House Votes to Permanently Kill the Death Tax by a Wider Margin Than in 2003
WASHINGTON – Today, the House of Representatives voted by an overwhelmingly 272-162 margin to permanently kill the onerous Death Tax. The vote margin is an increase of nine votes over the last time the Death Tax was voted on in June 2003. As part of the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act (EGTRRA) the Death Tax was gradually reduced then eliminated for one year in 2010. Without making the provision permanent, starting January 1, 2011, the Death Tax will reappear at full strength. Today’s vote is the first step to permanently end the tax.
Now that the measure has passed the House, the legislation moves over the Senate. Recent news articles suggest a compromise is in the works that would not make permanently repeal the Death Tax. In fact, some people have suggested Sen. Chuck Schumer\’s compromise proposal is to "exempt" family businesses which has been tried before and failed. But judging from the increase in the number of votes for permanent repeal and the strong bipartisan support for the measure, the House is telling the Senate this tax needs to permanently repealed for all taxpayers.
"Today’s vote is historic for two reasons," said taxpayer advocate Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform (ATR). "First, the House once again reaffirmed its opposition to this dreadful and immoral tax on death. And second, the House has sent a message to Sen. Schumer – nothing short of permanent repeal is acceptable. The idea of a \’compromise\’ is not needed when so many members of Congress want this tax buried for good."
Americans for Tax Reform has long led the fight to kill the death tax for more than a decade and will continue to do so. Efforts on now focused on the Senate to collect the 60 votes to end the tax permanently.