Today, Ken Blackwell, former Ohio Secretary of State and member of our Board of Directors, has a fantastic op-ed in The Examiner. The piece, entitled “Hiking the death tax is an insult to Jack Kemp’s legacy,” discusses the need for a permanent repeal of the death tax – a core goal of NTU.

Mr. Blackwell eloquently captures Jack Kemp’s history of protecting the rights of minorities. Whether through the Civil Rights Movement, enterprise zones, or protecting the rights of the unborn, Jack Kemp always stood up for the voiceless and those who struggled to get a fair shake.

The group most heavily impacted by the death tax is no exception. While they may be a minority, their rights should still be fought for, especially considering it is a tax on top of earned money that has already been taxed. While there is a strong case for repealing the death tax on these individuals, there are broader economic implications as well. A permanent elimination could produce as many as 1.5 million jobs and powerfully stimulate small business capital accumulation.

Let’s hope Congress takes action on behalf of all taxpayers and works to repeal this unjust burden on society. In the words of Jack Kemp on another minority issue, it is “a matter of simple fairness.”

Check out Mr. Blackwell’s op-ed here.