Help Stop the Growing Divide between America's Haves and Have-nots

[rodeodance]

------- Original Message --------
Subject: Act Now: Help Stop the Growing Divide between America's Haves and Have-nots
Date: Thu, 25 May 2006 07:30:00 -0400
From: Gary Bass <[e-mail]>
Reply-To: Gary Bass - OMB Watch <[e-mail]>
To: xxxxxxx


OMB Watch

--PLEASE CIRCULATE--
Tell your Senators: Concentrate on America's Priorities, Stop the Estate Tax Give-Away

Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN) wanted to hold a vote to repeal the estate tax last fall. Because of Hurricane Katrina, however, the Senate's calendar was too full -- and, well, a give-away to heirs of multimillion-dollar fortunes that would add a trillion dollars to the deficit was pretty unseemly at the time. Now that enough time has passed, Frist's back at it, promising to schedule a vote that will "kill the death tax forever."

Here's the sneaky part: Frist knows he doesn't have the 60 votes for full repeal of the estate tax, so what he and his anti-tax allies will do is push for so-called "reform" legislation. Sen. Jon Kyl (R-AZ) has put forward a plan that would effectively gut the estate tax, saving the ultra-rich millions and slashing funds available for addressing America's needs. Though they bill it as a compromise, it's really a plan for backdoor repeal.

TAKE ACTION TODAY!

Full repeal would cost us nearly $1 trillion over the first ten years. With everything our country now faces -- the national debt, trade deficits, soaring energy costs, rising healthcare costs, unmet education needs, homeland security, etc., etc., etc. -- why on earth would a tax break for the rich be on a priority for the Senate now?

It could be that some pretty powerful families stand to win big from repeal. Eighteen families in particular, owners of such American mainstays as Wal-Mart and the Campbell's Soup Co., have been pouring millions into the campaign for repeal--chump change compared to the upwards of $71.6 billion they'll save if the tax is repealed (see Spending Millions to Save Billions).

Repeal would amount to the Senate handing a check -- on behalf of low- and middle-income American families and future generations of taxpayers -- for tens of billions of dollars to a few incredibly lucky heirs.

Use our online email tool to urge your Senators to:

1. Oppose a vote on repeal of the estate tax bill; and

2. Oppose any reform that does not preserve a major portion of the estate tax revenue. This includes Kyl's proposal.

For more reasons why estate tax repeal is a bad idea, see our estate tax talking points.


Gary D. Bass
Executive Director
OMB Watch

[stepnw1f]

1. Here's a Kick (nt)

[wicket]

2. And another

:kick:

[redqueen]

3. One from me, too

:kick:

Let's take action and spread the word, folks!

:bounce:

[Greyhound]

4. Go Pederson!! n/t

[sadiesworld]

5. .

[redqueen]

6. and another

:dem: