Berkley, Gibbons on losing side of attempted veto override

Friday, Sept. 8, 2000 | 8:54 a.m.

By a vote of 274-157 vote, the House fell 14 short of the necessary two-thirds margin to override the veto.

Thirteen Democrats who voted for the bill earlier, switched sides to help uphold the veto.

But Berkley broke from party ranks again and was among the 53 Democrats who voted with all but one Republican to override the veto.

"I am disappointed at the failure of the bill," said Berkley, who is in a tight race for re-election.

"Not only are the hidden costs of this tax astronomically high, but forcing grieving families to sell their family business just because the federal government wants its cut is wrong and benefits nobody," she said, adding she is optimistic the tax will be repealed next year.

The debate was full of political overtones sure to spill over into the fall elections.

"If the American people really want this tax relief, we need a Republican Congress with a Republican president who will sign it," said House Majority Whip Tom DeLay, R-Texas, framing the campaign issue for the GOP.

Gibbons said the so-called "death tax" is "the most onerous tax on the books today.

"Nevadans should not have to pay taxes on their farms, ranches and small businesses when they have already paid taxes on them throughout their lives," he said.

"Unfortunately, the Clinton-Gore Administration and many of their friends in the House failed to put their partisan politics aside to help Nevada's hard-working families," he said.