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H.R. 8 would have phased down and repealed the federal estate, gift,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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