Dennis Tuuri

Full PEAPAC Analysis

PEAPAC Explanation: Measure 84, if passed, would phase out Oregon’s current inheritance tax, also known as the “Death Tax.” This tax is inherently anti-family, as well as pro-state, moving assets out of the private sector and the family into government control. Proverbs 13:22 s ays “A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children.” While we defend the unborn and Christian marriage, we should also defend the accumulation of assets by families, and their unfettered ability to pass these assets on to children, grandchildren or whoever else they choose.

There are two other significant reasons to support this Measure. The first is double taxation. The assets accumulated by a person have already been taxed in some form as they were earned or produced. To tax them when they are given as an inheritance represents double taxation. God’s tax, the tithe, is on an actual increase in wealth via production, not the transfer of wealth. Second, most people’s assets consist primarily of their house, farm or other real property or land. In the Bible, God’s “tax” is on income earned (the tithe) or an equal tax on all people (the so-called “ head tax” of Exodus 30). While good men disagree on just what this tax was, it seemed to mean that all people paid some small amount for the basic government service of keeping citizens and their property safe from attack. It has the practical effect of keeping everyone involved in trying to improve their government. To tax property, or the transfer of property through inheritance taxes, finds no place in the taxation system that God established in the Bible.

Finally, the inheritance tax seems related to two of the worst sins listed i n the Bible – covetousness (“I want what you have”) and envy (“I want what you have, but can’t get it, so I will make sure you can’t keep it either.”) We therefore urge a yes vote on Measure 84