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.
UPDATE: The Obama Administration has announced that they will be delaying implementation of this new program. Click here to read the latest.
This is a joke right?
Of course not, this is a clearly enumerated responsibility of our federal government per the constitution. It's not at all a gross abuse of the commerce clause
My thoughts exactly, are you sure this wasn't stolen from The Onion?
They have all the facts wrong. The government merely "approved" a request from the tree growers association to tax themselves to fund advertising. It's because it's a regulated industry that they apparently need goverment approval to do such things. Normally, business associations just do this themselves whenever they want. And they do it all the time. It's basic industry marketing and is nothing new and nothing Obama created.
Where in the article do you find that nugget, Dan? The article describes a Christmas Tree Promotion Board. Was this something the growers association requested too?
Wasted Billions in the Car Industry, Bank Bailouts, Union Pension Funding, Government Motors, GMAC (Ally), Czars, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, College Loans, 26 Billion Lost in First Time Homeowners, Mandated Health Care, Unemployment, Solar Energy defaults, let us all bow to the Leader in and the fools that bet the farm on change. Merry Christmas, that will cost you.
From the type of people who don't even want people to say "merry Christmas."
Wasted Billions in the Car Industry, Bank Bailouts, Union Pension Funding, Government Motors, GMAC (Ally), Czars, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, College Loans, 26 Billion Lost in First Time Homeowners, Mandated Health Care, Unemployment, Solar Energy defaults, let us all bow to the Leader in and the fools that bet the farm on change. Merry Christmas, that will cost you.
Wasted Billions in the Car Industry, Bank Bailouts, Union Pension Funding, Government Motors, GMAC (Ally), Czars, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, College Loans, 26 Billion Lost in First Time Homeowners, Mandated Health Care, Unemployment, Solar Energy defaults, let us all bow to the Leader in and the fools that bet the farm on change. Merry Christmas, that will cost you.
That was exactly what I thought while reading it.
That was exactly what I thought while reading it.
This isn't a tax on christmas trees, this is a way for the name to be changed to winter festival trees. Growers will change the name so they won't have to pay the tax or the government will suggest the name change to encourage a more diverse customer base. Then Xmas will be no more.
That is exactly what I was thinking.
That is exactly what I was thinking.
Same thing I thought…must be a joke
This is absolutely a joke. Nobody but NOBODY could possibly be that dumb!!! Not even Obama!
Wanna bet?
This is absolutely a joke. Nobody but NOBODY could possibly be that dumb!!! Not even Obama!
This is absolutely a joke. Nobody but NOBODY could possibly be that dumb!!! Not even Obama!
Your a foul one, Mr. Grinch………..
Your a foul one, Mr. Grinch………..
Your a foul one, Mr. Grinch………..
Yeah!
yeah our government is a joke thought you knew
Seems real enough to me:
http://www.thefederalregister.com/d.p/2010-11-08-…
Seems real enough to me:
http://www.thefederalregister.com/d.p/2010-11-08-…
Seems real enough to me:
http://www.thefederalregister.com/d.p/2010-11-08-…
OMG! Some brainless twit actually thought this one up! Please tell me that the brainless twit behind this one is no longer employed by the government. PLEASE!
Sadly, whoever thought this up most likely got a promotion.
I suppose we can now say that Obama taxed our Christmas Trees. What I want to know is if it's time for some kind of a 2011 version of the Boston Tea party. Obviously this is a major assault on Christmas. What's next? Tax the Menorah?
15 cents on a $75 tree. Major assault. Have you ever bought a real tree?
The tree growers imposed the fee on themselves to fund marketing and research. This was not legislation. They've been working on it for years. You (and many others) took the hook. Research before reaction, please. Are we surprised that facts are not accurately reported (by either party).
Ah yes…. All those "Executive Orders"…. I'm thinking "executive orders" need to be outlawed & taxed! Charge the President $5,000 for each executive order that he's issued.
Not to worry, he'll just have the Federal Reserve print out more money to pay for his Tax!
Not a joke. This is the nose of the camel coming under your Christmas tent. You see, this year the tax is for Christmas Tree image improvement. But next year, it is $0.18 and he can spend that money on something else. Following year it is $0.23 and so on. It is a ploy… but who could be against the image of christmas trees? Look out folks.
Yo, note to all Christmas Tree sellers: make sure you call them "Holiday Trees" so you can avod the extra tax!
I want to know when this fool will mandate all Christmas trees must be harvested, transported, prepared, sold and loaded by union goons raising the cost of an average home tree to say about $50 per foot. Double or triple that for evil business trees. Why stop there? Mandate that only union electricians are to decorate with lights and union plumbers set up the water for the tree. Licensed union decorators will be the only ones allowed to hang non-electrical decorations. 4 more years? If you are prepared to budget 2 or 3 thousand dollars for a Christmas tree.
The first words I thought of … Please tell me this is a joke.
It's not that funny as the government shows how willing and far they will go to tax everything we do. I use to joke years ago that they will tax us for breathing. It is now true. Carbon blue print anyone? Our government is so out of control I'm starting to wonder if the motto "land of the free" will be the joke?
No, just another tragedy brought to us all by the obamunists/democrats. The sooner we vote them all out of office, the better.
Sadly No :o(! Saw it on Fox News tonight! He is doing everything he can to destroy America!!!
Someone has got to have the will to impeach him. Clinton got impeached but it wasn't proven. Next year to vote him out may be too late.
No joke, the federal government has just recognized the Christian religion by imposing a tax on a symbol widely associated with the birth day of Christ. Wonder how Muslims are reacting? Where is the ACLU ??
My thoughts exactly. Will the administration be taxing Chanukah candles next? And what about a prayer rug surcharge? How far will they dare to go?
My thoughts too. How is this not a violation of the "separation of church and state?" The federal reg specifically calls them "Christmas" trees. I thought that was a no-no nowadays.
There is no such thing as a violation of the separation of church and state! At least not in our Constitution!!
I think its a shame to upset Christmas..but we could show Washington who is really in charge if we the people don't buy ANY trees just this one year..nothing wrong with artificial trees anyway..
Only Congress has the constitutional power to authorize a TAX or budget, I think it is why the AG dept declined to call this a tax. But only government could compel its "SUBJECTS" to pay up at whatever rate; Individual companies could CHARGE a fee, but the CONSUMERS can refuse to buy from them.
I hope we are not gradually sliding back to the era before our founding fathers declared INDEPENDENCE and freed us from reckless taxation from the imperial British Empire.
No joke, Linny. Democrats can't help themselves; taxing is embedded in their DNA. Next up: Federal taxes on turkeys, pumpkins, Valentines, and Easter Eggs, and Halloween masks.
Our Nations FIRST flag was that of a pine tree – true, look it up.
It was in defiance of the English Crowns order that the colonists not cut down the pole pines highly prized as masts in English (or colonial) ship building.
The Pine tree predated the "don't tread on me" snake icon by quite a few years.
Seems NOW the Tea Party could well adopt that Pine (Christmas Tree) Icon again !!!
This is no joke. Another example of our government growing even larger and even more intrusive; America's Road to Communism.
What no tax on HOLIDAY TREES only Christmas trees, this is blatant religious discrimination.
I don't think so. With this administration, they even want to control when you go to the bathroom. This is just one more sticking their nose into business that is none of their business.
No joke, just a way to pay for more Obama hacks.
If it is, it's not a funny one.
Pathetic.
I ASSUME ONLY PEOPLE MAKING OVER $250,000 BUY CHRISTMAS TREES SINCE OBIE SAID HE WAS ONLY GONNA TAX THE "RICH"
My thoughts exactly. The first story I see this morning and I'm wondering if I really woke up.
How can the federal government justify being involved in Christmas trees–isn't there Christ in Christmas?
Next will be the easter egg tax, valentine's heart tax and the St. Patty's day green beer tax. Gimme a break
Chas…..please don't give the libs anymore ideas to tax us…….BTW…I remember Owebama saying he won't raise taxes on the middle class and poor….maybe he was correct in stating that considering only the rich will be able to afford a christmas tree this year…….
I'm with you.
My thoughts exactly. This has got to be a joke. LOL. Even if they are serious, it's still a joke.
shovel ready? start shoveling, it's getting deep!
No..Sadly it is most likely true…I wonder if the tax was paid on the White House tre?? Then is there an issue here with Relgion and goverment…The fed. Gov. placing a tax on a "Christmas" tree..??
Seriously. This is a huge public relations blunder.
I hope so
The day is coming when your pay check will no be deposited into your bank account, but rather sent to the federal government,t who will put it all in a pot,, to be distributed as Chairman Obama sees fit.
Just a heads up, this ends up about $4 Million in new taxes based on the average number of trees sold (from the Christmas tree growers association).
Well, the funny thing about this is that companies haven't been paying taxes. If Companies were required to pay their taxes, on US-Dollars instead of using accounting tricks, asking for "Tax Holidays", and keeping $2 Trillion in un-taxed money in overseas accounts, we wouldn't have to pay a $0.15 tax.
No doubt that 15 cent tax will be $22.50 next year, and $86.21 per tree five years from now.
Obama's mistake is he forgot to spend the last six months trumpeting the unethical worldwide calamities that result from Christmas trees and how they destroy the world's ecological balance. No doubt there would be a gaggle of fools following their pied piper on that crazy train.
Oh wait, they're "occupied" elsewhere.
