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Mike Crapo trolled for wanting to permanently repeal 'death' tax amid Covid, Internet says 'pretty Crapo idea'

'Good job focusing on the issues that matter most to everyday Americans in the middle of this pandemic,' said one user

Senator Mike Crapo (R-ID) is being trolled on social media after announcing his plans to repeal the Federal Estate Tax. Crapo announced that he is working with Senators John Thune and Mitch McConnell to permanently repeal the tax, sometimes called the 'death tax'. After stonewalling on key legislation including the Covid-19 relief bill, the announcement has led to a massive backlash against the Republican senators.

The estate tax currently applies to all estates to individual estates valued at over $11.7 million and combined estates worth over $22.8 million. Both Crapo and Thune have called the tax "unfair" in tweets. The senators announced that they are working on the bill, but did not reveal when it would be introduced in the Senate. Even if they do, the Republicans do not have sufficient votes to pass the bill, requiring at least 10 Democrats to vote yes along with all the Senate GOP members.

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Nonetheless, the announcement is an eye-opening look at the priority of Republicans, who have so far refused to get behind any of the legislation introduced by the Democrats since Joe Biden became president. The Senate faces key votes in the coming days as the Democrats have introduced a slew of bills targeting everything from voting reforms to LGBTQ rights and workers unions.

Only 0.07 percent will pay estate tax

The estate tax is a federal tax levied on property, cash, retirement accounts and other assets an individual holds when passing them down. It is applicable to all estates over $11.7 million, but has multiple slabs. Rates range from 18% to 40%. According to the Tax Policy Centre, only 0.07 percent of those who died in 2019 will pay any estate tax. The publication estimated that some 1,900 estate tax returns were filed in 2020. 

The current lower limit of $11.7 was introduced in 2018 under Trump's Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. It is scheduled to expire in 2025, after which it will revert to being applicable for all estates with a value of over $5 million. With that in mind, Republicans are keen to abolish the tax, which they argue unfairly burdens farms and ranches. Thune said in a tweet "The #DeathTax is an unfair tax that burdens family farms & ranches. Tragedy & loss shouldn’t be exploited to fill the federal government's coffers. Today, I led colleagues, including @LeaderMcConnell, @MikeCrapo, & many more, to reintro a #DeathTaxRepeal."

That was retweeted by Crapo, who said, "The estate tax may be the most unfair tax on the books. That’s why I’m working with @SenJohnThune
and @LeaderMcConnell to repeal it permanently."

But the data tells a different story. According to Smart Assets, "The vast majority of Americans won’t die with estates large enough to trigger the estate tax." Naturally, the news has infuriated many on Twitter, especially since the Republicans have been opposed bills like the $15 wage increase. 

Crapo gets flak on social media

Crapo is now the subject to major trolling online, with many slamming the Senator. The announcement, in the middle of the pandemic when millions are unemployed and unable to get basic aid had one user comment "Way to read the room, Crapo."

Another user sarcastically commented, "I'm glad you're addressing the vital issue of how billionaire heirs can muddle through with fractionally less of their unearned windfall when dad dies, Doing anything to help the sick, the poor, or the unemployed would clearly be a waste of your time and talents." Similarly, one user tweeted, "This is a very serious problem affecting so many. This is important work you are doing to make sure millionaires and billionaires never suffer. Thank goodness there is someone in Congress willing to look out for the millionaires and billionaires. They are a minority after all."

One user said, "If people receiving stimulus money is wrong because they didnt earn it, receiving inherited wealth is wrong too. If we are going to worship the traditional work ethic, lets make it universal." Another posted "Good job focusing on the issues that matter most to everyday Americans in the middle of this pandemic, Crapo." Naturally, there were also many who used it as a good opportunity to make fun of Crapo's name. As one user tweeted "I'm not usually a "low-hanging fruit" type of guy, but this sounds like a pretty Crapo idea to me." Another said, "That’s a real Crapo set of opinions you got there, Mike."