A. L. (Butch) Alford, Jr. Lewiston Morning Tribune Lewiston, ID	Alton F. Baker III The Register-Guard Eugene, OR	Chris Bennett The Medium Seattle, WA
Jerry Brady Post Register Idaho Falls, ID	Scott Campbell The Columbian Vancouver, WA	Chuck Cochrane Yakima Herald-Republic Yakima, WA
Wm. Stacey Cowles The Spokesman-Review Spokane, WA	Nancy L. Freeman Kodiak Daily Mirror Kodiak, AK	Deborah Frol Walla Walla UB Walla Walla, WA
Stephen Hartgen The Times-News Twin Falls, ID	Peter Hovitz Eastside Journal Bellevue, WA	David Lord Pioneer Newspapers Seattle, WA
Elizabeth McCool The Bulletin Bend, OR	Ted Natt The Daily News Longview, WA	Thad Poulson Daily Sitka Sentinel Sitka, AK
Ronald Stewart The News-Review Roseburg, OR	Dwight Tracy Herald and News Klamath Falls, OR	Dennis Waller The Chronicle Centralia, WA
Lew Williams, III Ketchikan Daily News Ketchikan, AK	L. Stedem Wood Skagit Valley Herald Mt. Vernon, WA	Rufus Woods The Wenatchee World Wenatchee, WA

cc:

Evonne Agnello Pacific Northwest Newspaper Association	Diana Kramer Washington Newspaper Publishers Association	Virginia Moorehouse The Bakersfield Californian Bakersfield, CA
Rowland Thompson Allied Daily Newspapers of Washington	Alexis Scott Reeves Atlanta Daily World Atlanta, GA	Dorthy Leavell Chicago Crusader Chicago, IL

Death Tax Newsletter

This bi-monthly newsletter is produced by the Seattle Times for family owned newspapers. Please share it with other family businesses in other industries. Any suggestions for distribution or content will be greatly appreciated.

Death Tax Repeal in 1999

The outside chance of getting repeal of the death tax in 1998 has passed.

There is real prospect for repeal in 1999.

According to Congresswoman Jennifer Dunn, the House Republican leadership has assured her that total repeal will be included in the Republican’s 1999 tax bill.

As we understand it, the process to determine what will go in that tax bill, and its priorities, will begin in earnest in January 1999. By April the die will have been cast.

Consequently, Congressional members need strong encouragement between now and January or February 1999.

It is our understanding that it is as important to contact Newt Gingrich and the Republican House leadership as it is members of our own delegations.

It is also very important to let Congresswoman Dunn know how appreciated her efforts are.

Democrats for Repeal

It continues to be extremely important that Democrats start to endorse repeal legislation.

In Washington State, Congressional candidate Brian Baird fullyunderstands this issue, having been initially schooled on it by Ted Natt. Baird has indicated, if elected, he will sign on to repeal bills. He is a great starting point for anybody who wants to make a contact.

Senator Patty Murray is also very versed on the issue and very supportive. However, she feels she is stuck with the current Congressional budget office scoring of something like $100 million of revenue loss for the Dunn/Tanner repeal bill.

She understand that the CBO numbers are not valid, and in fact the death tax hurts the economy. However, she points out that Congress is stuck with them and she is willing to work to try to get CBO to reduce their scoring. Any calls to Murray would also be very helpful.

Jobs and Economy

The need to continually educate people on the horrible impact of the death tax is still paramount. People need to understand what this does to kill jobs and small business, and that it actually is negative to the economy. We need to tell that story over and over.

PNNA Meeting

The Seattle Times will be hosting the informal dinner and the informal lunch during the PNNA meeting for anybody interested in discussing the death tax and repeal efforts in more detail. For more information, please call Daniel Royer at 206-464-8322.

Web site - www.deathtax.com

Did You Know?

The death tax brings in less than 1.1 percent of total federal revenues.

And, it is estimated it costs the government 65 cents of every dollar raised for enforcement and compliance.

The death tax is a jobs issue.

Repeal of the tax would result in 145,000 new jobs over the first 9 years of repeal.

And that doesn’t include the countless jobs that would be saved if the death tax didn’t force 70% of family and small businesses to liquidate or sell out after only one generation.

99% of all private businesses have fewer than 500 employees. This represents 50% of all private sector jobs which generate 50% of all revenue.

77% of the American voters polled by the 60 Plus Association indicated that they would be "more likely" to vote for their member of Congress if he or she voted to eliminate the death tax.