EDITED to run SUN. SEPT. 12. PHOTO uploaded – ks
Schoening, 24, is policy analyst and coalitions manager for the American Family Business Institute, a master’s candidate at George Mason University’s School of Public Policy and a rugby player for the George Mason University Gang Green.
What have you got against the death tax?
It’s a R.I.P. off. No one should have to visit the tax man and the grim reaper in the same day. For someone who has taken the risk to start a business, worked hard their entire life, and saved to pass it on to their children to then be subjected to a 55 percent tax at death is in direct opposition to the idea of the American Dream.
Our entire tax system seems hopelessly messed up. What is the deal?
I think part of the problem is that if you dropped the colossal U.S. tax code from an airplane over D.C. it would fall probably right through to the other side of the Earth. Businesses would be better off if this happened. I might be onto something here.
Why does your job make me want to put my head down on my desk and sob?
Cheer up, Julie. We are very optimistic that we will eventually have no taxation without respiration in America! As of today we have a bipartisan coalition of 470 candidates, many of whom will win in November, officially signed and committed to work toward killing the tax immediately. This is putting pressure on current members of Congress to act now before the tax is hiked from 0 to 55 percent in 2011.
How is tax policy like rugby?
The only way to be effective in both is to get down and dirty. I attack my work like I do opposing players on the field. I practice tackling on my co-workers. All of our interns have broken appendages.
— Julie Mason
