Vote to Repeal Estate Tax Put on Indefinite Hold
Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN) announced the long anticipated
vote to permanently repeal the estate tax has been tabled. The vote had
been scheduled as a top priority for this session of Congress.
The tremendous impact of Hurricane Katrina, rising gas prices,
the war in Iraq, and a highly unusual vacancy of two Supreme Court justice
positions are occupying the nation's and Congress's attention,
prompting Democrats to urge Republicans to shift their focus from tax cuts.
"Not now, for heaven's sake," Senate Minority Leader Harry
M. Reid (DNV) said.
Frist indicated disaster relief would be a top priority for
Congress in addition to other issues resulting from Katrina such as rebuilding
infrastructure, the economy, refugee assistance, and evaluating the government's
response efforts.
It has not been determined when the estate tax repeal issue
will be revisited.
Source: The Washington Post, 9-7-05
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