Charities Remain on Sidelines of Estate-Tax Fight

Despite the possibility of losing billions of dollars in donations, charities have remained quiet on Congressional efforts to reduce the estate tax so as not to upset wealthy donors, reports Bloomberg News.

For example, after the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, in New York, came out against repealing the federal tax in 2003, James Tisch, chairman of United Jewish Communities, which supports the council, objected, saying the public-affairs group may alienate its board members.

Since 2001, the estate tax has been gradually reduced, and it is scheduled to end altogether in 2010. The next year the tax will return, although some members of Congress are trying to permanently repeal it.