On the first day of the 115th Congress, U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-Willsboro, was an original co-sponsor of legislation Rep. Erik Paulsen, R-Minn., introduced to permanently repeal the 2.3 percent federal excise tax on medical devices, according to the Library of Congress government information web site.
The legislation had 223 co-sponsors, as of Wednesday -- 202 Republicans and 21 Democrats.
"Permanent repeal should be a top priority for Congress," Paulsen said in a press release.
President Obama signed a law in December 2015 suspending the tax, commonly known as the medical device tax, for two years.
The medical device industry praised the new legislation.
"The early introduction of device tax legislation sends a strong signal that this issue is a high priority for the incoming Congress," said JC Scott, senior executive vice president of Advamed, an medical device trade group.
Stefanik and six other New York House Republicans were original co-sponsors, including new Rep. John Faso, R-Kinderhook.
Others from New York are as follows:
- Tom Reed, R-Corning; Daniel Donovan, R-Staten Island; John Katko, R-Camillus; Peter King, R-Long Island; and Chris Collins, R-Clarence.
Click here to read a recent post from an interview on the topic with a local medical device CEO.
Follow staff writer Maury Thompson at All Politics is Local blog, at PS_Politics on Twitter and at Maury Thompson Post-Star on Facebook.
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