Washington, DC — Sept. 20, 1999 — Americans Against Unfair Family Taxation expressed its disappointment today with President Clinton’s veto of the $792 billion tax reduction bill passed by the Congress in August. AAUFT is a coalition of businesses, associations and individuals formed this June to press for estate tax reduction and repeal.

"We are deeply disappointed with the president’s veto," said Tim Hammonds, AAUFT co-chairman and president and CEO of the Food Marketing Institute. "The president has expressed his support for tax reduction in 1999, in addition to his goals of saving Social Security and Medicare. It is unfortunate that he didn’t take advantage of this opportunity to ease the tax burden on America’s families."

Said AAUFT Co-Chairman Charles Nailen, a Dothan, Alabama, businessman, "We urge the president and Congress to continue to work to reduce taxes. Especially important is reducing and ultimately eliminating estate taxes. This provision has broad bipartisan support, and it would ensure the survival and growth of family-owned businesses and farms. We hope that estate tax reduction and repeal will be sent back to the president’s desk this year and that he will sign it."

Hammonds added, "It is important to take the first steps in eliminating estate taxes in 1999. This is the largest tax that Americans face. It is outrageous that the government taxes estates at 60 percent, and we believe it must stop. Taxing someone’s earnings when they are made and then again when they die is double taxation and extremely unfair."

AAUFT has conducted advertising and grassroots communications programs throughout the country to promote estate tax reduction and repeal. The coalition supports the Death Tax Elimination Act (H.R. 8) introduced by U.S. Reps. Jennifer Dunn (R-WA) and John Tanner (D-TN). The act’s provisions were incorporated into the tax cut measure that the president vetoed. It is now undertaking similar efforts to urge the president and Congress to reduce and eliminate estate taxes in 1999.

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