Yes they can, with a 2/3 majority.
The medical device tax is the most unpopular funding mechanism on K Street, other than that, nobody has heard of it.
This illustrates the reason the GOP is in such poor condition - their #1 problem with Obamacare, their #1 target for repeal, is something that matters only to crony capitalists - who, of course, are the only people who matter to the GOP on the Hill.
I'm no mathemagician, but I think 280-140 is EXACTLY a 2/3 majority, not "just shy".
280/420 = 2/3
I suspect some of the big medical device manufacturers (Boston Medical, Medtronic, etc) may no longer see it as much in their interests to go along with Obama this time, and pressure their lawmakers accordingly.
“However, Republicans have another option laid out yesterday by Heather Higgins and Hadley Heath Manning at The Hill. The two activists from Independent Women’s Voice argue that a repeal of the tax now would lessen leverage for a full ObamaCare repeal in 2017:”
Nope... kill the tax you kill Obamacare. No need to wait until 2017.
I hope not. Repeal it all or just keep it going as is. If the Republicans fix one thing in it they will be blamed for all bad things in the bill. They need to stick to their guns and say this is a Democrat bill—vote for them if you like it.
Of course voting for Republicans wont’ fix anything either.
So tired of the “game playing.” Just get ‘er DoNE!
Congress and Obama....Repeal the damn tax. It should have never been in there to start with.