You could try adding ornaments and lights to improve the tree's image.
No really, I've seen it done.
Yeah, it has to be a joke.
Whoa here, the article left out something – "The fresh cut Christmas tree industry competes directly with the artificial Christmas tree industry … artificial tree purchases have increased from 9.8 million in 2003 to 17.4 million in 2007. Imports"
So the artificial trees are muscling in on the Christmas tree action, and the fresh cut trees have to fight back.
I hope this all makes sense to someone.
HA! It makes even more sense when listening to Rush – The Trees:
"For they passed a noble law,
And the trees are all kept equal
By hatchet, axe, and saw."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UWHEcIbhDiw
I wish it were. Go back and listen to Obama's speeches when he was running for pres. He said "no new taxes" about a couple of thousand times, now, they can't find anything else to tax so they tax Christmas trees!!!
This is – as most heritage.org headlines are – incredibly deceiving and false. The whole idea was brought to the USDA by the tree industry, they asked for it to be approved, and the tax is paid by the producers and growers and put into a kitty to promote "real" trees. Basically, the artificial trees are all made overseas (and out of petroleum, too), and the "live" trees are domestically produced. So, the growers are banding together and raising capital for an industry wide marketing campaign, much lie the egg or milk board does. (Got milk?) It has nothing to do with Obama, it wasn't any government official's idea, and the conservatives are trying to use it to take a shot at him, knowing it is completely deceiving.
Good post, but it will fall on deaf ears here. These folks will not do any independent research, and Heritage will never provide any actual facts, such as the tree industry proposed this in Feb 2008 before Obama was elected. Heritage tells them Obama is taxing their Christmas trees and they say "Wow, that's terrible! Can't believe he would do that!" It's frightening how gullible people are, since I had to dig through about 70 posts before finding this one.
You can spin it however you like, but the bottom line is that THERE IS A NEW 15 CENT TAX IMPOSED ON REAL CHRISTMAS TREES.
If the tree association wants to advertise, they can do like all other businesses and allocate funds from their budget for doing so. The funds should not be a tax on the retailers.
Your ignorance is staggering.
That's exactly what they are doing. There is no new tax on the consumer. It's a pool of money they tree producers have agreed to to promote trees. The board just has to be approved by the USDA. The govt is imposing nothing and the govt gets nothing…
I love how you call someone else's intelligence into question when you haven't actively researched the topic.
OMG this has to be a joke. This turns my stomach. Where does this nonsense stop.
We of the Artificial Christmas Tree Industry Association demand equal treatment and promotion from the gub'mint. This is such important work. Thankfully, it does not affect the 9+% unemployed this Christmas, since they can't afford to buy any kind of Christmas tree, real or artificial. Maybe the "regime" can send them a photo of a Christmas tree?
Time for him to go – BTW I will buy a plastic one now.
I wonder if you buy a plastic one now, if your money will just go to China? Just curious… are they made in the USA????? Don't want to hurt our nations tree farmers just because the govt is doing this.
Please do some research, somewhere other than Heritage. The tree industry has been lobbying for this tax since Feb 2008, long before Obama was elected.
And hey, he's the one who gave it to them. Nice going.
according to the National Christmas Tree Association of american christmas tree growers, 85% of fake trees are made in China.
Guess it isn't – got to get rid of this guy in November 2012…He's a joke and never should have been elected.
not a joke, go see the Federal Register itself: http://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2011/11/0…
By the way, you should visit the Federal Register every now and then to see all the inane things your government gets involved in
I had to check calendar and make sure it wasn't April 1st!
apparently not. He's really out of touch http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-110…
This is actually an assessment which can be made on an industry under the COMMODITY PROMOTION, RESEARCH, AND INFORMATION ACT OF 1996. Take the time and read thru this act and you will see a sterling example of the kind of legislation that we should start repealing/rescinding wholesale – in their entirety. Understand that each act spawns implementing regulations. And out of regulations spring boards, commissions, panels, offices – and from them, rules, procedures, fees, administrative, civil and sometimes, even criminal penalties. THIS is what engenders a big, self-perpetuating and growing government. We need a president and congress with the faith and courage to give us four good years – rescinding, deleting and repealing legislation and federal regulations. The Great Restoration of our republic.
The reason this act exists is that perisable commodities are a unique product class and the market is so tight that few single growers can afford advertising, so they (the growers) agree to assess a marketing fee across all units sold and use it to promote the commodity in general.
Simple business logic, you should be able to understand that
Just a few million dollars to go down a rat hole into the pockets of Obama's friends. What's wrong with the image of Christmas trees, other than all the far left prohibitions on anything "secular" being displayed? Thieving idiots….
How about an "Occupy … Northern NH or … The Forest" just what we need now.
Do we pay the tax if it's a "Holiday Tree"? If the vendor says Happy Holidays we should get a tax credit.
AAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
Why, soitenly (thank you, Curly) it's a joke! ON AMERICA…
The president maybe, ok …yup. But the tax is for real.
How about Obama pay $20,000 out of his pocket for the tall Christmas tree at the white house. Also the Congressmen pay $1000,000 for the tree also for letting him do this.
Linny:
Were you referring to the Administration? We know the answer to that question. The $0.15 is likely going to be added to a fund to buy votes for illegals. btw-did you see the blurb about Mr. President's home state not allowing lunches to be brought from home? Is that because they have excess money to pay for lunches – or is it to continue to buy votes? God had better bless America, because his oponents are steadily circumventing the principles that the founding fathers based the constitution on, primarily freedom from the government involvement in private lives.
Pffff what's this? Assuming 100,000,000 trees are purchased this year. That's still only 1.5 millions dollars before administrative fees. Lol probably set up a tree tax commission. Create new paperwork and tax claims rules and in the end he'll have saved enough money to pay for his next golf trip. This man is a sick joke
Joke? Not exactly – It's a lie
Obama, "THE GRINCH' that stole the last three years of resoucres, and oppurtunities… Americans what can you expect?
Let's talk about a "make work project" like taxing people for a program to influence their buying! Idiotic would be a compliment.
The only "joke" is this administration. A really bad joke. And one that will get worse before it gets better.
Since the federal government does not promote religion…shouldn't it be called a "holiday tree" tax?
Well, the funny thing about this is that companies haven't been paying taxes. If Companies were required to pay their taxes, on US-Dollars instead of using accounting tricks, asking for "Tax Holidays", and keeping $2 Trillion in un-taxed money in overseas accounts, we wouldn't have to pay a $0.15 tax.
So call your congressman or congresswoman, and demand that companies keep their money in US Accounts, and companies pay taxes, and not try to subvert paying taxes by sending the US Dollars to offshore bank accounts. :-)
$2,000,000,000,000.00 is the last amount of untaxed money I read about that is in offshore bank accounts, and that's A LOT of unpaid taxes by companies!
What's next… ornament tax?
This has got to be a joke. What in the world?
Yep, and the joke is on us- as always. I will personally guarantee you pilgrims the cost of administering, collecting, reporting and accounting the 15cent Christmas Tree Assessment will dwarf the gross collections sevenfold or more per tree.
Take heart, maybe some of the 'Occupiers" will be hired by the Ag Dept to carry out this scheme, and will get new numbers of unemployment.
Hey, just reported at 1:20pm CT that the CT Tax has been pulled! Guess the National Christmas Tree Producers Assn in St. Louis will have to wing it without the sage advice of some bureaucrat in D.C.
Canadians are being taxed to visit the USA starting January 2012. Maybe that tax will be used to enhance the marketing to Canadians to go to the USA more. LOL
Sure looks like a joke, doesn't it?" In truth, it's part of a very sad tale of how government is sticking its nose into private business over and over again! "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" How ridiculous! I know one sure way we could save a little bit of this audacious debt we've gotten ourselves into. Get rid of all of the government programs like this one!!! Fifteen cents doesn't seem like much, does it? But, I wonder how much tax payers will be paying for the costs of the program. Also wonder how much dealers (and, of course, the comsumers) will be paying for the regulations that are bound to be imposed!.
Actually, this fee asked for by the growers only beginning in 1991 has gone thru hearings by the Ag Dept. It is for research and marketing only. The majority of tree growers are Republican. It is not a tax and has been done for other agricultural products thru the years. This is a comical spin.
Yes, it IS a joke. This article is DOWNRIGHT MISLEADING. The tree growers, themselves want this so they can better compete with artificial trees. Those who publish articles should either do their research or stop their lies.
I think in some cases the governments should stay out of the free market..but the real point is, Christmas tree farms and the small business owners who run them are probably (assuming) for the most part, "brick and mortar" businesses; meaning they operate under old standards of sales, marketing, promotion, etc. The government has access to and the resources to help an otherwise dying industry…why is it dying? Because people buy plastic trees now. Why is this bad? Because plastic trees are not only created with petroleum products (aka oil) but just everything down the supply chain uses a LOT of energy resources to create..here in lies the point. Trees are trees, they grow out of the ground, they don't require the resource (petroleum) heavy manufacturing AND supply chain management process, and they help small town businesses people keep doing what they love to do. They require some maintenance (unlike plastic trees) but when you're done with them, you take them out back, and burn them (burning trees is the only carbon-neutral process on earth). When you want to get rid of a plastic tree you have to throw it away, which creates more waste then burning 30 years worth of pine trees…and probably takes longer to decompose. I see it as a small step to revitalize a great product, a dying industry, and save an unbelievable amount of unneeded consumption due to people being too lazy and too cheap to go cut down a tree every year. Not directing that toward anyone specifically, but you get my point.
well its not like there is a law forcing you to celebrate it. this tax doesnt affect me. christmas is dead antway. if people have to rob and assault others to make their christmas better. maybe this is a way of making christmas disappear altogether
wow, thank goodness our president is committed to improving the image of christmas trees. Priorities, people.
