Many estate tax planners are worried about the effect a repeal would have on charitable giving (see story below).

In this story, there was also quote from a lawyer saying that "Some studies suggest that repeal would decrease the amount given at death, while others seem to show that by removing the tax burden, there may be more discretionary assets available for planned giving." (Emphasis added)

This is a very standard kind of statement made by people who wish to deny the harmful affects an estate tax repeal would have on charities.

Note the carefully framed language, which says that "others seem to show... there may be more discressionary assets for planned giving." While there will of course be more assets, there is no real evidence that there will be more giving if the estate tax were repealed.

On the contrary, there is substantial evidence that giving would decline substantially (about $10 billion annually) if the estate tax were repealed.

Crain's Detroit Business - Inheritance-tax changes loom large

Estate planners are concerned that proposed changes to the federal inheritance tax might decrease charitable giving.

The estate tax is being gradually phased out through 2010 before it is scheduled to be reinstated in 2011 at 2002 rates.

"If, as Bush has vowed to do, the inheritance tax is removed, it could take an awful lot of the incentive away from giving," said Michael Mulcahy of Raymond & Prokop P.C.

Robin Ferriby, an estate-planning attorney who is vice president of donor relations for the Community Foundation for Southeastern Michigan, said there is some split of impact of the estate tax repeal.

"Some studies suggest that repeal would decrease the amount given at death, while others seem to show that by removing the tax burden, there may be more discretionary assets available for planned giving."