FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: CHRIS CLOSE
(202) 225-3515

Thursday, September 7, 2000

BIGGERT VOTES TO OVERRIDE CLINTON VETO OF DEATH TAX REPEAL

Washington, DC – U.S. Representative Judy Biggert (R-IL13) voted today to override President Bill Clinton’s veto of H.R. 8, the Death Tax Elimination Act of 2000.

The House failed to override the President’s veto by a vote of 274 to 157 (a two-thirds majority of 284 was necessary to override). Fifty-three Democrats joined 220 Republicans and one Independent in voting to override. Sixty-five Democrats supported the bill when it passed the House in June.

H.R. 8 would have phased down and repealed the federal estate, gift, and generation-skipping taxes over ten years. These taxes, which total from 37 to 55 percent, are known as the "death" tax because they are generally triggered solely by death.

"I am disappointed by the outcome of the override vote," said Biggert, who is a former probate attorney. "But this is an issue that will not go away. The death tax is patently unfair and has long outlived its usefulness."

"For more than twenty years, I practiced probate law, helping people navigate this extremely complex tax," said Biggert. "I was not helping Bill Gates or Ross Perot – I was helping the sons and daughters of small business owners try to keep their parents’ dreams alive."

"Unfortunately, because they had to pay a tax of 37 to 55 percent on their estate, it was often impossible for them to continue," added Biggert. "It is simply heartbreaking to see children who want to keep their parent’s business alive have to sell it just to pay the taxes."

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