Marxism is a joke and it needs to sent packing back to Chicago
Marxism is a joke and it needs to sent packing back to Chicago
Marxism is a joke and it needs to sent packing back to Chicago
We don't want him back in Chicago!
I guess we should be glad he hasn't passed a law yet that requires us to pay for promoting HIS image, but then he thinks he is already a god perhaps, inspite of the polls that show his image needs quite a bit of promoting.
Seems to me that this tax is discriminatory .. why not tax Muslim Prayer Rugs??? Why do Christians get the short end again? .. Obama why?
this matter has nothing to do with obama.
One thing is for sure…15 cents is the start. It will rise. Then environmentalists are going to use this open door to "protect" the trees and more taxes will pile on.
I'm laughing and I'm crying. That's our president. Oh……My……God.
Ehy doesnt he put a 15 cent tax on all the imported trees coming into the United States????
im gettinng a fake tree this year , if he had to buy the tree he putting up and be taked by the foot he never would add any taxes on christmas , who ever is give them in dc the tree charge them by the foot
Fourteen cents of which will go for administration costs.
Wishful thinking. The administration costs probably top twenty cents per tree.
Nikki, Seventeen cents will go to administrative costs. It's the Federal government, not a charity.
Nikki, Seventeen cents will go to administrative costs. It's the Federal government, not a charity.
Wrong…20 cents of which will go to admin and they'll run a huge deficit.
Wrong…20 cents of which will go to admin and they'll run a huge deficit.
Wrong. Twenty-two cents of which will go for administration costs.
That's right, it'll dig a nice red hole.
.20 will go for that. This is how they work it. Then they need more.
hey
.20 will go for that. This is how they work it. Then they need more.
probably more like 20 cents
Now that makes more sense.
You are all wrong….. .25 cents will be collected, all of it will go into the Congressional health care system, and then they will borrow another.15 cents from China to go towards administration.
Now that makes more sense.
Now that makes more sense.
it's too funny that so many people came to the conclusion that this would be higher… been down this road before have we?
Did any of you actually read the order or are you content taking uninformed jabs at nobody in particular? The order clearly defines a cost structure (with 15% maximum, 10% expected) for administrative costs. Think about how much more use you could be to society if you'd bother to read 5 pages of text.
Yah dummy, because all Federal programs work within their budgets & mandates. Jeff, pull your head out.
So the rest will be safely put away in the Christmas Tree Lockbox Fund? That is a relief! No chance for misuse of funds there.
Actually, I think the most use to society we will have is to vote Obama out in less than a year.
And the Gov't always does and spends what it is suppose to??
Wait, let me get this straight. Because it's in black and white (like our constitution btw), you think the government is then restricted to the 10% / 15% ? WHERE have you been the last 30+ years?
*Whew*. Thanks, Jeff. For a minute there, I was thinking this was the stupidest idea I'd ever heard of. With your correction there, I can see. . . . well, yeah. . . still the stupidest thing I've ever heard of.
think how much more YOU could be of use to society if you didn't look to government for anything! the point is government involvement where it need not be!
actually it will probably be 95,675,000 for administrative and it will just be added to our deficit.
No, not 14 cents, two dollars at least.
No ten dollars will go for administration, We will have to pay the other $9.85 in more taxes.
please vote for Ron Paul
You all are right……20 cents or more will go towards administration & then they will ask for a bail-out.
The sad part is…that's altogether true. Not to mention, now that the government is dabbling in the Christmas tree industry, they'll likely go out of business!
Fourteen? This is the government we're talking about. At LEAST 18 cents, perhaps more, of the 15 cents collected will go for administrative costs and then that program will need more money next year or they'll face the threat of being shut down.
actually, it's NOT a new tax, it is a part of Obama care: the need to take care of sick trees.
So it will cost $.39 to administer the program and it will cause need for a "too big to fail" christmas tree farm bailout, a federal investigation & a congressional budget review that will take us to the brink of a Trillion $'s spent on a tax that should have never been imposed in the 1st place
rikki – you're reading my mind but 14 cents won['t touch it. Read $14,000,000. Every one of those, what do they call'em.. Promotion Board Members, will need an assistant, staff, office space and bingo —-a whole new bureaucracy is borne and will spread it's tentacles like poison ivy. It's the Washington way.
Administration costs will be thirty-seven cents per Christmas Tree. So it will cost the General Fund twenty-three cents in borrowed deficit spending.
WAY too liberal. It will be a DOLLAR going to administartion cosas
16 cents … when does the government ever do anything under budget
Well that's quite understandable. How else to you expect him to pay for the Christmas tree Tsar? Hey, he's got to fund his supporters with graft from somewhere.
Don't forget that at least 19 cents will be distributed amongst various "community groups" to make the distribution of Christmas trees more fair and eliminate discrimination in the Christmas tree workforce.
Rikki, you got it wrong. All 15 cents goes to the Obama campaign for america….which is himself!
No, rikky,, out of the 15 cents, 3 dollars will go to admin costs!
no, they will require 20 cent per 15 cent taken in to operate and will be in the hole here too LOL
No administrative costs will be at least $1.00, which means that they will run a huge deficit and immediatley triple the tax. Got it now?
I agree, I can't find who passed this
Actually, if it's like other federal programs twenty cents out of the fifteen cents will go towards administrative costs resulting in a deficit increase. I think that it would be best to leave the Christmas tree industry promoting to the Christmas tree producers, no need for the federal government to bestow their wisdom on yet another industry.
"Fourteen cents of which will go for administration costs".
Actually, to stay on par with the rest of government, it will take about twenty cents to cover admin costs and the balance of six cents will be borrowed and added to the debt…
Actually it is 24 cents goes to administrative costs
It would be a miracle if only 14 cents went to administration costs. Probably more like $1.14.
Actually, it's 29 cents for administrative costs. The other 15 cents will come from a Chinese loan.
y'll are reading my mind!
LOL , this is the government we're talking about – probably more like 20 cents
I was thinking more like twenty plus cents will go to admin costs, as our govt can rarely operate a dept within its means.
14.9 cents.
Face it he's a rotten as they come. Get this idiot out of office through impeachment or the 2012 vote! The Next thing you'll have the TSA feeling up Christmas Trees at random check points on the highways.
Correction: $1.29 of which will go to administration costs, for a net loss of $1.14 per tree. Yes folks, moronic moves like this is what your Oblamea administration delivers.
Problems in America caused by government and this is what the LEADER WANTS? America isn't about what YOU WANT, Mr. President. Nobody asked for government help and by slipping in the taxing of the Christmas tree like anyone would appreciate it when so much damage has been caused by you everywhere else? Accept what's available, stop the excuses to thieve for government benefit!
So tasteless to here him mention Christmas but to have the gall to tax to even suggest improving the image when he allows desecration to Christianity isn't at all legitimate or sincere or necessary to the recovery of this country that has been so severely abused within the control of government!
As the author clearly states "the American Christmas tree has a great image that doesn’t need any help from the government." Focus on your constitutional job!
agreed…this admin seems to be a saturday night live skit but its not funny anymore
agreed…this admin seems to be a saturday night live skit but its not funny anymore
agreed…this admin seems to be a saturday night live skit but its not funny anymore
Three words vote Ron Paul. Our government needs to get out of private business.
Can probably leave out the Christianity thing, since the tree in Christmas is borrowed from Pagan practices.
You are absolutly correct. That's why I don't even celebrate christmas.
Don't you mean, the DEAR LEADER. Have some respect or I am reporting you to flag@whitehouse.gov
Well said.
Sorry to say, with this joker at the top, America IS about what he wants and that is why he has got to go!
Bobbie: Don't worry. The ACLU will kill this tax because it supports and legitimizes Christmas, and that is a violation of the separation of church and state. However since this is an Obama mandate they might not! This is as absurd as the Obama Administration can get, taxing Christmas trees. What next, taxing Easter Eggs?
The President did not request this–the tree growers requested it. They wanted help promoting live Christmas trees, so this was the solution.
I hope to God you're not being serious with that statement. How is this in any way, shape or form a solution? At no point does it say that this tax is going into an add campaign promoting Christmas trees. Not one cent of this tax will ever be spent promoting Christmas trees and furthermore it’s not the government’s job to try to increase the sales of private businesses.
Promoting agriculture, no matter what type, is well within the dept. of Agriculture's job. This is meant to save an entire American industry, not just a few private businesses.
guess they should find another one if they can't make it on their own. to put an increase in cost isn't promoting sales and removing pine trees from the forest isn't "promoting" agriculture. Saving businesses (especially seasonal ones) isn't the role of government nor is it fair to the tax payers who don't have a business to be forced obligation by government's favoritism of businesses using their abuse of authority and their outrageous idea to increase tax. the trees are priced by the owner why is government squeezing their way in with absolutely no constitutional reason?
