Legislative proposals

Senators Kyl and Grassley seem prepared to block debate on extending unemployment benefits in order for a weakened estate tax law to become permanent, essentially holding unemployed Americans hostage as they bargain for another trillion-dollar tax giveaway to the rich.

UFE's seventh annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Day report has finally arrived! State of the Dream 2010: Drained - Jobless and Foreclosed in Communities of Color explores the U.S. racial economic divide in the wake of the Great Recession and spotlights a targeted policy approach as the best way to close that divide and rebuild our economy. Read the report now!

Mike Prokosch, UFE Board member and co-author of State of the Dream 2010, visits with Mitch Jeserich on Pacifica Radio's "Letters to Washington" to discuss President Obama's budget and whether our most urgent national priorities are being met.

Oregonians voters turned out in Tuesday's special election to say "yes" to quality public education and social services, and "no" to tax breaks for the wealthy and corporations. TFOC members, Our Oregon and Tax Fairness Oregon, were active players in this major ballot victory.

Brian Miller writes about why the federal estate tax is such a crucial source of revenue for a Main Street recovery. Read more in this San Antonio Express-News op-ed.

Business Owners, Executives and Investors – sign Responsible Wealth’s letter to the US Senate in support of legislation to create a Consumer Financial Protection Agency (CFPA).

Two items on the ballot for Oregon's January 27th special election, Measures 66 and 67, would address the state's budget hardships by raising taxes on those most able to afford: wealthy individuals and large corporations. UFE urges voters to vote "YES" to Measures 66 and 67.

The Senate dropped a ball they've carried for 8 years, and George W. Bush's ill-advised 2001 tax law, which allowed the estate tax to vanish in 2010, has officially kicked in. In this AFP article, UFE's Lee Farris comments on the unfortunate situation we're in, and urges lawmakers to act quickly to reinstate the tax.

Today, Lee Farris hopped on the mic to talk about the fate of the estate tax on WBAI's Talk Back! with Hugh Hamilton in New York City. Listen to the interview here.

PRESS RELEASE: "On New Year's Day, the estate tax, which has been part of the US tax system for nearly 100 years, will disappear due to the failure of the Senate to pass an extension in December. Now, Congressional leaders are pledging to act in early 2010 to reinstate the federal estate tax, making it retroactive to January 1, 2010, an action supported by United for a Fair Economy (UFE)."