Volume 6, Issue 44, October 30, 2006

Straight Talk With Sam

Kill the Death Tax

I think Missourians are over-taxed. It’s your hard earned money to begin with and you shouldn’t give the government a dollar more than it needs. With that money, people are able to spend it on the things they need. They can spend it on school supplies, on a new appliance, or to invest in or create a new business.

I think that we need to permanently repeal the death tax. Americans and small businesses should be able to plan for the future with confidence. It is unjust, unfair and unethical. The death tax can be absolutely devastating to small businesses and farmers. The last thing a family should have to worry about when a loved one passes away is how to pay the tax.

In 2001, Congress and President Bush provided tax relief to all Americans. However, if Congress does not act, the death tax will be reinstated at the end of this decade. The House has repeatedly passed similar legislation to make the repeal of the death tax permanent, but we still need to put the final nail in this coffin so that small businesses and farmers can plan for the future.

Your time and money are precious. Americans deserve a tax code that is simple, fair and promotes economic growth.