Have you heard of Got Milk? Behold… the power of cheese. What about Beef: Its whats for dinner? Did you know that these are the exact same program done by the USDA for those industries? And that it was based on those successful models that the Christmas Tree Growers proposed this to the USDA back in 2009? A few more for you Pork the other white meet. The incredible, edible egg. And Cotton, the fabric of our lives. Do you know how long some of these programs have run? Or what the fee paid by those industries was per measure of product? Did you know that most of the growers, ranchers, etc absorbed those fees themselves because the payout of watching their industries grow exponentially was worth it?
Did you also know that a tax is money paid to the government for use by the government and that none of this money would have gone to the government, but into the advertising budget itself?
Well, thanks to the outrage of people who don't seem to know these facts, about 20,000 Americans are going to lose their jobs growing Christmas trees over the next few years, while sales of plastic trees made in China will soar.
Right! Just like he did not request the $4 trillion of bailouts that put out country is such a deep hole
You are correct Paul, there has not been 4 billion in bailouts, only 1.4 billion, so he couldn't have requewsted the 4 billion in bailouts… And only half of that was from Obama, the rest was the ever popular TARP program rammed down our throats by the Bush administration….
run by the democratic Bush administration!!
It wasn't Obama who got us into this mess it was the former 2 president's who share the same last name. Obama walked in to this mess, and now the republicans don't want to work with the demacrates to try and resolve the issues that they created in the first place.
If you all want to see this country go to hell vote republican!!! They are only for the 1% of this country…. not the middle class or poor.
There are the working class poor that believe in America, Bob.. it's constitutional republicans that know and respect the place of government whose line is not crossed into personal freedom at any income. the more government controls us beyond constitutional restrictions, the less free we are to do for ourselves and for each other. government will have a tax paid program do it for us. socialism, why? we don't want to have to get food, clothes and shelter from government because their forcing taxes so high we can't afford basic necessities for our family. we know the government supporting the increase tax on the rich is definitely not going to stop there. All costs will increase. government and their outrageous unfair cost of living increases off the backs the government is suppose to protect. the backs who don't get wage increases. Now attacking the American dream and those that achieve it. that's an attack on America by it's own government. once their abuse of authority holds no accountability, their abuse of authority becomes common. this abuse clearly shows nobody's getting rich and many forced on the teat of government! look what they did to this country making it easier and easier for people to be less their own expenses of their own lifestyles filtered through government tax dollars to fund them. free food resources, food stamps, debit cards, food shelves, free food during the school day. the money comes from somewhere and when it isn't coming from those spending it, it's stolen! no one needs to deal with their own problems, just look to the dependable government. it's not going to last. we vote for the strong principled that builds people up and freedom that lets us think and live the way we can (without government infringing on anyone) and those that represent it. Without the expense of government and government intervention, we'd all breath a lot easier. Do you want America home of the free land of the brave? or America home of the helpless land of government dependency?
Let the rich be inspiration and let freedom guide the way. don't give up your ability to control your own.
What they mean by improving the image of the "Christmas" tree is a name change to "Holiday" tree. This guy will destroy us with another 4 years in office. It's too bad we have to foot the bill for this twit even when he gets booted out.
The President has never done anything to desecrate Christmas. And Obama has done much to fix the hideous damage caused by Bush, so a tiny tax is the least of anyone's worries.
This is what the INDUSTRY wants, not the president. The industry proposed and voted on this. All the administration did was say, "Uh, OK." The industry is looking to combat fake trees.
it was wrong for the government to agree (haphazardly as you describe,) because involving them doesn't do the business ANY GOOD! I agree with your description of how decisions are made in the administration as that's what got America here!
I totally agree!!!!!
The Christmas tree industry has been trying to get help from the dept. of agriculture for years. Their industry is dying! and the tax is on the tree growers, not the public, and it will stimulate an American industry. This is the good kind of government help. There's no bail-out, just a tax on the growers to help their industry.
Don't fall for it, min. when i was growing up Christmas trees cost $5.00. That has increased since so it seems to me they've been protecting themselves without government, until now! No reason to involve outsiders!
Are you kidding me! What else will this administration find to tax. Next it will be an
extra tax on Halloween pumpkins!
Actually, yes, it is the government's responsibility to help with the promotion of Christmas trees, thanks to an Act passed in 1996 regarding promotion of agricultural business. The Christmas tree industry requested this assistance under that act. Do your research people!!
Amen
When will the Obama tax fee begin on gambling purchases eg New York State Lottery Tickets?
With the way the Federal Deficit is skyrocketing, this is the right direction for the Obama Administration
to move through.
So well stated. I applaud your comment! Is .15 for each tree really going to effect our trillion dollar deficit. Maybe we can all claim that .15 on our taxes. He really is such an idiot.
the "tax" isnt for deficit reduction, it is to fund promotion of sales for real trees farmed by Americans to help sales against plastic trees made in China. If you cant spend 15 cents on a $30- $50 tree then not only are your cheap, you have the right to buy a china tree and then you can complain about the loss of American jobs you helped fuel.
You are right on. Obama's tax on Christmas trees shows his mentality…… tax anything to raise money for the Federal Gov't to increase their control over "We the people". Let's hope enough people remember these tax increases with more Socialist Gov't control at the election poles in 2012 and defeat Obama and Liberal left politicians to get our country back to Constitutional Government.
Talk about misinformation, THIS is NOT a TAX do your research and learn about the Christmas Tree Industry
if it raises costs due to government, IT'S A TAX!! or their UNETHICAL, unconstitutional cover word, FEE!
Uhhh, the Christmas tree tax was the request of Christmas tree farmers during the Bush administration. The farmers asked for help to change public opinion regarding live Christmas trees. Too many people believed the advertising campaign of artificial tree manufacturers / sellers that real trees were fire hazards, had bugs, etc .Tree farmers over the last decade have taken a tremendous hit as more and more people bought artificial trees. the Dept of Agriculture agreed to help and the tree farmers decided to charge 15 cent extra per tree to pay for the cost. It aint got nothin to do with Obama, silly people.
I work in the industry, and I just want you to know a few things. First of all, the national association of Christmas tree growers asked the USDA to do this back in 2009. It has 90% backing from the US's growers of trees who voted to approve the proposal. It was slated to last 3 years, and then be voted on again by the growers' association. What growers were trying to have them do is the same thing they did for milk, beef, and pork. If you have ever seen a GOT MILK? ad, then you have seen the result of the EXACT same USDA program. And the only thing Obama had to do with it is that he backed the industry when it asked him to.
If you are interested in why the industry wanted this, its because fake trees from China are putting real trees out of business. Over 100,000 Americans are employed in Christmas tree growing industry in America, and thanks to the ridiculous and unfounded claims surrounding this proposal, up to one fifth of those people may lose their jobs over the next 3 years. That's 20,000 more people unemployed.
Additionally, while the growers could have passed on the additional 15 cents to the stores they sell the trees to, most intended to absorb the cost because it was going to help them renew their business. If they had passed it on, stores would have raised their prices at most 30 cents per tree. Now, in order to stem the flow of financial loss the growers have been battling for the last 3 holiday seasons and anticipate experiencing indefinitely, they will most likely raise their pricing about $5 per tree, translating into an additional $10 cost per tree for consumers.
I just wish that people would do a little more research before they make conclusions. This unjustified outrage has resulted in those of us who sell Christmas trees being left without hope to stop the ever-decreasing sales of this American Grown product.
I work in the industry, and I just want you to know a few things. First of all, the national association of Christmas tree growers asked the USDA to do this back in 2009. It has 90% backing from the US's growers of trees who voted to approve the proposal. It was slated to last 3 years, and then be voted on again by the growers' association. What growers were trying to have them do is the same thing they did for milk, beef, and pork. If you have ever seen a GOT MILK? ad, then you have seen the result of the EXACT same USDA program. And the only thing Obama had to do with it is that he backed the industry when it asked him to.
Wow, this is about as dumb as it gets.
Who among us has not decried the lowly position of the Christmas tree? I know I have, and often.
Hey, at least he still manages to use the actual word, Christmas. He didn't institute a Holiday Tree Tax.
And I think it's unfair. It's a tax that targets ONLY Christians. I mean, how many muslims are putting up Christmas trees?
The world isn't just made up of Christians and Muslims. Christians are not the only victims here.
Both my husband and I are non-Christian and we have a Christmas tree O_o I agree that this is ridiculous but so is making this about religion.
I can see it now, just like broadband internet access they will increase the tax to help subsidise christmas trees for public schools and libraries that couldn't otherwise afford a christmas tree.
"It's a tax that targets ONLY Christians."
I think that was the point. Kinda like the Tanning bed tax.
I think I love you.
So if the Admin. is taxing "Christmas" trees as against it as I may be lets call them "Holiday" trees and avoid this tax!! That would be us spitting in their faces LOL!!
BRILLIANT!!!!
kind of reminds me of the tanning bed tax he implemented immediately upon taking office.
kind of reminds me of the tanning bed tax he implemented immediately upon taking office.
This was a direct tax on whites! He wants us to fry!
The Christian only tax will work hand in hand with the white only tax (on tanning)
"Wow, this is about as dumb as it gets. "
I wish that was true.
Things would not be as bad as they are if that were the case. He was just finding something to do. It was for keeping in shape for him. Like doing a cross word puzzle.
You do know that non-Christians celebrate Christmas, right?
They celebrate a 'Holiday'. Christians celebrate Christ, the reason for the season.
