Shrugging off a veto threat, Republicans are ready to push legislation through the House repealing a tax on the producers of many medical devices sold in the United States.

With more than half the House sponsoring the bill, passage Thursday is ensured. Equally certain is its death in the Senate, where top Democrats say they won't even consider it.

A 2.3 percent tax takes effect in January on makers of devices used chiefly by doctors and hospitals, like X-ray machines and replacement hips. It will not affect goods mostly bought by consumers like bandages.

The tax was enacted in 2010 as part of President Barack Obama's health care overhaul to help pay for that law's massive expansion of coverage. Republicans and industry officials say the tax would cost jobs.