One Wisconsin Now Delivers Nearly 2,000 Petitions Calling for End of $300 Million Estate Tax Loophole

MILWAUKEE — One Wisconsin Now delivered nearly 2,000 petitions today the offices of Wisconsin’s state legislators, as citizens around the state are calling for an end to the $300 million estate tax loophole for Wisconsin’s wealthiest, which began this year.

“The people of Wisconsin have spoken and they want to protect the disabled, the poor, our seniors and our children from drastic cuts due to the $650 million budget deficit,” said Scot Ross, Executive Director of One Wisconsin Now. “Ending the estate tax loophole will prevent $300 million in potential cuts to critical programs.”

This past December, One Wisconsin Now first raised the issue of the scheduled end to the estate tax for Wisconsin’s wealthiest, which had largely gone unnoticed since the legislation authorizing it to end in 2008 was signed by former Governor Scott McCallum. Just this past week both Governor Jim Doyle and Senate Majority Leader Russ Decker indicated the estate tax could be a part of the budget repair bill and Assembly Speaker Mike Huebsch’s office has said all options are on the table.

“With a $650 million budget deficit, Wisconsin cannot afford to hand out $300 million more to those at the top,” said Ross. “The more we slash from public services and infrastructure, the harder it will be to lure new jobs and new opportunities to our great state.”

One Wisconsin Now will continue to collect petitions calling on state legislators to end the estate tax loophole. The petition is available at: http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/page/petition/inheritance.

“Take action today if you haven’t yet let your voice be heard,” said Ross. “Organizations and citizens from around Wisconsin are joining our call and we need to make sure every state legislator knows exactly what’s at stake.”