Death and Taxes The House votes to eliminate the inheritance tax. by Irwin M. Stelzer 05/09/2005, Volume 010, Issue 32 SEVERAL YEARS AGO I SUGGESTED in these pages that it would be good conservative policy to raise, rather than lower, inheritance taxes. After all, American conservatives, traditional and neo, believe in a meritocracy in which material success should depend mostly on our own efforts and accomplishments, rather than those of our ancestors. But Congress disagrees. Or at least the House does. It has voted to eliminate inheritance taxes permanently, and the Senate now has to decide whether to go along....