartisan support for repealing the medical device tax, with Democrats and Republicans uniting behind our effort,” Klobuchar said. “I will continue to work to get rid of this harmful tax so Minnesota’s medical device businesses can continue to create good jobs in our state and improve patients’ lives.”

The 2.3 percent tax has proven unpopular since passed in 2010, but was key to ensuring that the Obama health law did not add to the deficit. [pause for laughter -- DP]

The budget resolution is not binding, so even if the Senate resolution is reconciled with a competing House version, the device tax would still be in effect.

New York Times congressional reporter Jonathan Weisman:

OK, it’s non-binding but this huge vote to repeal medical device tax — a funding mechanism for ObamaCare — has to be a WH embarassment

— Jonathan Weisman (@jonathanweisman) March 22, 2013

If anybody should be embarrassed it’s those Dems who voted to put this iceberg in the direct path of the national ocean liner and now are scrambling to try to melt the thing before impact. Too late.

Nancy “March Mad” Pelosi has the obligatory reminder:

(h/t Twitchy)

**Written by Doug Powers

Twitter @ThePowersThatBe