Keep estate tax

The most recent tax proposal of the Trump administration calls for the elimination of the estate tax. This is bad policy and should not be allowed to succeed. Wealthy people have life advantages over the average person. However, everyone should have a fair chance. Inherited wealth gives an unfair advantage to those who inherit and diminishes the opportunities for others not so fortunate. The estate tax is a reasonable way of helping to level the playing field.

Currently, the tax is only levied on estates valued above roughly $5.5 million. That qualifies as wealthy for most people and affects less than 1 percent of estates. For most large estates, this wealth has not been previously taxed, which is largely due to asset appreciation. The elimination of the estate tax would be a further give away to the rich, especially President Trump’s family. This push to do away with the estate tax is another example of how wealthy people try to control the political process for their own advantage. Let us not be fooled and push back to ensure the estate tax remains.

Warren Stout

Liberty Lake