Taking aim at a threat that isn't

[Judi Lynn]

Friday, January 6, 2006

Taking aim at a threat that isn't
GOP lawmakers wrong about estate tax effect on farms

By CHRIS McGANN
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER CAPITOL CORRESPONDENT

OLYMPIA -- Republican leaders vowed Thursday to protect family farms from the ravages of Washington's estate tax as they set their sights on killing the so-called death tax.

But they overlooked one important detail -- farms are exempt from the estate tax.

The estate tax that lawmakers passed last year allows the heirs of farmers to exempt the value of all the farmland and farm equipment. And that's in addition to a $2 million exemption for other assets.

The tax, which will be levied against the heirs of about 210 estates this year, won't force the sale of any family farms, said Department of Revenue spokesman Mike Gowrylow.
(snip/...)

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/254747_estate06.html

[NMDemDist2]

1. my husband's family farms in WA and they have been set up as a

family corporation for decades as have most of their neighbors in Palouse country

what a bunch of hot air......

[No Exit]

2. Farms are exempt from the estate tax... and besides, there aren't

very many "family farms" left. It's all Monsanto and Archer Daniels Midland.

"Family farms", my ass. The repukes and their business cronies long ago made it impossible to have anything like a "family farm".

Thanks for posting this!