Opinions - Independent Record-Death tax' is PR at its peak

Opinions - Independent Record: "Death tax' is PR at its peak

By Sen. KEN TOOLE - 08/04/05

Over the last several weeks Montanans have been deluged with a TV ad campaign featuring veterans urging us to get rid of the 'death tax.' The ads play to our sense of patriotism telling us that the 'death tax' is un-American. Here is yet another tax cut designed to benefit the super-rich that is being wrapped in the flag and stuffed down our throats.

Let's be clear — no one pays a tax after they are dead. No one pays a tax for dying. The 'death tax' is the new term for the inheritance tax, often called the estate tax. To the extent anyone pays this tax, it is the heirs of the wealthy and privileged in our country. This year, estates valued at less than $1.5 million for an individual heir and $3 million for a couple are exempt from the estate tax. Not a lot of poor working stiffs are leaving that kind of money to their children."