[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 71 (Friday, June 9, 2000)]
[House]
[Page H4126]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              SUPPORTING THE ELIMINATION OF THE DEATH TAX

  (Mr. COOK asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. COOK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of eliminating the 
death tax. The death tax is one of the most extreme examples of unfair, 
inefficient taxation in the United States today. It forces children to 
sell family businesses and farms to pay the taxes, and at the same time 
costs the government almost as much to collect as it brings in, in 
revenue.
  In fact, the annual death tax revenues are less than 2 percent of the 
total Federal receipts, but the economic costs are far higher. This tax 
thwarts savings and investment, decreases wages and job creation, and 
dissolves thousands of family-run businesses each year.
  The death tax is blatant double taxation aimed directly at small 
business owners, farmers, and ranchers. These people pay taxes 
throughout their lives. Then when they die, they are taxed an 
additional tax on the value of their property.
  We should be encouraging businesses like these, not creating 
obstructions for their existence. Uncle Sam should not come knocking at 
our door when our loved one dies. I ask my colleagues to join with me 
in burying the death tax once and for all.

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