Last week, along with passing the state's biennial budget, the General Assembly endorsed tax relief for Virginia's family farmers and small business owners by approving legislation that calls for the full repeal of the state death tax effective July 1, 2007.

In a show of bipartisan support, both chambers passed identical pieces of repeal legislation by considerable margins. SB 5019 passed the Senate by a 24-9 vote receiving little floor debate. HB 5019 passed the House 63-25, though not without three failed efforts to amend the legislation from the floor. It should be noted that those motions were unrelated to death tax repeal and focused on amending a provision of the bill related to open space easements.

We greatly appreciate the actions of the General Assembly to provide considerable relief to thousands of farmers and small businesses statewide by voting to repeal the onerous death tax.

This week, the House and Senate will reconvene in Richmond on Wednesday to consider repeal legislation and formally send the legislation to Governor Kaine for his approval.

It is our hope that the House and Senate will pass HB 5019 and SB 5019, however this repeal legislation could be in jeopardy if amendments are made.

Please contact your legislators today and urge their support of full death tax repeal by voting for HB 5019 and SB 5019 without amendment. Thank them for their past support of small business owners and family farmers.

The unfair death tax threatens open space, family farmers and small business owners statewide. Now is the time to act contact your legislators today!

Since November 2004, Governor Kaine has publicly endorsed death tax repeal and during the General Assembly session indicated that he would sign legislation should it reach his desk. Following successful passage of HB 5019 and SB 5019 by the General Assembly, the Governor will have the ability to eliminate the onerous death tax once and for all by signing the legislation into law.

With Governor Kaine's commitment to support repeal of the death tax, we should see repeal by July 1, 2007. Please email Governor Kaine and call his office at (804) 786-2211 to urge him to sign HB 5019 and SB 5019.

Click here to view recent news articles about the proposed budget and estate tax repeal.

Please forward this message to your email list and urge your friends, neighbors and business colleagues to contact their legislators and the Governor urging repeal of Virginia's death tax.

Thanks again for your continued support of efforts to repeal this unfair tax.