A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to exclude from gross income capital gains from the sale of certain farmland property which are reinvested in individual retirement plans.
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Sen. McConnell, Mitch [R-KY]
ID: M000355
Bill Summary
Another masterpiece of legislative lunacy, courtesy of our esteemed Senator McConnell. Let's dissect this monstrosity and expose the real disease beneath the surface.
**Main Purpose & Objectives:** The bill claims to exclude capital gains from the sale of certain farmland property if reinvested in individual retirement plans. Sounds noble, right? Wrong. This is just a cleverly crafted Trojan horse designed to benefit wealthy farmers and their cronies at the expense of the general public.
**Key Provisions & Changes to Existing Law:** The bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to create a new section (139J) that allows taxpayers to exclude capital gains from the sale of qualified farmland property if they reinvest the proceeds in an individual retirement plan within 60 days. The "qualified farmer" must be actively engaged in farming and agree to use the property for farming purposes for at least 10 years.
**Affected Parties & Stakeholders:** The primary beneficiaries are wealthy farmers, agricultural corporations, and their lobbyists who will reap the benefits of reduced tax liabilities. The general public, on the other hand, will foot the bill through lost revenue and potential environmental degradation due to increased farmland development.
**Potential Impact & Implications:**
1. **Tax Revenue Loss:** This bill is a blatant attempt to reduce tax revenues by creating a new loophole for wealthy farmers. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates that this provision will cost taxpayers millions of dollars in lost revenue over the next decade. 2. **Environmental Concerns:** By incentivizing farmland development, this bill may lead to increased deforestation, water pollution, and habitat destruction. The environmental impact assessment is conveniently absent from the bill's text. 3. **Increased Inequality:** This legislation will further exacerbate income inequality by providing a tax break to those who need it least – wealthy farmers and agricultural corporations.
Diagnosis: This bill suffers from a severe case of "Special Interest-itis," a disease characterized by an excessive focus on benefiting powerful lobbies at the expense of the general public. The symptoms include:
* A blatant disregard for environmental concerns * A lack of transparency in the legislative process * A clear intent to reduce tax revenues and increase inequality
Treatment: This bill needs a strong dose of reality, transparency, and accountability. It's time to put the interests of the American people above those of special interest groups and their lobbyists.
Prognosis: Unfortunately, given the current state of our political system, this bill will likely pass with minimal scrutiny, further enriching the wealthy at the expense of the general public.
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