Permanent Minority

. At a time of massive budget deficits, Democratic Senators Max Baucus and Blanche Lincoln are negotiating with Republicans to eliminate the federal estate tax–a levy that falls almost exclusively on the wealthiest 2 percent of Americans.

Toward the Majority

. Connecticut’s Democratic state legislators recently forced their Republican governor to restore the state’s estate tax as a way to increase funds for crucial healthcare and education programs. In Washington State, the Democratic governor and legislators also restored the tax, meaning two states have restored their estate taxes in order to fund critical middle-class programs.