Berg Signs Death Tax Repeal Pledge at Family Farm Near Amenia

Press Release

Republican challenger for North Dakota's lone congressional seat, Rick Berg today signed the Death Tax Repeal Pledge at a family farm near Amenia.

The press conference centered on the need to create jobs and encourage small business while critical of the death tax that incumbent Democrat Earl Pomeroy supported and voted for and how it will hurt North Dakota families who inherit a small business or family farm.

The press conference started with remarks from local farmer, Roger Nelson talking about how his family farm operation would suffer when he passes it along to his children who have helped him build the operation for over 30 years. Former North Dakota Senator Mark Andrews and President of the American Family Business Institute Dick Patten then gave their remarks before Berg spoke and singed the pledge.

"In the House of Representatives, he [Earl Pomeroy] is the most consistently vocal defender of the death tax," said Patton, "I have been through 7 congressional death tax battles and every time this gets down to the floor of the House one of the predictable speakers, rolling up his sleeves, and speaking with passion about keeping the death tax in place is always Earl Pomeroy."

The death tax, which expired at the end of 2009 falling from a tax rate of 45% to zero for 2010, is set to climb to 55% in 2011, taxing North Dakota families who inherit a small business or family farm.

"I am a fourth generation North Dakotan, my great-grandfather homesteaded in North Dakota, North Dakota is made up of small businesses and family farms," said Berg at the press conference, "You cannot support family farms and small business and support the death tax."

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Economic Research Service estimates that farm estates are 5-20 times more likely to incur estate taxes than other estates. The National Cattlemen's Beef Association wrote that, "Farmers and ranchers are often forced to sell off land, equipment, or even the entire ranch just to pay off tax liabilities." Roughly one out of every ten family farm estates will have to pay the death tax.

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