XXXX Voted To Repeal The Estate Tax But Without Raising New Revenue. In March 2013, XXXX voted in favor of Thune, R-S.D., amendment no. 307 that would create a deficit-neutral reserve fund to allow for legislation to permanently eliminate the federal estate tax as long as the legislation's costs are offset without raising new revenue. The amendment was rejected by a vote of 46-53 (D 2-50; R 44-1; I 0-2). [Vote 67, 3/22/13] XXXX Voted for Irresponsible Package That Included Estate Tax Cut for Wealthiest Americans. In 2006, XXXX voted for the so-called “trifecta” bill which would raise the minimum wage, extend popular expiring tax cuts and permanently cut the estate tax to exempt $5 million of an individual’s estate and tax $25 million estates at a 15% rate. The estate tax measure would cost $268 billion over ten years. “This trifecta is a high-stakes gamble with America’s future,” said Sen. Dick Durbin. “This bill will add almost $1 trillion to the debt,” Sen. Harry Reid said. “Eighty-one hundred of the wealthiest families hit the jackpot while working Americans pay the debt.” [Vote 229, 8/3/06; New York Times, 8/4/06; San Francisco Chronicle, 8/4/06; AP, 8/5/06] XXXX Supported Trillion-Dollar Permanent Estate Tax Repeal. In June 2006, XXXX voted to permanently repeal the estate tax. According to the Joint Committee on Taxation, the repeal would cost $386.5 billion between 2007 and 2016. It would cost about $1 trillion over the first decade in which its costs would be fully felt (2012- 2021). Without this bill, the estate tax was set to expire in 2010 after being gradually reduced since 2001; in 2011, though, it will go back to its original level. The estate tax affects less than 1% of families nationwide. Critics referred to the proposed repeal as the “Paris Hilton tax break.” [Vote 164, 6/8/06; Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, 6/9/06; USA Today, 6/9/06; New York Times, 6/9/06; Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 6/9/06] XXXX Voted to Accelerate Repeal Of The Estate Tax. On March 20, 2003, XXXX voted for an amendment that would accelerate the scheduled repeal of the estate tax. The amendment, which was sponsored by Sen. Kyl, would move up the repeal of the so-called “death tax” from 2010 to 2009. [Vote 62, 3/20/03] XXXX Voted For A Permanent Repeal Of The Estate Tax. In 2003, XXXX voted to express the sense of the Senate that the estate tax repeal enacted in 2001 should be made permanent. The amendment was agreed to 56-42. [Vote 28, 2/13/03] XXXX Voted to Permanently Repealing The Estate Tax. XXXX voted to waive the Budget Act for the consideration of the Gramm/Kyl substitute amendment (No. 3833) to the Death Tax Elimination Act of 2001 (H.R. 8). The Gramm/Kyl substitute amendment would enact a permanent repeal of the death tax. The motion was rejected, 54-44. [HR 8, Vote 151, 6/12/02] XXXX Voted Against Eliminating The Phase-Down And Reduction Of The Estate Tax. XXXX voted against waiving the Budget Act for the consideration of the Conrad substitute amendment (No. 3831) to the Death Tax Elimination Act of 2001 (H.R. 8). The Conrad substitute amendment would eliminate the phase-down and reduction in the death tax, keeping it at 50 percent. It would increase the exclusion to $3 million beginning in 2003 (it would retain the increase to $3.5 million in 2009). The motion was rejected, 38-60. [HR 8, Vote 150, 6/12/02] XXXX Opposed A Democratic Substitute To Keep The Estate Tax. XXXX voted against waiving the Budget Act for the consideration of the Reid (for Dorgan) substitute amendment (No. 3832) to the Conrad substitute amendment (No. 3831) to the Death Tax Elimination Act of 2001 (H.R. 8). The Reid (for Dorgan) substitute amendment to the Conrad amendment would make the death tax rates in 2009 permanent, would increase the exclusion amount to $4 million in 2009, and would remove the income eligibility limit for the death tax exclusion (section 2057) for family-owned businesses and farms. The motion to waive was rejected, 44-54. [HR 8, Vote 149, 6/12/02] XXXX Voted For A Permanent Repeal Of The Estate Tax. In 2002, XXXX voted to express the sense of the Senate that the estate tax repeal enacted in 2001 should be made permanent. The amendment was agreed to, 56-42. [S 1731, Vote 28, 2/13/02] XXXX Voted Against a Smaller Tax Cut For Highest Incomes, Voted to Keep Repeal of Estate Tax. In 2001, XXXX voted against a smaller package of tax cuts than the trillion-plus dollar tax cut package. The measure 274