Newsline for April 14, 1999

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(ELLISON) - THE AMERICAN FARM BUREAU FEDERATION PROVIDES FARM AND FOOD RELATED NEWS WRAPS FOR RADIO STATIONS AND NETWORKS.

I'M BOB ELLISON. OUR REPORT RUNS 1:06.

HERE IS A SUGGESTED LEAD: FARM GROUPS ARE PUSHING HARD TO MAKE SURE ESTATE TAXES ARE INCLUDED IN ANY TAX CUT PACKAGE IN CONGRESS. BOB ELLISON HAS MORE.

ACTUALITIES COME FROM AMERICAN FARM BUREAU GOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS SPECIALIST PAT WOLFF. WOLFF IS SPELLED W-O-L-F-F.

THERE ARE TWO EXTRA ACTUALITIES FOLLOWING THE STORY. IN THE FIRST EXTRA ACTUALITY, WOLFF SAYS CONGRESS IS EXPECTED TO HAVE A TAX CUT BILL AND FARMERS WANT TO MAKE SURE ESTATE TAXES ARE INCLUDED. IN THE SECOND EXTRA ACTUALITY, WOLFF SAYS FARMERS HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT ESTATE TAXES.

STAND BY, THE STORY COMES FIRST IN 3...2...1...

(ELLISON) - FARM GROUPS HAVE TALKED ABOUT GETTING RID OF THE DEATH, OR ESTATE, TAX FOR A LONG TIME. THE AMERICAN FARM BUREAU'S PAT WOLFF SAYS A TAX CUTTING BILL SHOULD BE COMING UP IN CONGRESS THIS FALL AND SHE WANTS TO MAKE SURE THE ESTATE TAX IS ONE OF THE TAXES CUT.

(WOLFF) - FARM BUREAU WOULD LIKE TO SEE ESTATE TAXES CUT BUT OTHER GROUPS WOULD LIKE TO SEE OTHER TAX CUTS ENACTED. IN ESSENCE, WE HAVE TO BEAT THEM OUT. WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT AT THE END OF THE DAY, ESTATE TAXES IS NUMBER ONE ON THE LIST THAT GETS IN THAT BILL.

(ELLISON) - WOLFF SAYS THE ESTATE TAX IS A HUGE ONE FOR FARM FAMILIES TO ABSORB. SHE SAYS IF THE TAX FOR THE FARMER'S HEIRS IS GOING TO BE TOO HIGH, THEN THEIR OPTIONS ARE LIMITED.

(WOLFF) - THEY EITHER HAVE TO TRY TO PLAN FOR THE TAX TO AVOID THE TAX. THAT COSTS A LOT OF MONEY. OR THEY DECIDE TO SELL THEIR FARMS AND GO OUT OF BUSINESS BEFORE DEATH.

(ELLISON) - WOLFF SAYS SETTING UP AN ESTATE TO WITHSTAND THE DEATH TAX CAN BE EXPENSIVE AND UNPLEASANT FOR FARM FAMILIES.

(WOLFF) - ESTATE TAX LAW IS VERY COMPLICATED. IT TAKES A GOOD ATTORNEY TO WORK OUT AN EFFECTIVE ESTATE TAX PLAN.

(ELLISON) - WOLFF SAYS FARM BUREAU WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE ESTATE TAX GRADUALLY ELIMINATED OVER THE NEXT TEN YEARS.

BOB ELLISON, WASHINGTON.

STAND BY FOR THE FIRST EXTRA ACTUALITY. THE CUT RUNS 17 SECONDS IN 3...2...1...

(WOLFF) - WE'RE EXPECTING A TAX CUTTING BILL THIS FALL, AND THE RACE IS ON TO SEE WHICH TAX CUTS WILL MAKE IT INTO THAT TAX BILL. FARM BUREAU'S TASK AND THE TASK OF ALL GROUPS SUPPORTING ELIMINATING ESTATE TAXES HAVE TO KEEP ESTATE TAXES ON THE FRONT BURNER.

(ELLISON) - STAND BY FOR THE SECOND EXTRA ACTUALITY. THE CUT RUNS 14 SECONDS IN 3...2...1...

(WOLFF) - THEY RANGE FROM WHY IS THE GOVERNMENT TRYING TO BANKRUPT ME, TO WHY IS THE GOVERNMENT TRYING TO PENALIZE ME FOR BEING SUCCESSFUL, TO WHY IS THE GOVERNMENT TRYING TO PUSH LAND OUT OF AGRICULTURE AND INTO DEVELOPMENT.

(ELLISON) - THE FARM BUREAU RADIO NEWSLINE IS UPDATED EVERY MONDAY, WEDNESDAY AND FRIDAY AT 5 P.M. EASTERN TIME. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING.

This page was last modified Tue Apr 20, 1999 at 01:00 am