The idea is to bypass the exemption.
When the estate is valued, full market value is used to check against the 5.3 million exemption. Anything over is taxed at 40%.
So, passing on the original value is the same as destroying the estate exemption.
I guess all these filthy rich democrats (BO included) somehow exempt themselves from these estate taxes for their heirs. Why else would they go along with this confiscation insanity. I swear it’s almost like Obama is just trying to piss people off-republicans and democrats-on purpose. He is such a little punk.