U.S. Rep.

Jason Altmire, D-4th, and U.S. Rep.

Kathy Dahlkemper, D-3rd, last week both voted for legislation that would permanently extend the federal estate tax.The tax, under The Permanent Estate Tax Relief for Families, Farmers and Small Businesses Act of 2009, would be capped at 45 percent, limited to estates of $3.5 million or more, and not applicable to most family-owned small businesses and farms.The bill Dec. 3 passed largely along party lines by a vote of 225-200, and was sent to the Senate for consideration."As it stands now, many families are finding it difficult to plan for the future because the rules regarding who has to pay the estate tax and how much they have to pay change from year to year," Altmire said."We need to put into place a permanent solution that will prevent tax hikes and ensure that families have the long-term clarity they need to make well-informed decisions."