Juneau -- Representative John Coghill (R-Fairbanks) has introduced a legislative resolution to encourage passage of a measure introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives that would repeal federal estate and gift taxes.

House Joint Resolution 34 requests that the U.S. Congress enact H.R. 86 introduced by U.S. Representative Christopher Cox of Texas. Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska) is a co-sponsor of the legislation repealing the tax. Coghill said he wholeheartedly supports H.R. 86 because "our government premise is based upon the right to enjoy the fruit of your labor and to own your possessions and pass on your bounty to your posterity."

Coghill said "there is a fundamental problem with people accumulating assets with income that has already been taxed, then their survivors are required to pay taxes on those assets again through an inheritance tax.