Republican Texas Congressman Kevin Brady has introduced the Death Tax Repeal Act, a measure to eliminate the estate tax. He has picked up 218 co sponsors and has the backing of the Farm Bureau. South Dakota Farm Bureau President Scott Vanderwal says it’s an issue his group has been working on with the Congressman for some time.
Vanderwal says if Congress fails to permanently repeal the estate tax, surviving family members may be forced to sell off parts of their farms which could jeopardize their livelihoods.
Vanderwal says passage of the American Taxpayer Relief Act in 2012 provided significant estate tax relief but full repeal is really the best solution to protect farmers and ranchers.