{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/in-the-news?ContentRecord_id=FB71B017-DB08-492F-B2C4-00AFDE32F1CA", "South Dakota is leading the charge against the Death Tax", "2017-11-02", "2017", "2017-11", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Kristi Noem", "N000184", "noem.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "By Dick Patten, Published in the Capital Journal \r\n\t\r\nThe next few weeks will be a pivotal time in the debate regarding tax reform, and especially the future of the 101- year- old Death Tax. The Mount Rushmore state has been a leader on this issue since 2001. That year, South Dakota voters repealed the state\u2019s Death Tax by an overwhelming 80% of the vote. Not coincidently, the Estate Tax later proved to be a driving force in the election of Senator John Thune, when it was a cornerstone of his campaign in his 2004 victory over incumbent Senator Tom Daschle.\r\n\r\n\r\nSouth Dakota continues to lead the nation\u2019s effort to repeal this tax, championed in the House by Congresswoman Kristi Noem (HR 631) and in the U.S. Senate by Mr. Thune (S 205). Their effort may finally be on the precipice of a major win for family farms, businesses, and their employees. The win \u2013 the repeal of this destructive tax \u2013 would represent a major leap forward in the economic prospects for both South Dakota and the nation.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nAccording to the American Business Defense Council, 79% of South Dakotans agree that Death Tax repeal will save hundreds of farms and small business in South Dakota alone. Seventy-six percent of South Dakotans want the Death Tax completely repealed, while only 18% oppose its\u2019 repeal. Seventy-Five percent are also concerned that the life insurance industry is spending millions in lobbying to keep the estate tax.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nFrom a national standpoint, America\u2019s estate tax is the fourth-highest in the world. Russia, China, Canada, Mexico, Sweden and Norway are among the many nations which have repealed their Death Taxes. Congress\u2019 Joint Economic Committee found that the death tax has destroyed roughly $1.1 trillion in capital stock in the economy. Lost capital means fewer trucks, smaller tractors, fewer combines, and less agricultural technology. It also means fewer jobs and lower wages.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nShould repeal occur, it will be largely because of South Dakota\u2019s Congressional leadership at the forefront of this issue, as they fight for the state and national economy. This opportunity to repeal the death tax is critical for our farms and businesses that continue to provide for our families, South Dakota and the United States of America.\r\n\r\n\r\nDuring the Thune vs. Daschle Senate race, Vernell Johnson, South Dakota\u2019s famed auctioneer and author said, \u201cI\u2019ve sold too many of South Dakota\u2019s farms in the last four decades because a family member died. It\u2019s time to get rid of the Death Tax once and for all.\u201d I think that says it all.\r\n\r\n\r\nDick Patten is the President of the American Business Defense Council and a noted business leader and speaker.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/in-the-news?ContentRecord_id=FB71B017-DB08-492F-B2C4-00AFDE32F1CA"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.6512458678334951, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}