Death Tax Repeal Shy only two votes
The free-market Club for Growth has unveiled ads targeting
Senators in Montana, North Dakota, Washington and Oregon who haven't yet agreed
to repeal. A similar ad chastising Senator John McCain ran in New Hampshire,
where the first primary of the 2008 presidential race will be held. Perhaps not
coincidently, tax opponents yesterday received a boost when Senator McCain
indicated he would vote to end debate. That means tax opponents are shy by one or two votes from
the 60 they need. Four Democrats -- Bill Nelson of Florida, Ben Nelson of
Nebraska and the two senators from Arkansas, Blanche Lincoln and Mark Pryor --
are in favor of repeal. But GOP Senators Lincoln Chafee of Rhode Island and
George Voinovich of Ohio continue to resist the entreaties of their GOP
colleagues. Both express concern about a negative impact on the deficit, despite
studies that show the estate tax probably brings the federal government little
revenue due to increasingly imaginative estate planning. read more...
