A letter from MPA to Maine's Senators

June 26, 2006

Dear Senator [Snowe/Collins],

I am writing today on behalf of Maine People’s Alliance and concerned citizens of Maine to urge you to oppose any attempts to drastically reduce the estate tax at the expense of Maine people.  The Thomas bill (H.R. 5638) or similar proposals would cost 75-80% as much as total repeal—up to $800 billion during the first ten-year period in which it would be fully in effect, including interest on the mounting debt. We recognize the profoundly harmful cost of gutting the estate tax. A vote for this legislation means that a relatively few super-rich heirs and heiresses like Paris Hilton will be further enriched by billions, at the expense of working families.

Giving more to the ultra-wealthy means providing less education and health care to everyone else. This is not mere speculation. Last year, Congress cut Medicaid and student loans, seemingly concerned about the deficit. Now, there are House proposals to cut child welfare, maternal and child health services, job training, Head Start, and K-12 education for poor children below 2005 levels, adjusted for inflation. Please do not be a party to shrinking opportunities for the many in order to enrich further the already favored few.
           
Americans value hard work over the good luck of being born into wealth. But slashing the estate tax—and paying for it largely with borrowed money—leaves a legacy of debt for all of us. Please oppose all efforts to gut the estate tax.

Respectfully,

Jesse Graham
Associate Director
Maine People’s Alliance

Maine People’s Alliance—Organizing for a Better Maine!

565 Congress St., Suite 200, Portland, Maine 04101; (207) 797-0967; mpa@mainepeoplesalliance.org
27 State Street, Suite 44, Bangor, Maine 04401; (207) 990-0672; jesse@mainepeoples alliance.org
145 Lisbon Street, Suite 200, Lewiston, Maine 04240; (207) 782-7876; kate@mainepeoplesalliance.org