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State Representative Duane Quam
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-9236
For more information contact: Jason Wenisch 651-296-2317
NEWS COLUMN
MEDICAL DEVICES, VOTING RIGHTS HIGHLIGHT RECENT BILL INTRODUCTIONS
If you need a medical valve to stay alive, should you be forced to pay sales tax on it?
Not long ago, I had a meeting with representatives from some medical device organizations in St. Paul. Here I learned that the Minnesota is forcing patients to pay sales tax on medical devices, and that those most harmed are the smaller, regional companies who are producing the equipment.
This is why I am sponsoring legislation that would make medical devices exempt from state sales taxes.
Obviously, most medical devices aren’t cheap to start with, so the heaviest financial burden falls on those folks who are using the equipment. But it’s also those smaller companies that are creating the devices that are feeling the pinch.
If a family is already stretched thin financially due to the medical condition of a loved one, where do you think they will buy the device they need – in a state where they can pay sales tax, or over the internet where sales taxes don’t apply? The increased cost to the consumer and the increased overhead to the company causes people to ignore the local option. This is a shame because the local company can provide better communication and better service for their product.
It’s wrong for an overzealous revenue department to tax a valve that allows a bedridden child to eat. Making this change will not only help struggling families, but it will also allow smaller regional companies to compete with their national counterparts for medical device business.
GIVING FARMERS A VOTE
Another bill I’m working on would allow farmers the right to vote in areas where they own non-homesteaded land. I’ve heard dozens of complaints over the years from farmers that own land in another community regarding referendums, and they make a good point. They argue that they’re forced to pay increased taxes on their land which may reside outside of their hometown, yet they don’t have the right to cast a ballot on the issue. My bill would allow them to vote on local or school district referendums if they own land within that boundary. To be clear, they would not be allowed to vote for candidates in a general election, but if the issue is solely to decide whether or not to raise property taxes, these folks should have a say.
News Items
- Legislative Update from Rep. Duane Quam - (Posted: Jan 11 2013 3:55PM)
- CLARIFYING MISCONCEPTIONS ON SEVERAL BILLS - (Posted: 2012-04-05 00:00:00)
- SIGNIFICANT BILLS BEING PASSED OFF HOUSE FLOOR - (Posted: 2012-03-30 00:00:00)
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