You do know that Christmas is a Christian holiday, right? Birth of Jesus being pretty much central to the whole thing. Non-Christians may have a celebration for something at a the same time, but it is not Christmas. Because if they are celebrating Christ's birth, I am don't think the label "non-Christian" really fits.
Well, take a pause her for a second, because someone's gonna point out that fir trees were not too common in Bethlehem… Christmas is just the newest name slapped on ancient rites celebrated long before His birth. No animosity intended but, I put up a tree (and I call it a "Christmas" tree because it's just easier that way) and I haven't been Christian in twenty years… However, I agree that your original argument still holds, it's primarily a tax on Christians…
Do you really know what Christmas is? Sure Christians celebrate it in December, but the birth of Christ is now believed to have happened some time in the month of July. It is only on the 25th of December to coincide with pagan celebrations of the winter solstice and roman Saturnalia or scandinavian Jul. It only coincides with these days to make it easier to convert the non-christians, making important holidays all fall on the same day. Even modern Christmas is celebrated by non-christians because of the spirit of gift giving, music, and family gathering. Only christians celebrate it as the birth of christ.
Further, the Christmas tree, or Yule tree originated through Scandinavian/Germanic Jul traditions with the belief that St. Boniface cut down Thor's Oak tree, that had previously been used to conduct sacrifices under, and an evergreen grew out of it, marking the newfound Christian faith of the Nordic converts.
An Act making the first Day of January, the twenty-fifth Day of December, the fourth Day of July, and Thanksgiving Day, Holidays, within the District of Columbia. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the following days, to wit: The first day of January, commonly called New Year's day, the fourth day of July, the twenty-fifth day of December, commonly called Christmas Day, and any day appointed or recommended by the President of the United States as a day of public fast or thanksgiving, shall be holidays within the District of Columbia, and shall, for all purposes of presenting for payment or acceptance of the maturity and protest, and giving notice of the dishonor of bills of exchange, bank checks and promissory notes or other negotiable or commercial paper, be treated and considered as is the first day of the week, commonly called Sunday, and all notes, drafts, checks, or other commercial or negotiable paper falling due or maturing on either of said holidays shall be deemed as having matured on the day previous. APPROVED, June 28, 1870 by President Ulysses S. Grant.
Source: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/When_and_how_did_Christ…
President Ulysses S. Grant declared Christmas a legal holiday in 1870. The bill to make Christmas a holiday was introduced into the House of Representatives by Rep. Burton Chauncey Cook (Illinois). It was approved and passed to the Senate on June 24, 1870. When both houses had agreed on the wording (below) it was passed on to President Grant, who signed it on June 28, 1870. Here is the wording of that act of Congress:
cool story bro
Non-Christians celebrate x-mas!
Only the ones who run convenience stores in middle-class neighborhoods… And then it's usually a little plastic one just for show!
AMEN!!!!!
This tax is on those who sell Christmas trees. The growers requested it, not the government.
I believe the growers will pass the 15 cents on to the consumers. This year I opt for a Festivus pole!
I understand what you are saying Ralph, however think about how many non Christians also use the tree as well. I don't see it as much as a tax on "just Christians" but on the American People. If it were a tax on the sale of King James Bibles, then yes we could say he was targeting Christians.
I thought our government was supposed to separate church and state. Aren't Christmas trees used to celebrate Christ's birth??
You hit the nail on it's head Ralph, a menorah tax is surely due next.
I just hope he stays away from my Festivus Pole alone.
You folks are as "dumb as it gets". You have to even criticize a 15 cent tax? 15 cents? Boy, you guys really need to get a life!
Give it time. This is just the tip of the iceberg. You'll be seeing a lot of this nonsense before November 2012.
As a Jew I can definitely say this targets Christians. I certainly do not have a tree. I think the whole tax thing on the trees is ridiculous.
This tax was sought by the National Christmas Tree Association starting back in April 2008 – before Obama was elected.
Go to the NCTA, click on the listing that says spreadsheet, and go to line 81 to see the assessment that they were proposing.
Well I do have to put in my two cents worth. The Christmas tree was started in Germany. They would decorate them yr round. Then they decided to decorate them for Christmas with glass bulbs. Then they decorated them with candles and so on and on.. So it is not an american Christmas tree. Many people are in inter religious relationships. I can't tell you how many muslims have Christmas trees! lol I know this has nothing to do with the 15 cents but..just a little history on Christmas trees. :)
It may have started in Germany, but Americans have adopted the Christmas tree as a symbol of Christmas. So it is the American Christmas tree.
I'm sure he thought about that when he came up with this idiocy
Ralph, are reading my mind again?
I do not claim Christianity, and yet my family buys a fresh "Christmas Tree" every year. You can thank commercialization of religious holidays for 'equality and economy' for making it commonplace for non-Christians to celebrate Christian holidays.
Unbelievable. Just unbelievable.
anyone notice your thoughts must be approved to be posted? Isnt this the opposite of what the internets about? Were getting stopped at the most basic things here people.
This is just a way of forcing Christians to fund a new bureaucracy staffed by vastly overpaid members of Eric Holder's people.
i buy a real christmas tree every year and i'm not christian so it's not against christians and all the judgments, isn't that to be left to god as it is said in your bible
He just can't help himself, can he? Merry Christmas to you too, Mr. One Term President.
this man and so many others deciding what is GOOD for us..and EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM ID DELOUSIONAL !!!! THEY DO NOT LIVE IN THE REAL WORLD…ITS LIKE WATCHING GROUPS PLAYING WITH "DOMINOS " & "LEGOS"…THEY WONT SPEND THEIR OWN $ JUST OURS :(
No, for obama, it's Happy Holidays!! He's ridiculous, I want him out!!
He just can't help himself, can he? Merry Christmas to you too, Mr. One Term President.
He just can't help himself, can he? Merry Christmas to you too, Mr. One Term President.
…you can't make this stuff up…
Try and guess the next one.
Valentines day flower tax?
Easter egg tax?
…you can't make this stuff up…
obama deserves a lump of coal in his christmas stocking.
Or, placed somewhere else perhaps.
obama deserves a lump of coal in his christmas stocking.
obama deserves a lump of coal in his christmas stocking.
obama deserves a lump of coal in his christmas stocking.
He won't let them mine coal
obama deserves a lump of coal in his christmas stocking.
He deserves much more….
obama deserves a lump of coal in his christmas stocking.
He doesn't have a Christmas stocking. He's muslim!
obama deserves a lump of coal in his christmas stocking.
Did you mean a DUMP in his stocking?
I was thinking the same thing.
obama deserves a lump of coal in his christmas stocking.
what a foolish thing to do!
I am sure there is a Christmas tree industry group already doing the same promotion.
Somehow I doubt the tax will ever end up promoting Christmas trees.
Actually, this whole thing was the Christmas tree industry's idea. They're the ones who came up with it and pushed for it. See http://www.checkoffstudy.com/. But don't expect the Heritage Foundation to tell you that.
Immaterial as to where it originated. It is an absurd tax that should never have been approved by the administration who is always looking to separate taxpayers from their money. Since when do Christmas trees have a bad reputation?
Since they have been losing market share to fake trees in recent years. It's actually not even a tax. Growers begged for the program then decided to pass their fees along to consumers. but the Heritage foundation wouldn't tell you that either.
Since Liberalism invaded society, making it damn near a crime to make any public display of faith.
Remember, it's holiday trees in most parts.
Where are they called Holiday Trees? I live in New York, which is very progressive, secular, and Democratic, and everyone here calls them Christmas Trees too. Give me a break.
Since live trees started getting hammered by artificial ones. That's what this is about. The Christmas tree industry wants to band together to promote live trees. They're the ones who are ASKING to be taxed. So, using their right under a 1996 law, they asked the government to impose a tax on producers of 500 trees or more per year. In three years, the industry will hold a referendum to decide if they want the program to continue.
This is just about the administration being responsive to the wishes of business. Isn't that what you want?
The industry isn't asking to be taxed, the Christmas tree industry is asking the federal government to tax us, you know, the We in people.
The issue isn't about the industry, it is how it will affect the nonprofit Organizations that try to fundraise selling trees i.e the Boy Scouts of America…..
they are safe from the tax, those who provides them with trees to sell, most are donated to them or sold to them at cost for the purpose of selling them for their fundraisers. They do not produce them and as long as they get them from farms that produce less than 500 a year there is no $0.15 tax on the trees.
OMG this is FROM the National Christmas Tree Association. Look it up!
http://www.thefederalregister.com/d.p/2010-11-08-…
So it is originated from a private industry organization, but the reason for the governmental involvement is that the organization tried the program on a voluntary basis and nobody wanted to pay for it. So what do you do if you want something done at somebody else's expense but that somebody else does not feel it's worth the money? You ask the federal government to force everybody to pay for it whether they want to or not.
You've got it backwards. Nobody wants to pay for a group project if others in the group aren't paying their share. Most of the producers support this, but they don't want to give others a free ride. If they decide they don't like it in three years, the industry can vote to repeal it.
One of the main reasons our economy has been spiraling downward over the past 30 years is that we've gotten away from the idea that government has a role to play in promoting and developing domestic business. You don't see China, India or Germany making that mistake, nor any of our other first-rank competitors.
