Providing for the few

Since Rep. Mark Green and his colleagues tried to link the increase in the minimum wage and a reduction of the estate tax, one might think that the two proposals would at least help a similar amount of people. However, a recent report by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities reveals the desires of a few were put above the needs of many.

Legislation passed by the House before it departed for recess links a dramatic reduction in the estate tax with an increase in the minimum wage. In seeking to tie the fate of these two proposals together, House leaders have implied that they address concerns of similar import and urgency.

In reality, of course, the minimum wage increase would benefit 5.6 million workers, while the estate tax reduction would benefit 8,200 very large estates. Moreover, over the past decade, Congress has zealously protected the small number of wealthy estates subject to the estate tax, enacting legislation (in 1997 and 2001) that has reduced estate tax burdens in eight of the past nine years.

You can find the report here.