BHO To Bypass Congress Again,...Christmas Tree Tax. No,..Really...

[twyacht]

http://blog.heritage.org/2011/11/08/obama-couldnt-wait-his-new-christmas-tree-tax/

President Obama’s Agriculture Department today announced that it will impose a new 15-cent charge on all fresh Christmas trees—the Christmas Tree Tax—to support a new Federal program to improve the image and marketing of Christmas trees.

In the Federal Register of November 8, 2011, Acting Administrator of Agricultural Marketing David R. Shipman announced that the Secretary of Agriculture will appoint a Christmas Tree Promotion Board.  The purpose of the Board is to run a “program of promotion, research, evaluation, and information designed to strengthen the Christmas tree industry’s position in the marketplace; maintain and expend existing markets for Christmas trees; and to carry out programs, plans, and projects designed to provide maximum benefits to the Christmas tree industry” (7 CFR 1214.46(n)).  And the program of “information” is to include efforts to “enhance the image of Christmas trees and the Christmas tree industry in the United States” (7 CFR 1214.10).

To pay for the new Federal Christmas tree image improvement and marketing program, the Department of Agriculture imposed a 15-cent fee on all sales of fresh Christmas trees by sellers of more than 500 trees per year (7 CFR 1214.52). And, of course, the Christmas tree sellers are free to pass along the 15-cent Federal fee to consumers who buy their Christmas trees.

Acting Administrator Shipman had the temerity to say the 15-cent mandatory Christmas tree fee “is not a tax nor does it yield revenue for the Federal government” (76 CFR 69102).  The Federal government mandates that the Christmas tree sellers pay the 15-cents per tree, whether they want to or not.  The Federal government directs that the revenue generated by the 15-cent fee goes to the Board appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture to carry out the Christmas tree program established by the Secretary of Agriculture.  Mr. President, that’s a new 15-cent tax to pay for a Federal program to improve the image and marketing of Christmas trees.

Nobody is saying President Obama doesn’t have authority to impose his new Christmas Tree Tax — his Administration cites the Commodity Promotion, Research and Information Act of 1996.  Just because the Obama Administration has the legal power to impose its Christmas Tree Tax doesn’t mean it should do so.

The economy is barely growing and nine percent of the American people have no jobs.  Is a new tax on Christmas trees the best President Obama can do?

And, by the way, the American Christmas tree has a great image that doesn’t need any help from the government.

****

Gee,...where's the Ramadan tax,...perhaps the Minora Tax,...how about a Christmas Light Tax.....Oh, and don't put a manger scene on city property....

Geez, folks....WTF?!?!

[MikeBjerum]

This nearly the same as other commodities.  The difference - it is on sales of over 500 trees.  If you sell livestock or grains it is on ever pound you sell.

The money is used for the general marketing campaigns like "Beef!  It's whats for dinner." or "Pork!  The other white meat."  I can't believe that the Christmas tree producers let it go through unless they are actually supportive of it.  In other areas it has been an item of contention for decades, and the government finally gave an option for producers to file for refunds.

[Pathfinder]

Oh, dear Jesus, Mary and Joseph!

Maybe we need to start mailing pictures of Mussolini's last day above ground to everyone in Washington DC, ya know, as a gentle reminder?

They have these same Boards for cattle, eggs, and other commodities, but seriously, it has to stop somewhere. And preferably rolled back into non-existence.

[jaybet]

Christmas is a Christian holiday, and the Christmas tree is a symbol and accessory to that holiday. Therefore the US government cannot promote Christmas trees. They could promote "Holiday Foliage Decorations". 

[Herknav]

Christmas is a Christian holiday, and the Christmas tree is a symbol and accessory to that holiday. Therefore the US government cannot promote Christmas trees. They could promote "Holiday Foliage Decorations". 

Could you please point me to the scripture in the Bible that talks about Christmas trees?  Thanks.

[Sponsor]

[Rastus]

"It is not a tax."

"It is not a tax."

"It is not a tax."

"It is not a tax."

Right.  If people still believe that crap they should not be allowed to vote.  Sort of like the "fees" on your telephone bill....tell me you noticed the "fees" right? 

[JLawson]

It's now being reported that the program has been delayed and will be re-visited later.  It is also reported that the "fee" was actually supported by various tree growers associations.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/11/09/merry-christmas-agriculture-department-imposes-christmas-tree-tax/

[MikeBjerum]

As I said before, it is a way to fund marketing for the industry.  It is the producers that support the marketing campaigns trying to get the sloughs to pay their share  for what benefits them.  It is like the minority of us that support various gun groups that fight to protect our freedoms wishing and dreaming of all gun owners and freedom lovers joining the fight.

I do not like that the government is involved.  For over a decade I gave up a penny here, a dime there and a nickel over here for every bushel of corn, soybeans, oats and wheat I sold.  Every pound of pork and beef that went out of my barn or off my pasture sent a cut of my money to a board somewhere.  These programs were all to "private" organizations, but the government dictated the collection of dollars and had goofy regulations on the administration and spending of the funds.

If everyone would do their part to support marketing you would not see people trying to force these things through.  If consumers would give a damn about the people and businesses they supported the good businesses that support research, responsibility and marketing would be rewarded.  However, we live in a WalMart society that only cares about their own pocketbook and only gives lip service to caring for their community, neighbor, family or the American way of life.  Next thing we have is a group of hard working people that live by the sweat of their brow going to the blue side and asking the feds to force their neighbors to participate.

If you follow my thoughts in the previous paragraph you will realize that the reasoning and acceptance of ObamaCare is nothing new or surprising 

[Timothy]

If everyone would do their part to support marketing you would not see people trying to force these things through.  If consumers would give a damn about the people and businesses they supported the good businesses that support research, responsibility and marketing would be rewarded.  However, we live in a WalMart society that only cares about their own pocketbook and only gives lip service to caring for their community, neighbor, family or the American way of life.  Next thing we have is a group of hard working people that live by the sweat of their brow going to the blue side and asking the feds to force their neighbors to participate.

If you follow my thoughts in the previous paragraph you will realize that the reasoning and acceptance of ObamaCare is nothing new or surprising 

Excellent summation M58..

I have no fewer than thirty WalMarts within forty miles of where I'm sitting as I type and battle this mentality in my own family every week.  It's no wonder the Peoples Republic is so dependent on Beacon Hill!

[jaybet]

Could you please point me to the scripture in the Bible that talks about Christmas trees?  Thanks.

There is no scripture that talks about Christmas trees, so I can't point to it. I can, however, point to the fact that the govt takes every opportunity to bash anything Christian and promote atheism or anything that's just plain anti-Christian, and ALWAYS point out that Christmas is a Christian holiday. But then they have the gall to propose a Christmas tree tax?
Good thing I don't look to the bible for everything I have because you can't point to scripture that talks about 1911s either- but I have one.