Wrong. The government isn't responsible for promoting or developing domestic businesses. Investors and business owners do that. The economy is in trouble right now because of government involvement. Restrictive – and ever changing – regulations, high corporate tax rates (2nd highest in the world), and government mandates such as health care.
Just as the gas tax is supposed to go to maintaining roads and bridges…….now he wants another stimulus, er, 'jobs bill' for the infrastructure…….why aren't our Republican leaders pointing that out? Where IS the gas tax money going?
This is a promotion by an industry group, you are right. Review this article in the Chicago Tribune. It paints a slightly different perspective. To point accusatory fingers at Obama is erroneous on this one. http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-110…
You are exactly right!…I grow Christmas trees for a living and we have state level as well as national level organizations for this "advertising". ……The tax is a bunch of organic matter gone bad!!
Another way to grow government and strangle the American entrepreneurial spirit.
I am sure there is a Christmas tree industry group already doing the same promotion.
Somehow I doubt the tax will ever end up promoting Christmas trees.
This is the reason why we need to get this fraud out of office. There will lots more to come.
Next thing will be the Stamp Act and it'll be time for the Revolution!
looks like well be goin with a fake…
Or cut it from a neighbors yard. Just tell them your hear from the government and you want to help.
LOL
I would cut one from local county property or federal property first since both are still spending money in a crazy manner and raising taxes. Gotta get my tax money back somehow.
We already have a fake… in the White House.
Careful – he may put a 30 cent tax on artificial trees to prevent this attempt by people to hold onto their own money…
Nice, instead of buying a tree grown in the US, probably a local farmer, go and buy a plastic tree made in China. That will really show Obama won't it. Please, is a 15cent fee on a $50 tree to much for you to handle?
Exactly, Torque! This is less than 1% of the cost of a tree and it is meant to HELP tree farmers (American small businesses).
You can't afford 15 cents, but you'll spend money on a fake tree. Wow – you make a lot of sense.
Really….15 cents (that you don't pay) will cause you to buy a fake tree from China over supporting US farms.
"That you don't pay…"
Now… there's the problem. Just because the tax (fee, surcharge, assessment, price hike…) isn't *directly* applied to the consumer does NOT mean that the consumer doesn't pay the extra charge. The industry is not willing to reduce their profit margins on the trees. Who exactly do you think the charge gets paid by in the end?
Yes, I hope that to spare 15 cents you purchased a $125 Chinese made plastic Christmas tree. Way to help American farmers. Sometimes politics gets in the way of just being smart.
ENOUGH! NO MORE TAXES OBAMA!!!
Wait . . . the best is yet to come.
How about "No more Obama!"
Obama….the jokes just keep coming, one after another. November 2012 can't get here fast enough!
Amen to that Mike
really?
happy holidays scrooge…
Ha! Exactly!
OMG now I have heard it all!!! Take the money and run… these people have no shame.
Just when I think this regime can't get any more despicable, they come out and surprise me with something.
stop thinking, please! maybe they'll stop! lol!
this process was started back in 2008 by the National Christmas Tree Association. I really wish bloggers would take 30 seconds to research before they spout off at the mouth
The National Christmas Tree Association did not impose a FEDERAL TAX on the trees.
The NCTA requested this–it was not the government's idea. And, the tax is on the sellers, not buyers.
The end user always gets stuck with the tab…………The sellers just pass it on down.
Right, because the sellers would never dream of passing that on to the buyers… They will clearly be ecstatic about taking $.15 out of their profit per tree…
And you know for a fact that the sellers won't pass the tax on to the final customer? Dream on.
I almost can't believe your statement. Please, people, will you take a (basic) economics class before spouting ideas that make you look like an idiot? Check out the graph here: http://www.atr.org/free-economics-lesson-media-ma… or similar ones. Basic economics means that any tax is always shared between the producers and consumers. Depending on who has a more elastic supply/demand, they will pay less (but still some) of the tax burden.
Sarah, how can you say that the seller will absorb the tax with a straight face? First off, the profit margin on tree sales is not that great. And also having worked on a tree lot before, I know that you very rarely sell 100% of your inventory. 75% – 85% is more realistic. So that means that the seller will have to eat the 15 cents on the trees not sold. Do you think that they will really do that? No they will pass the tax on to the consumer based on their predictions of sales and total cost of the tax to them. This means that the tax passed on to the consumer will not only be 15 cents and it will be passed on, you can be sure of that.
The NTCA requested the tax, during the Bush administration, which the government would use to help promote their product. Thus helping small businesses. Like the many other growers organizations around the country that do the same. Geez people, please try to think before going all anti-government. But I can see that pointing out facts wont help because comments like mine will get voted down, while the reactionary comments get voted up.
And in next week's episode of "America's Worst President Ever" …..
That would be George W. Bush of course.
i thought there was on Holiday trees?
Now when the government imposes a tax on Christmas trees aren't the liberals going to complain about the separation of church and state?
Where's the ACLU when you need them?
Other commodity groups who have voluntarily chosen to "tax" themselves and participate in promotional campaigns overseen by the federal government under the checkoff program:
Almond Board of California
American Egg Board
American Lamb Board
Cotton Board
Dairy Management Inc.
Mohair Council of America
Mushroom Council
Cattlemen's Beef Promotion and Research Board
Cattlemen’s Beef Board
National Honey Board
National Watermelon Promotion Board
National Peanut Board
National Pork Board
Popcorn Board
U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council
United Soybean Board
United States Potato Board.
Free market alsotoo.
I'm sure that "We ain't seen nothin' yet".
Really?
First
Are you kidding me? This prez is a joke.
And a bad joke to go along with being the worst president ever, making Jimmy Carter so happy.
I agree but the problem is that no one is laughing and millions are crying
Are you kidding me? This prez is a joke.
What happened to Obama's pledge to go through the Federal Budget line by line and eliminate wasteful spending? I'm sure we really don't need a Federal program to promote the purchasing of real Christmas trees.
What Budget? There hasn't been a budget since Obama became President.
Actually there hasn't been a budget since the democrats took control of congress in 2007.
how is increasing the cost of a x-mas tree by a tax going to going to get people to buy a x-mas tree. i can't wait to vote obumble out of office.
bobc74, he was really going through line by line to find ways to take power and side-step Congress by revealing language that could be said to authorize said grabbing of power.
He lied!
Its right there with his pledge to be transparent and post all the bills he is going to sign three days before signing them for everyone to read.
That was just a lie, too!!
What Federal Budget?? There's not been a budget since this "Person" took office, which explains why he feels money grows from the head of each working American!
Fresh-tree sales declined from 37 million in 1991 to 31 million in 2007, according to the USDA. Artificial tree sales, meanwhile, nearly doubled, to 17.4 million, from 2003 to 2007. – I guess maybe they do need a program to promote the purchasing of real xmas trees??
Yeah, and raising the price by taxing them is really going to improve sales.
/sarcasm
Or maybe in a free market society those business owners should realize that the demand is shifting to fake trees and sell those as well. That's the great thing about the USA, nobody is forcing real Christmas tree sellers to only sell real Christmas trees… Or to sell trees at all. They are free to get out of the business if it isn't profitable, or to change the way they do business to meet the demand of the buyer…
By going line by line to eliminate wastful spending he meant looking for ways to find additional tax ideas,
Do you still believe anything this man ever says?????? I am sure most of us are way past this point!!
Calm down. This is a SELF TAX of the living Christmas Tree association, made up of small-scale growers, large-scale growers and importers. The Ag Dept merely gave the organization PERMISSION to collect the fee. Remember "Pork, the other white meat" and "Got milk?" This is the SAME IDEA.
A tree seller or any private organization to which he/she may belong can charge whatever they want because they operate in a free market, and they certainly don't need government approval to collect an additional fifteen cents. However, if they want the gov to step in to protect and promote the image of their product, they then subject themselves to the government charging whatever it sees fit to cover the costs of that promotion… So "Permission to either pay the fee themselves or collect it from the consumer" is what that should say… The reason I'm upset about this is that it opens the door to so many more "advertisement fees" aka taxes. What happens when my local grocery store decides it needs gov help to promote local business instead of shopping at Walmart? Or when they decide to promote, oh I don't know… The Chevy Volt? The bottom line is, if you own a business it is your job to promote and sell your product, not the government'.
Because this type of a plan worked out so badly for the pork and milk industries?
The law that allows this to happen is only applicable to the agricultural sector. If you try to do this in any other industry you will be in violation of anti trust statues, it would be called collusion. Really, what we should focus on the enabler, the Department of Agriculture. It is high time to abolish it. This stuff started in the 1930s when agriculture employed 21.5 % of the workforce and produced 7.7% of GDP. In 2000 it employed 1.9% of the workforce and produced 0.7% of GDP. You could argue that we needed a Department of Agriculture in 1930, you cannot argue that anymore in 2000.
How does 15 cents paid by christmas tree consumers count as a line on the federal budget?
There is no federal budget. He's making it up as he goes. No one to stop him.
Can you say "Grinch"?
owebama..did ii get that right
MY SENTIMENTS EXACTLY!!!!
This tax is less than 1% of the cost of a tree and it is meant to HELP tree farmers (American small businesses). I thought that's what we wanted?
No. What we want is for the government to get out of the way of American small businesses.
It doesn't matter what the tax is *meant* to do. It matters both what it actually *does*, as well as whether that is a proper role for the federal government. (And it is decidedly not in this case.)
