Obama blasts GOP on estate tax plans
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – President Barack Obama promoted his tax proposals Wednesday while criticizing congressional Republicans who are pushing to repeal the estate tax.
The House is expected to pass a bill this week to repeal what some lawmakers call the “death tax,” saying it prevents small business owners and family farmers from passing on their businesses to their heirs.
Obama said the estate tax only affects about 5,000 families, including just 120 households in North Carolina. He said it would cost $270 billion, “which is the cost of the tax breaks I’m giving to 44 million people.”
Turkey accuses pope of joining ‘evil front’
ISTANBUL – Adding to angry comments about the Pope Francis’ description of the Ottoman-era killing of Armenians as genocide, Turkey’s prime minister said Wednesday that the pontiff has joined “an evil front” plotting against Turkey.
Ahmet Davutoglu made the comments at an event in Ankara outlining the ruling party’s platform for June parliamentary elections and presenting its candidates. He called the pope’s description of the killings of an estimated 1.5 million Armenians as “the first genocide of the 20th century” unjust. Turkey responded Sunday by recalling its ambassador to the Vatican.
Associated Press
