SEPT. 8, 2000

National Notes
Veto/Override War Looming for Estate Tax Repeal

President Clinton vetoed Congress’s estate tax repeal, and House Republicans are vowing a prompt attempt to override. Even if the House succeeds in overriding the President’s veto, the Senate will not likely follow. The bill’s failure will certainly make the estate tax an election-year issue, and Democrats are accusing Republicans of designing the repeal strictly for that purpose.

Even though the estate tax affects only about 2% of families, it is widely unpopular among voters. Analysts suggest that many Americans see the "death tax" as a violation of the American dream. Also, with the recent economic expansion, many more Americans are now looking at having to pay the tax.