FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 6^th, 2012

Paulsen Sends Letter To Governor Dayton

Presses for Action on Medical Device Tax Repeal 

Washington, D.C. – Following up on a meeting between Minnesota Governor Dayton and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid earlier this week, Representative Erik Paulsen (MN-03), on Wednesday sent a letter to Governor Dayton pressing for the inclusion of the medical device tax repeal in any year-end budget discussion to avoid the fiscal cliff. This summer, the U.S. House of Representatives passed Rep. Paulsen’s bill to repeal the dangerous new $30 billion tax with broad bipartisan support, including the entire Minnesota delegation. The bill now awaits action in the U.S. Senate. 

READ the entire letter below, and find it online HERE. 

Dear Governor Dayton:

As you know, Minnesota’s medical device community is an important contributor to the state’s economy, supporting over 35,000 jobs at 400 companies in our state. According to Life Science Alley, Minnesota’s medical technology trade association, the industry contributes $43 billion to the state’s economy each year. But this Minnesota success story is being threatened by the new medical device tax included in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.  

I continue to hear a clear and consistent message from our medical device companies: in order to save thousands of Minnesota jobs and ensure a bright future for this innovative industry, we must stop this new $30 billion tax on medical innovation. Recently, you held a round table discussion with medical technology leaders at Lake Region Medical and heard similar views and concerns.

This summer, the U.S. House of Representatives passed my bill to repeal this tax with broad bipartisan support, and gained the support of every member of the Minnesota delegation. The bill now awaits action in the Senate.  

Both Senators Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken have signaled their support for ending this disastrous tax. However, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has not brought the bill to the Senate floor. As a follow up to your meeting yesterday with Senator Reid, I respectfully ask you to send a letter to the Senate Majority Leader to encourage him to include the repeal or delay of the medical device tax in the end-of-the-year budget discussions to avoid the fiscal cliff. Hundreds of Minnesota jobs depend on the outcome.

Thank for your consideration and I look forward to working with you to protect this vital Minnesota industry.

Sincerely,

Erik Paulsen

Member of Congress 

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 Medical Technology Caucus.

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

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