Week of May 22, 2006
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Lawmakers Just Say ‘No’ to Anti-Housing Tax Proposals
New Tax Law Contains Provisions of Interest to Builders
NAHB Members Urged to Ask Senators to Support S. 2611
Bush Immigration Reforms Supported by Builders
Election Web Site Aimed at ‘Building the Vote’

Senate Majority Whip Wants to Abolish Estate Tax

Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.)

Pledging to fight for comprehensive immigration reform and abolishing the estate tax, Senate Majority Whip Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) on May 10 told builders that “no action on immigration is unacceptable” and that “we want to go after eliminating the death tax once and for all in America.”

Addressing more than 1,350 builders at the Hilton Washington Hotel in Washington, D.C. shortly before they embarked to Capitol Hill to meet with their lawmakers as part of NAHB’s annual Legislative Conference, McConnell said that there is no easy solution on immigration.

“I believe that securing the border alone and doing nothing else doesn’t solve the problem,” said McConnell, who in his post as majority whip serves as the Senate’s second-ranking Republican and helps to set the chamber’s legislative agenda.

He added that guest workers are needed to support the Bluegrass State’s agriculture industry, and while he voiced support for such a measure, he said it should not “include anything that sounds like amnesty.”

“We are a country of laws. If you are rewarded (through amnesty), that sends the wrong message,” he said.

Regarding the estate tax, McConnell said that 80% of Americans want to repeal it. “I don’t believe you should visit the undertaker and the IRS on the same day,” he said.

In the coming weeks, he said he would work to bring legislation to the Senate floor that would entirely abolish the estate tax, and if he can’t garner enough support to pass full repeal, he said that he would seek to achieve a compromise “good enough to preserve virtually every family farm and small business.”

For more information, e-mail Michael Strauss at NAHB, or call him at 800-368-5242 x8252.

Photo by Herman Farrer  

 
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