Senator Coats Holds Orthopedics Roundtable In Winona Lake
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Jennifer Peryam-jperyam@timesuniononline.com
WINONA LAKE - Senator Dan Coats discussed legislation that would eliminate a 2.3 percent sales tax on medical devices under the new health care law Saturday in Winona Lake.
Coats held a roundtable at the Orthopaedic Capital Center in Winona Lake with local orthopedic officials.
Under the health care law passed in 2010, medical devices - ranging from surgical tools to bed pans - will get hit with a 2.3 percent excise tax.
The Medical Device Access and Innovation Protection Act would immediately repeal the tax, which is slated to take effect in 2013. Senator Coats is a co-sponsor of the legislation.
Coats said the legislation will protect Indiana businesses and promote job growth.
The roundtable was closed to the public.
"This tax that was levied on the orthopedics industry was simply outrageous on an industry that is growing and dynamic," Coats said, after the roundtable discussion.
Coats said he is working on legislation that would provide tax and regulatory relief.
"Knowing how taxes affect the orthopedic companies I talked to today in terms of jobs and income is helpful to me to build a knowledge base I can use as examples of why we need to make changes," Coats said.
Coats also discussed the Democrat walkout.
"When voters elect us to represent them, whether it is at the statehouse or U.S. Congress, they expect us to show up for work on Monday and give them a full week's work," Coats said.
He said the Democrats leaving Indiana and going to Illinois is a slap in the face to voters and the democratic legislation process.
"We are elected to fight for what we believe in and let voters decide whether or not to support us in the next election," Coats said.
He said issues that are important currently are a fiscal crisis and recession.
"Washington needs to get a hold of runaway spending that is putting us in jeopardy and keeping people out of work," Coats said.
He said government can not spend more money than it takes in.
"The federal government should do what every state and family is doing during the downturn, and that is tightening their belt, and everyone but Washington is doing that," Coats said.
Coats said he is trying to get the government to own up to its responsibility to taxpayers to make the economy more effective and get people back to work.
