Burgess Owens: “Thank you, Mr. Paulsen. Thank you, Mr. Matheson. I appreciate the opportunity to speak tonight. In my district, we have…”

“Thank you, Mr. Paulsen. Thank you, Mr. Matheson. I appreciate the opportunity to speak tonight. In my district, we have the opportunity to continue to support jobs that pay an average wage of $46,500, which in my area is an extraordinarily high wage. It employs 19,645 folks and generates $913 billion in wages. As we look around at what we are attempting to accomplish--and I would note, as many of the other speakers have, in a bipartisan fashion--it is to continue economic growth, to continue innovation, and to allow us to be globally competitive. This tax is one of those items in the health care bill which clearly needs amendment. There are any number of areas where I concur that it needs amendment. Certainly, virtually every significant piece of legislation which we have passed in the last 100 years has required amendment and modification. That is simply the reality that we all live with. Any of my business friends who embark on a new product development adventure or a new marketing adventure will have to tweak it. They'll have to change it. They'll have to modify it. That is simply a fact of life. I'm very pleased that this matter has been brought before Congress in a bipartisan fashion. In fact, at last count, there were 261 cosponsors, a sufficient number to bring this to the floor for a vote. I would urge that this bill be moved. I think it's extremely important that we eliminate this tax.…”