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Will Congressman Frank Kratovil Hike Taxes on Vapotherm Workers in Stevensville?

New Obama healthcare plan endangers 3,867 Maryland jobs

WASHINGTON, D.C.— Buried in the latest government healthcare plan proposed by President Obama is a new tax on medical device manufacturers, who make everything from prosthetic limbs to pacemakers.  The bill imposes a new tax of $2 billion per year (rising to $3 billion in 2017) on the industry. Congressman Frank Kratovil will have a chance to vote on this bill later this year.

This new tax will particularly hit the Vapotherm facility in Stevensville, Maryland.  It employs 35 people—workers who may find themselves with a pink slip instead of a paycheck if this jobs-killing tax hike goes through.

“Washington politicians like to talk about jobs, but speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and President Barack Obama want to raise taxes on the medical device industry that will kill jobs,” said Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform.  “Congressman Kratovil can talk all he wants.  Now he has a choice to vote with the Democrat leadership and kill jobs in Maryland or to summon the courage to vote against the Democrat leadership and protect those jobs.”

Statewide, there are 3,867 employees working for the medical device industry.  The average medical device worker in Maryland earns $50,500, higher than the state average of $36,400.  Statewide, there were $1,158,159 in medical device sales in Maryland in the latest reporting year.

Congressman Frank Kratovil VOTED AGAINST this same tax hike just last year.  How will the Congressman vote this time?