Sign the petition: Tell Congress to keep the estate tax

This is Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield, co-founders of the Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream. And we don't want another stupid tax cut.

Dear MoveOn member,

It's Ben and Jerry—the co-founders of Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream—and we need your help.

We want to pay our fair share of taxes, but Republicans in Congress are trying to pass an unnecessary tax giveaway to America's wealthiest citizens. We don't want, need, or deserve this tax cut—which is why we're asking you to sign our petition to Senate Democrats that states:

If Senate and House Republicans have their way, they will eliminate the estate tax, which affects only the wealthiest 0.2% of taxpayers. Repealing the estate tax would hurt our economy and be fundamentally unfair. Senate Democrats: Stand with us—and stay united against the repeal.

Here's the truth: We don't need this stupid tax cut.

As we recently wrote in an op-ed in USA Today, we're wealthy thanks to the good fortune of our efforts—but also because of many other societal factors that contributed to our wealth.¹ The estate tax is one of the ways that the wealthy pay forward so the next generation has the opportunities we had.

The estate tax, which the U.S. has had for more than a century, currently affects Americans with estates worth at least $5.4 million, or $10.8 million for a couple—only 1 out of every 500 taxpayers.² And yet, it's been a target of right-wing lawmakers, working on behalf of their wealthy donors. 

Click here to sign our petition calling on Senate Democrats to stand united and stop this Republican giveaway to the superrich.

Congress has shrunk the estate tax in recent years—and now the Senate and House, in advisory votes largely along party lines, have voted to repeal it entirely.³ The votes are only advisory, for now, but when the Republicans press this issue again, Senate Democrats will need to be ready to beat back the repeal and block this latest Republican giveaway to the superrich.

We know this may not be as fun as helping us choose names for ice cream flavors—but it's critical to send a message that Congress shouldn't be working on behalf of only the wealthiest Americans but should get back to the people's business. Wages have been stagnant for decades.⁴ Young people are carrying around anvils on their backs called student debt.⁵ Our public infrastructure is falling apart.⁶

Good grief, Congress. With all this going on, are you really going to give another tax break to those of us who need it least?

Sign our petition—tell Senate Democrats to stand united and ensure that Republicans don't give multimillionaires and billionaires even more tax breaks.

Thanks for all you do.

–Ben and Jerry

Sources: 

1. "Ben & Jerry: We don't need this stupid tax cut," USA Today, April 16, 2015  
http://www.moveon.org/r/?r=304167&id=113354-10220574-vYdtJOx&t=3

2. Ibid.

3. "House votes to repeal estate tax," The Hill, April 16, 2015  
http://www.moveon.org/r/?r=304169&id=113354-10220574-vYdtJOx&t=4

4. "For most workers, real wages have barely budged for decades," Pew Research Center, October 9, 2014  
http://www.moveon.org/r/?r=303882&id=113354-10220574-vYdtJOx&t=5

5. "Average Student Loan Debt Approaches $30,000," U.S. News & World Report, November 13, 2014  
http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2014/11/13/average-student-loan-debt-hits-30-000

6. "Falling apart: America's neglected infrastructure," CBS, November 23, 2014  
http://www.moveon.org/r/?r=304172&id=113354-10220574-vYdtJOx&t=8

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