Governor Pence Hails Suspension of Job-Killing Medical Device Tax

Indianapolis – Governor Mike Pence, a long-time advocate for the repeal of Obamacare and the medical device tax today issued the following statement regarding the suspension of the excise tax on medical devices for two years as part of the year-end government funding and tax provisions bill.

“The medical device tax is a job killer in Indiana. Hoosier-based medical device companies and the thousands of Hoosiers employed in this industry should applaud the news that Congress has acted to suspend this onerous Obamacare tax for two years. Indiana ranks second in the nation when it comes to the export of life sciences products. I have heard, time and again, from medical device companies throughout Indiana that the medical device tax has forced these employers to reduce operations and wages or put expansion plan on hold.

“The life sciences industry has a $59 billion impact on Indiana’s economy, employing more than 56,000 Hoosiers with 20,000 of them in medical device-related jobs.

“Indiana’s continued economic growth in the life sciences industry is largely dependent upon having a federal and state tax code that encourages continued investments in the products that save and improve lives. I will continue to work with our Congressional delegation in Washington, D.C. until the medical device tax is repealed once and for all.”

Governor Pence has long advocated for the repeal of the 2.3 percent medical device excise tax, which was originally created as part of Obamacare.  Governor Pence has previously sent letters to Congress and the President detailing his opposition to the medical device tax. Those letters can be found attached to this release.