Greens condemn tax breaks for billionaires

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The House of Representatives passed H.R.1105, The Death Tax Repeal Act of 2015, by a vote of 240-179. The bill would permanently repeal the federal estate tax, increasing the national debt by $269 billion over the next decade. Only an extreme minority of estates — 0.18 percent — are wealthy enough to qualify for the estate tax, making this measure an incredibly expensive gift to millionaires and billionaires.

After joining other environment and public health groups, and the larger progressive community, to oppose this bill, Friends of the Earth Climate and Energy Campaigner Lukas Ross issued the following statement:

Today’s vote in the House is another indication that the richest of the rich receive the best representation money can buy.

Protecting the planet means protecting government programs that ensure our air is clean and our climate is stable. Central to this is a tax system that raises revenue in a just and equitable fashion. From rising flood waters to mega-droughts, dealing with the impacts of the climate crisis is going to cost money. Asking corporations and the wealthy to pay their fair share isn’t only reasonable — it’s just.

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Expert contact: Lukas Ross, (202) 222-0724, [email protected]
Communications contact: Kate Colwell, (202) 222-0744, [email protected]