You can’t make this up.

Grover Norquist sent this memo (PDF) out today. Getting rid of the Death/estate tax has been a long time goal for the Republicans.

Is this guy fucking serious?

From the memo:

“The 2003 tax cut lifted economic growth far beyond what most people expected. We know repeal of the Death Tax will also have a similar effect. And higher levels of economic growth is exactly what the residents of the Gulf Region need at this time to start the rebuilding process for their neighborhoods and more importantly for their lives.”

The estate tax cut is what the people of the gulf region needs?!! Could you be MORE of a whore for the rich? With people still suffering from the hurricanes and all the problems still ahead, you’re telling us that a Death Tax cut is what’s on your mind and what these people need?!

Luckily, Norquist can rest easy tonight.

From Think Progress

“Senate Finance Committee members were informed this morning that Sen. Bill Frist will move forward with a vote to permanently repeal the estate tax next week, likely on Tuesday, ThinkProgress has learned.

One stands in awe of Sen. Frist’s timing. Permanently repealing the estate tax would be a major blow to the nation’s charities. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office has “found that the estate tax encourages wealthy individuals to donate considerably more to charity, since estate tax liability is reduced through donations made both during life and at death.” If there were no estate tax in 2000, for example, “charitable donations would have been between $13 billion to $25 billion lower than they actually were.”

As they did after 9/11 and during the lead-up to the Iraq war, conservatives have placed tax cuts for the most wealthy and well-off over the spirit of shared national sacrifice. What a stark contrast to the outpouring of generosity being shown by the American people in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.”

How do any of you live with yourselves? Frist, I didn’t think you could get any lower, but once again, you prove me wrong.

Along these same lines, the confirmation hearing for John Roberts is also supposed to begin next week. Business as usual for the Republicans. No need to worry about the tens of thousands of displaced people. How very nobel of all of you.