Rep. Paulsen: Medical Device Tax Repeal Gathering Support

Editor's Note: The following is from Paulsen Post, Congressman Erik Paulsen's regular update to his constituents.

Last week, I spent a lot of time in Minnesota visiting schools, small businesses, and hosting roundtables with local law enforcement and medical device innovators. I also had great participation in a telephone town hall meeting and several Congress on Your Corner events, which are more intimate one-on-one town hall style opportunities to hear directly from you. Thanks to everyone that participated; your feedback ensures I am able to represent you more effectively.

And this week in Washington, I was busy rolling out my renewed effort to stop the medical device tax that is negatively affecting Minnesota's economy and stifling job creation. The new tax started in January, resulting in thousands of layoffs and less innovation, which means fewer new technologies to help patients and lower health care costs.

On Wednesday, I was joined by Congressman Ron Kind (D-WI), and a bipartisan group of 181 representatives, in introducing legislation to repeal this tax on innovation. Senator Klobuchar is the lead co-author of the companion bill in the Senate. Now is not the time to raise costs on domestic manufacturing. Raising taxes on a Minnesota industry that sustains 35,000 jobs and has developed some of the world’s greatest life-improving and life-saving technologies is simply not a prescription for economic growth and job creation. 

I will continue to fight to ensure our state remains a global leader in medical innovation.

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