If such a per tree fee is necessary in order to promote the industry, then the industry group would be more than welcome to make the charging and submission of such fees to the central body a requirement for membership in their organization. Rather than doing that, though, they went to the federal government and decided to take the money from growers by threat of force whether the growers believe it is beneficial to them or not!
Now, one might say, if it isn't applied to every grower (of more than 500 trees per year), then some growers might decide they don't want to pay, and then they might leave the association!
And then I would be forced to point out that if the owner of the business doesn't believe that the association is providing adequate value for the money, he/she should be free to make that decision. This rule removes the ability to "vote with their feet" regarding the association.
The Chinese plastic-tree manufacturers, who ARE supported by THEIR government, send their regards and say "Keep up the good work!"
Can you say "Grinch"?
What happened to Obama's pledge to go through the Federal Budget line by line and eliminate wasteful spending? I'm sure we really don't need a Federal program to promote the purchasing of real Christmas trees.
He kept his word, its just his idea of wasteful spending and a sane person's differ.
Brilliant! What will they think up next to tax?
breathing…
The air you breathe. They've already determined what you exhale is a pollutant (CO²)
Please do not ever ask that question of a politician.
That used to be a joke, now it's a reality. I honestly think this guy sits around during his down time and thinks hard of how the government can get ahold of more of our money. To him it's actually the government's money, and we have our filthy, unwashed paws all over it.
Well let's see. There are birthday cakes, Easter eggs, popsicles, golf balls, nail clippers, jack chain, copy paper, pine cones, index cards, parakeets, pencil erasers, etc, etc. Come on Robert, don't be so close minded. Don't you see? If everything is taxed then there will have to be a government department to promote it so local business men can try to sell it to people who don't have any money to pay for it. But think of all those government jobs that will be created. They get paid every week and will have to pay taxes. Therefore the IRS will take in more money and real soon we'll have a surplus.
OMG, don't ask that question!! Heaven help us, but you will get an answer to it.
It's just another series of smoke and mirrors to create more government jobs via the backs of tax payers. It's how government grows by nickles and dimes.
It's just another series of smoke and mirrors to create more government jobs via the backs of tax payers. It's how government grows by nickles and dimes.
Brilliant! What will they think up next to tax?
Most Christmas Farms deal in cash….good luck enforcing this piece of crap new tax. Taxing an industry usually does not promote it. Another brilliant move by our Feds. I hope this article is false, but for some reason I think it's true….
Actually, it's the brilliant idea of Christmas tree farmers. They're the ones who asked for this and have been pushing for it. Don't believe me? See http://www.checkoffstudy.com/. And be sure to check out who's behind the group – ALL are Christmas tree producers.
I actually was thinking about getting a "live" tree this year .. NOT GONNA HAPPEN NOW!
Are you serious? The tree farmers are trying to SAVE their AMERICAN BUSINESS!! The American Christmas tree market has seriously suffered since FAKE TREES MADE IN CHINA!!!! The tree farmer are the ones who proposed this tax for advertising to try and save their AMERICAN business!!! Do you READ ANYTHING???
May I suggest you buy a live tree from a small farm that sells less than 500 trees a year? There are lots of us around – hopefully some in your area – and most of us do this for the fun of it and have no intention of serving as a tax collector for a corrupt, but temporary government.
If he can't get the farmers to submit the tax, watch out, he'll send in the TSA along with the IRS and the 20% CIA killers to grope, feel and demand it. Barack Obama is just made that way. After all Eric Holder is his Santa Claus handing out machine guns to the mexican drug lords through the ATF for free, Why, Obama has a bag of goodies for everything.
They will likely be taxed at the wholesale level AND at the retail level, as the governemnt won't make it clear WHO is responsible. The wholesalers and retailers will each add an extra $1.00 to THEIR price, to cover the administrative costs to pay the government.
…and the tax money will go into a 'lock box' so that future generations of christmas trees will have money in their 'golden years.Right?
unless you live in Louisiana
Most tree farms are tax assessed by selling more than $500 worth of produce therefore some sales must be on the books and therefore taxed.
Most Christmas Farms deal in cash….good luck enforcing this piece of crap new tax. Taxing an industry usually does not promote it. Another brilliant move by our Feds. I hope this article is false, but for some reason I think it's true….
They'll just assume every tree seller is cheating and fine them all. (like how they tax tips of restaurant waiters – based on an arbitrary average.)
i am sure the trees will be taxes at the wholesale level, just like the soda can tax in NY; that way all trees will be taxed, whether they are sold or not, with the benefit going to the government.
Most Christmas Farms deal in cash….good luck enforcing this piece of crap new tax. Taxing an industry usually does not promote it. Another brilliant move by our Feds. I hope this article is false, but for some reason I think it's true….
All new taxes have to start in Congress.
This is a scary new trend. :(:(:(:(
All new taxes have to start in Congress.
This is a scary new trend. :(:(:(:(
To Jeremy's Point,….
"This is a scary new trend. :(:(:(:("
Huh?
How old are you?……a "scary new trend"?,…..have you been unable to communicate with the outside world for the last 50 years?
Are you unaware of the "trend" which has continued unabated for decades in this country,…. stripping you of your constitutional rights?
Ron Paul has been telling you for thirty years what is wrong with our country,…yet "we" continue to allow gangsterism and graft at levels that would make the ancient Romans blush,….
…but for some,…it is a "scary new trend",…no wonder we are going down the tubes as a constitutional republic….
Regards,
RJ O'Guillory
Author-
Webster Groves-The Life of an Insane Family
Although it's probably just what Obama wants to happen, how about just calling all the trees "Holiday" trees and circumventing the tax altogether?
Although it's probably just what Obama wants to happen, how about just calling all the trees "Holiday" trees and circumventing the tax altogether?
My thought, too…but ya beat me to it!
what are you kidding. the man is whacked in the head.
This administration is a national tragedy.
I can't say "WTF?" because I've long since worn out that phrase when it comes to this President and Administration.
Hahaha, me too. Just cant keep saying it though. Nothing else fits.
Ha! There is an entire website dedicated to saying "WTF" about the current administration and policies that don't make sense. mywtfblog.com. It's one of my favorites…the website also links to this story http://mywtfblog.com/2011/11/christmas-tree-tax/
This administration is a national tragedy.
How the Grinch stole Christmas?
hahahhhaa!
Hope and change, by the time this guy is out of office I won't even have that.
Obama….the jokes just keep coming
"Christmas Tree Tax—to support a new Federal program to improve the image and marketing of Christmas trees."
Just what we need. A new federal program, more taxes and a dumb line of reasoning. What idiot thinks the i,age and marketing of Christmas trees needs to be improved?
Face
Palm
Just makes you feel all warm and fuzzy doesn't it?
Wow! You can't make this stuff up. If it was April 1, I'd think this was a joke.
What next? A Halloween Pumpkin tax? Thanksgiving Turkey tax? Unbelievable! The man truly has never met a tax he didn't like. He and his progmaniacs in DC have got to go.
Can we not even get through Christmas without the government intervening?
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).
How did Christmas trees and Christmas tree sales get along without this tax for the past 100 years or so?
Why on earth do we need a new federal program to improve the image and marketing of Christmas trees and of course an accompanying Christmas tree tax to pay for this misguided program. Government keeps growing and growing and growing and growing and growing . . . . The federal leviathian state is way way way too big and it taxes too much ! ! ! I guess liberals just can't help themselves — they'll just keep growing government and getting it involved in areas where the free market was just doing fine.
Is this a joke??
Well, I guess I’ll just be buying a fake tree this year! Get your hands out of my pocket!
15% OR 15 cents both appear in this story which is it?
Uhhh….
Well….
Wh…..
Are you *&%^ing kidding me!?!??!?! Don't these people GET IT???
WAIT…OK…….you're making this up, right? AWWWwwww….ya' almost got me!!
Christmas Tree Tax? Are you sure this story is for today and wasn't supposed to run on April Fools' Day? If this isn't a joke, it only proves the current resident of the White House is a April Fools joke. One year from today, we need to cancel his lease on the premises.
This president upsets me to no end but what really bothers me more are those who voted for him b/c of the color of his skin and not his character. Now we all suffer b/c he hates the America we all love.
This is great that Drudge linked heritage site!!!
Of course the poor and middle class don't buy trees so of course this isnt a tax on them right? People are suckers.
You've got to be kidding me!
How can they levy a tax without congress approval
HO HO HO From the Grinch
sad. just sad.
I thought I was reading a story from the Onion. Unbelievable!
Is there a "Friend of Barack" in the Christmas Tree Biz, perhaps?
And what about the Non-Fresh Trees, read "artificial"?
Is there going to be a surcharge on those too?
Doesn't this violate the First Amendment protection of free exercise of religion? Where is the ACLU? Where is Americans United for Separation of Church and State? Besides being stupid, it's dangerous government intrusion. By the way, the definition of a tax: "1. a sum of money demanded by a government for its support or for specific facilities or services, levied upon incomes, property, sales, etc." To portray this as "not a tax" is disingenuous in the extreme.
I am skeptical about their objectives. This administration refuses to recognize that the national motto is "In God We Trust"
The Obama administration either has no heart or they are just completely out of their minds. I really think they are that stupid.
Who else is waiting for the pop-up window to say it’s a joke.?
I suppose we should be happy that Chairman Obama is focusing his attention on important issues like these and not further devastating the Middle East, North Africa, and the economy instead?
