FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 6, 2011

Paulsen Questions Goolsbee About Job Crushing Medical Device Tax
Asks Manufactures for Their Help in Informing the Administration How Innovation Tax Will Affect Jobs

Washington, D.C. – Representatives Erik Paulsen (MN-03), Tom Price (GA-06) and Jim Gerlach (PA-06) met with Council of Economic Advisors (CEA) Chairman Austan Goolsbee to discuss the negative impact of the impending $20 billion medical device tax included in the new health care law. Paulsen shared many of the concerns medical device companies have expressed to him about the tax's impact on jobs, innovation and research and development. Chairman Goolsbee has now requested companies provide the Administration with more information about the impact of the new device tax. Representative Paulsen is asking medical device companies to contact his office with stories about how the new tax will impede their abilities to bring new, life saving products to market. Medical device manufacturers who wish to voice their concerns can contact Rep. Paulsen’s office at 202.225.2871.

“The medical technology and device industry is a Minnesota and American success story and continues to be a bright spot of our economy,” said Paulsen. “There seems to be a disconnect between the Administration’s decision makers and our nation's innovators and job creators because this tax will hurt the economy. To continue the fight against this $20 billion tax, we’re going to need medical device manufactures to continue speaking up and share their concerns with Washington. Anyone who wants to help us in repealing this tax on innovation can contact my office so that we can share their story with the Administration.”

In January, Paulsen introduced the Protect Medical Innovation Act in the U.S. House of Representatives with 41 bipartisan original cosponsors, today the bill has 114 supporters in the House. Companion legislation has also been introduced in the U.S. Senate by Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT).

Paulsen, a champion of small business and advocate of free enterprise, entrepreneurship, and innovation currently serves on the House Ways and Means Committee, and is co-chair of the Congressional Korea-U.S. Free Trade Working Group and co-chair of the House Medical Technology Caucus.

For more information on Rep. Paulsen’s work in Congress, please visit www.paulsen.house.gov.

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