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Will Congressman Walt Minnick Hike Taxes on Kronus Workers in Star?

New Obama healthcare plan endangers 451 Idaho jobs

WASHINGTON, D.C.— Buried in the latest government healthcare plan proposed by President Obama is a new tax on medical device manufacturers, who make everything from prosthetic limbs to pacemakers.  The bill imposes a new tax of $2 billion per year (rising to $3 billion in 2017) on the industry.  Congressman Walt Minnick will have a chance to vote on this bill later this year.

This new tax will particularly hit the Kronus facility in Star, Idaho.  It employs 8 people—workers who may find themselves with a pink slip instead of a paycheck if this jobs-killing tax hike goes through.

“Washington politicians like to talk about jobs, but speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and President Barack Obama want to raise taxes on the medical device industry that will kill jobs,” said Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform.  “Congressman Minnick can talk all he wants.  Now he has a choice to vote with the Democrat leadership and kill jobs in Idaho or to summon the courage to vote against the Democrat leadership and protect those jobs.”

Statewide, there are 451 employees working for the medical device industry. The average medical device worker in Idaho earns $31,600, higher than the state average of $27,700.  Statewide, there were $106,265 in medical device sales in Idaho in the latest reporting year.

Congressman Walt Minnick VOTED AGAINST this same tax hike just last year.  How will the Congressman vote this time?