House advances bill repealing healthcare law's medical device tax

The House voted Thursday to advance legislation that would repeal the 2.3 percent medical device excise tax imposed by the Democratic healthcare law in 2010, which would raise an anticipated $29 billion over the next decade. Members approved the rule for the legislation, H.R. 436, in a mostly partisan 241-173 vote, although eight Democrats joined Republicans in support of the rule. The vote came after an hour of debate in which Republicans said the bill would help ensure medical device companies can continue to contribute to job growth and innovation.