Comments on: McNerney, Stark oppose estate tax bill

By: Frank M Arouet

Frank M Arouet — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 06:41:37 +0000

Stark and McNerney

aren’t you glad to be a Democrat?

By: RR, Uninvited Columnist

RR, Uninvited Columnist — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 20:59:41 +0000

As usual, Stark is stark(raving mad!)

By: John W

John W — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 20:29:41 +0000

Inheritance income should not be taxed at confiscatory rates (ordinary tax rates will do), and provisions should be made for family owned and operated businesses/farms so that they don’t have to be sold off in order to pay taxes. Some of those provisions already exist in current law. However, the idea that somebody who inherits Uncle Bob’s $7 million Berkshire-Hathaway stock, purchased decades ago and never taxed, should not have to pay income tax on that windfall is absurd. We tax productive activity — wages and investments. We tax it again when people pay sales taxes on the things they buy with the fruit of their labor. We tax it again when they buy a house and pay property taxes. So, arguments that taxing inheritances somehow amounts to singling out this form of wealth for double taxation is completely bogus.

By: Gerard

Gerard — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 03:57:17 +0000

This noise about how the estate tax affects farmers and small business people is a sham. This country is fast becoming one where inherited wealth and wealth generally controls all – including public policy on any issue. I do not believe there should be such a thing as inherited wealth. The conservatives are so enthusiatic about “working” for one’s wealth yet work constantly to protect those who have done nothing to earn what they have (eg. the Bush family and their ilk.
Why such people as Stark and McNerny (for whom I have personally campaigned) having taken their current positions is something I do not understand – unless they too are selling out to the rich.
the mos

By: Elwood

Elwood — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 01:57:36 +0000

Pete Stark in favor of higher taxes?

Who woulda thunk it?