AFBI hosts Death Tax repeal pledge signing ceremony with Representative Michelle Bachmann

This past Wednesday, Dick Patten flew to Minnesota to personally receive Representative Bachmann’s pledge to support for Death Tax repeal.  Representative Bachmann is a stalwart ally in the fight for repeal, and we are glad to publicly recognize her.  Several dozen people attended the event, including a number of reporters and a television crew from Minnesota’s ABC affiliate, a family-owned business.  The National Public Radio of Minnesota discussed the event on their Thursday morning show.

The ceremony was hosted by Ray Newkirk at his family-owned business, TeamVantage Molding.  Newkirk is a true American success story.  During his life he has built several strong companies, creating hundreds of jobs for his community.  When he purchased TeamVantage Molding, it was performing poor and employed 50 people.  Eight years later, it is a strong and viable operation and employs over 100 people.  Because of his success, his family faces a confiscatory Death Tax if Congress does not act to repeal it.  Newkirk spoke about the importance of repeal for him and his family, and for the economy at large.

If reelected, Michelle Bachmann will likely join the House Ways and Means committee, which oversees Death Tax legislation.  Her support on the Ways and Means committee would be invaluable in the legislative fight that is looming for 2009.

AFBI is grateful to our allies in Minnesota who cosponsored the event.  Mike Hickey, Director of the National Federation of Independent Business in Minnesota, David Strom of the Free Market Institute in Minnesota, and Phil Krinkie of the Taxpayers League of Minnsota joined us in recognizing Representative Bachmann for her support of repeal.