“For individually owned and operated stores like mine, the estate tax is a constant source of anxiety that has real consequences for my family, my employees and the day-to-day operations of my business,” said Christy Spoa, president of the Ellwood City Save-a-Lot in Ellwood City, PA. “I do not have the cash or assets on hand to simply write the government a check and pay the bill, so I have spent years and thousands of dollars to plan for the worst.” Spoa testified on behalf of FMI.
The estate tax is set to expire at the end of 2009, but only for one year. Beginning in 2011, the tax rate would return at a rate as high as 55 percent, a crippling level for family-owned businesses.
“The estate tax is a not just a one-time levy. It is a constant expense hanging over the head of thousands of family-owned businesses in the United States,” he said. “It is money taken away from job creation, increased wages, better benefits and continued growth.”
“I believe repeal is the best solution and the best way to make sure that small and family-owned businesses continue to thrive and create jobs,” he said.
Click here to view Spoa's testimony.
Food Marketing Institute proudly advocates on behalf of the food retail industry. FMI’s U.S. members operate nearly 40,000 retail food stores and 25,000 pharmacies, representing a combined annual sales volume of almost $770 billion. Through programs in public affairs, food safety, research, education and industry relations, FMI offers resources and provides valuable benefits to more than 1,225 food retail and wholesale member companies in the United States and around the world. FMI membership covers the spectrum of diverse venues where food is sold, including single owner grocery stores, large multi-store supermarket chains and mixed retail stores. For more information, visit www.fmi.org and for information regarding the FMI foundation, visit www.fmifoundation.org.
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