VOTERS 2 TO 1 SAY ESTATE TAX IS "UNFAIR" — EVEN FOR BILLIONAIRES

May 25, 2001

CONTACT:  McLaughlin & Associates
  STUART POLK, Vice President
   spolk@mclaughlinonline.com (703/518-4445)

NATIONAL MEDIA RELEASE

A McLaughlin & Associates national survey, conducted between May 21-23, 2001 among 1,000 likely voters, found that a two-to-one majority feels it is unfair for Congress to impose a 40% or greater tax on an estate worth a billion dollars.  To these voters, the amount of wealth is not the issue; these voters view the estate tax to be wrong on principle.

Even when told the gas tax would be on a hypothetical estate worth an astronomical one billion dollars, a clear majority still considers the estate tax unfair.  This majority consensus that death taxes are inherently unfair crosses all ideological, party, income, age, gender, and racial groups.

Pollster John McLaughlin summed up voter opinion by saying, "They indicated clearly that Americans are taxed all their lives, and taxing the same assets once again after they have died is grossly unfair, regardless of wealth."

"Regarding the estate tax, do you feel that it is fair or unfair for Congress to impose a 40% or greater tax on an estate worth a billion dollars?"

	Total	Liberal	Moderate	Conservative
Fair	30.7%	39.7	33.2	23.5
Unfair	59.6%	54.0	57.8	64.7
DK/Refused	9.7%	6.3	8.9	11.9

	Total	Republican	Democrat	Independent
Fair	30.7%	24.6	36.2	31.3
Unfair	59.6%	65.0	54.3	61.5
DK/Refused	9.7%	10.5	9.4	7.2

	Total	Ticket-Splitter	$40K/Under	Over $40K
Fair	30.7%	28.2	24.6	36.2
Unfair	59.6%	62.7	65.0	54.3
DK/Refused	9.7%	9.1	10.5	9.4

	Total	Black	White	40 yrs/Under	Over 40 yrs
Fair	30.7%	24.5	31.5	29.4	31.1
Unfair	59.6%	67.6	58.6	63.8	58.0
DK/Refused	9.7%	7.8	9.9	6.8	10.9

	Total	Men	Women
Fair	30.7%	32.5	29.0
Unfair	59.6%	61.3	58.1
DK/Refused	9.7%	6.3	12.9

Methodology: This national survey of political attitudes was conducted by professional interviewers via telephone. Interview selection was at random within predetermined election units. These units were structured to correlate statistically with actual voter distributions in statewide general elections.

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