Main Street Supports Full Repeal of Death Tax

Statement of former U.S. Rep. Tom Davis (R-VA)

Contact: Chris Barron
(202) 286-4533

(Washington, D.C.) – This week the House of Representatives is expected to vote on H.R. 4154, a bill that would create a permanent death tax with a top rate of 45% and an exemption of $3.5 million. In response, former U.S. Rep. Tom Davis (R-VA), President of the Republican Main Street Partnership, issued the following statement:

“Instead of killing the death tax, Democrats are going to consider a bill that will leave the United States with the third highest death tax in the developed world.

“Poll after poll shows that the death tax is overwhelmingly unpopular with the American electorate. The average voter knows what the current crop of politicians in Washington seems oblivious to: the death tax is a jobs killer.

“In this current economic client, with unemployment at a 26 year high, and on in the same month that President Obama prepares to hold his “job summit,” it is incredulous that the Democratic Congress would consider this legislation.

“The death tax disproportionately affects small businesses and family farms. These businesses are the engine that drives our economy. If we want to create jobs then we need to create an environment that gives these businesses every chance at success – not one that penalizes success.

“Main Street strongly supports permanent repeal of this unfair and arbitrary tax.”

The Republican Main Street Partnership (RMSP) is dedicated to promoting and building a pragmatic, thoughtful, fiscally conservative, and inclusive “Governing Majority,” where political debate is encouraged to promote solutions to improve the lives of all Americans. Embracing the full spectrum of center-right ideologies and values in order to build coalitions, RMSP is the largest organization of elected leaders who are in the mold of Abraham Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, and Ronald Reagan. For more information on RMSP, visit our website at www.republicanmainstreet.org.