I have said many times that it would not happen. It did. All agree Congress is guilty of malpractice as it allows a temporary lapse in the estate tax.

The U.S. Congress ought to be ashamed of itself. Beginning Friday, January 1, 2010, the estate tax goes away for a year.

Under current laws in effect until the end of this year, the size of the exemption (or amount a person may die without owing any federal estate tax) is $3.5 million per individual or up to $7 million per couple. Going to no tax is terrible.

There is an expectation that Congress will pass an estate tax next year and make it retroactive to January 1, but who knows if that will work, and as Congress has proved this year, what do expectations amount to.

Shame on you Congress!!