Senate to vote on estate tax soon An Action Alert from Network: a Catholic lobby

In session
September 2005

Senate to vote on estate tax soon
An Action Alert from Network: a Catholic lobby

ACTION: Call your senators on Tuesday, September 6th to urge them to vote “NO” on repeal or reform to the estate tax bill.

SAMPLE SCRIPT: “According to Census Bureau data released on August 30, poverty increased in 2004, following a trend line begun in 2000. Repeal of the estate tax would strip an estimated $1 trillion from meeting domestic human needs. Therefore, I urge you to vote 'NO' on repeal or reform to the estate tax bill.”

BACKGROUND: Consideration of the House-passed estate tax bill (H.R. 8) is scheduled to come to a vote in the Senate as early as Tuesday. We must urge Senators to vote against repeal or reform of the estate tax. It is equally important that they vote “no” on any reform proposal, such as that of Senator Jon Kyl, which would be up to 80% as damaging. Repeal or reform of the estate tax would shift the tax burden from the wealthiest 1% of Americans placing greater burdens on the poor.

The estate tax:

• affects only about the wealthiest 1 percent of those who die in a given year.

• is only paid on the portion of the estate which is beyond the exemption level (currently $1.5 million or $3 million for a married couple).

• exempts significant charitable giving (up to $675,000, or $1.35 million for a couple).

• would cost nearly $1 trillion in the first 10 years if repealed.

Catholic Social Teaching stresses the responsibility of those who are more richly blessed to benefit the community. In Rerum Novarum, Pope Leo XIII reminded us, “This is the heart of the matter: whoever has received from the divine bounty a larger share of blessings…has received them to use for…the benefit of others.” Acts 4:34-35, Rerum Novarum.

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