On the recordDecember 17, 2012
In 15 days, a misguided tax on America's medical device industry is scheduled to go into effect. The $30 billion medical device tax will negatively impact an industry that employs over 400,000 people in America, including many in my congressional district, and one industry in the country that has a net surplus with foreign trade. In June, the House overwhelmingly passed legislation to repeal this ill-advised tax policy. Now, 18 Democratic Senators have sent a letter to Majority Leader Reid asking to delay the medical device tax before it can take effect at the start of the new year, providing that there is broad bipartisan and bicameral support to do away with the tax. With just 2 weeks to go until the tax is scheduled to take effect, the medical technology industry has received little guidance about how to comply with the tax, causing significant uncertainty and confusion. As discussions on the fiscal cliff and our Nation's economic future progress, a delay in the implementation of the medical device tax should strongly be considered. ____________________