Now he wants to call it a Christmas tree? What happened to 'holiday' trees?
This is an Onion article, right? Or maybe it's Monty Python. Or Punch. Or something.
This cannot be real.
Really?
So it won't be OWS that will drag down Obama like a millstone around his neck. It will be, after all, the Christmas Tree Tax.
Next up: The Easter Bunny Tax to promote the image and marketing of colored eggs.
Merry taX-mas everybody!
What next? A Hanukah Candle tax?
I thought we had to call it a "Holiday Tree" now –
I am at a total loss for words…except that he cannot be elected again!
Is anything sacred to these Liberal DemoRat tax freaks
Who else is waiting for the pop-up window to say it’s a joke.?
More big government. Get rid of Obama in 2012.
Is this a joke?
Someone, anyone please tell me where in the Constitution that We the People, or the States, gave our Federal Government the power to tax us for the sake of Christmas tree image improvement. If the Big Christmas Tree Complex can not pay for or do not want to pay for their own marketing then it is suddenly the responsibility of the Federal Government? This is another ridiculous expenditure of our tax money!
Why is this not surprising. How sad is that this kind of "crap" is what we have come to expect from this President?
Give him time and he will tax the dirt in your yard, the air we breath, our conversations, and the walks we like to take in the evenings.
You've gotta be kidding me!
Unbelievable President Scrooge!
What's next? Santa Claus IRS audit, Easter Bunny registration fee, and a Punxsutawney Phil land tax?
Are you kidding me???????
Next Santa will be taxed some how
Thanks David, this guy and his administration is full of reindeer puckey…
Oh for godsake, is nothing sacred?!
a tax on christmas trees to help promote the growth of the christmas tree industry…. hmmmm. so tax the item you want to promote growth in. what??
BAH HUMBUG
WOW! Let's tax Christmas! Brilliant Dem's……just brilliant. Next there will be a Church tax for all those attending Christmas Day Mass.
You have to be kidding. Seriously?? Like the government isn't big enough already with complete wasteful jobs?
Well how about that! A tax on a item used in a Christian holiday! Shame, shame, shame!
Well said David. Thanks for your service to your country.
Christmas Tree Tax? Are you sure this story is for today and wasn't supposed to run on April Fools' Day? If this isn't a joke
Liberals are so stupid….it's almost breathtaking…..
this has to be the dumbest thing i have ever read
Gog help us
Gog help us
No, grog help us! At this point, all sanity has been lost by the big O.
If you want to discourage a certain behavior, you tax it. Just goes to show how far they are willing to go to attack Christmas.
If you want to discourage a certain behavior, you tax it. Just goes to show how far they are willing to go to attack Christmas.
The government has become destructive to the very ends of everything it was put in place to preserve. It's never ending appetite for other people's money cannot be satisfied. To tax a religious symbol such as a Christmas tree is repulsive and disgusting. If the state and the church are to be separated, the Christmas tree shouldn't be taxed any more than the American flag. Toss this administration out and all incumbents in congress over and over until they get the message that we are fed up with this legalized theft of our money.
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! All he has to do now is get attacked by a rabbit…
Just like stupid Obama to tax Christmas Trees. What a stupid grinch!!!
Squeeky Fromm
Girl Reporter
another ploy for our secular government to disrespect Christmas and the season under the ploy of helping the Christmas tree growers. We know the growers will pass the tax on to the consumer, and the obama administration will gain a tax advantage under false pretenses.
So, Obama needs a new tax to promote Christmas trees? Seriously? What are they going to do, tell people to buy Christmas trees for Christmas? In other words, Obama is coming up with a new tax to make another govt department that we don't need.
JESUS CHRIST ON A RUBBER CRUTCH
It is an Obama Christian TAX
These people are INSANE.
These people are INSANE.
These people are INSANE.
It's good that no one making less than $250,000 per year buys real Christmas trees. Otherwise, Obama broke his promise about raising taxes on the poor.
Unbelievable President Scrooge!
Unbelievable President Scrooge!
Obama must go……….Merry Christmas!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I Hope Americans wake to how he is destroying our Country.
Obama must go……….Merry Christmas!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I Hope Americans wake to how he is destroying our Country.
this is not a Christmas tree fee ,, it's a tax,, a BS tax ,, GOD HELP THE USA.
"Nobody is saying President Obama doesn’t have authority to impose his new Christmas Tree Tax…"
EXCEPT the Constitution of the United States of America.
Not that anyone seems to care about that old piece of paper these days…
WOW…. just wow.
15 cents?! The story will completely disappear. If it was 15 DOLLARS, he'd have a big fight on his hands.
15 cents today….15 dollars tomorrow….beware…
It's not the amount, it's the audacity.
15 cents each time the tree is sold? Farm to distributor, Distributor to dealer, dealer to stand, stand to consumer. Sounds more like 60 cents per tree!
15 cents?! The story will completely disappear. If it was 15 DOLLARS, he'd have a big fight on his hands.
15 cents?! The story will completely disappear. If it was 15 DOLLARS, he'd have a big fight on his hands.
How about Obama put a 15 cent tax on every burqa sold in the U.S. so the federal government could improve the burqa image and marketing? I guess that story would disappear also, right?
It is what we don't see in the small print of the story, I bet the want to control the farms and will viciously go after violators that don't comply.
I have a hard time believing this Government supporting a "Christmas" anything.
Especially Obama.
Aren't they promoting a specific faith by doing this?
The Secretary of Agriculture is an idiot if he thinks Christmas trees need to be promoted. Agriculture Secretary Vilsack should be more worried about the fact that the United States has become a net IMPORTER of FOOD:
http://www.grist.org/article/us-about-to-become-n…
Or maybe Agriculture Secretary Vilsack should be more worried about the fact that much of our agricultural labor is being performed by Enemy Aliens, while many Americans are on unemployment benefits which are about to run out.
Honestly, I don't know what Tom Vilsack is going to do for a living when he loses his job on 20 January 2013. I guess he will live on his gubernatorial and cabinet pensions, because he is too stupid to work at McDonalds.
Tax for the advertising of a product. Wow
It actually happens every day in every major city in the nation. It's called an Advertising & Promotion tax, and I'll bet you're paying it right now & don't even know it.
Tax for the advertising of a product. Wow
You win! This is undoubtedly the most trifling complaint I've heard about Obama this entire week. A tax that will go right back into to supporting the very same industry, no less.
But did the "christmas tree" industry ask for the support or did the Federal government just gaze down from upon high and decree "You need my help, give me some money and I'll tell you what your doing wrong". I know as a cutter/seller of trees that I certainly wasn't asked. While this is a teeny tiny insignificant tax it speaks to the larger issue of the Federal government thinking it knows what's the best for all of us. Oh and by the way, the new 15 cent tax is also going to add about 10 cents a tree in "admin" costs for me to track, report and submit the new tax so now it's a quarter to my customer.
If you believe the money will actually go back to the industry rather than into the pockets of the newly minted bureaucracy, you're more naive than Red Riding Hood.
Are you really that stupid so as to miss the point of our outrage?
Anybody who believes that will happen needs to pay more taxes.
You miss the point, It is a direct attack on Christians since they are the only ones that buy Christmas trees. That is what the problem is. Next there will be an added tax on kosher food since it is only Jews that buy it. Do you not see, his hate and contempt for Christians & Jews is coming full circle.
You win! This is undoubtedly the most trifling complaint I've heard about Obama this entire week. A tax that will go right back into to supporting the very same industry, no less.
You win! This is undoubtedly the most trifling complaint I've heard about Obama this entire week. A tax that will go right back into to supporting the very same industry, no less.
Are you serious? You can't be serious. What the blue hell does the federal government know about how to run a Christmas tree farm?!?!?! Why take their 15 cents from them only to give it back to them. Lunacy. It's lunacy if it was one penny! And to call it a mandatory fee instead of a tax is insulting.
They actually know a thing or two about marketing. Which is exactly what they are doing. "Milk: it does a body good" "The Incredible Edible Egg" "Pork: the other white meat"……any of those ring a bell?? All very successful marketing campaigns funded by the USDA in the exact same way.
You win! This is undoubtedly the most trifling complaint I've heard about Obama this entire week. A tax that will go right back into to supporting the very same industry, no less.
Didn't we start a war over being taxed once already
What is wrong with the current image of the Christmas tree? And why is the fed gov't getting involved with it's marketing?
Haven't you heard, "there's a war on Christmas!"
This is not about marketing Christmas. This is about, "I have a few bureacrats that need a home, so we'll create a new program with a new tax to support them. Nothing to do with Christmas.
Didn't we start a war over being taxed once already
Enough is enough he's gotta go. Whats next taxing the amount of air we breathe. Where's the money gonna go to another Solyndra? Pack up your stuff you have 1yr left.
Like they really care about the image of Christmas trees. What a crock!
rediculous
Ridiculous, Bob.
rediculous
We need to switch to a two-year term, with a term limit of two terms per President. Or, a single four year term, no re-election possible. Get these "career politician" clowns out of office before they can wreck the country. We need to pull ALL congressional benefits too, as soon as a congressional officeholder leaves office; and limit them to two terms each. Federal Government: stop playing favorites and get out of the way.
This at the same time that the White House is calling them Holiday Trees?
This at the same time that the White House is calling them Holiday Trees?
How is increasing the price the consumer pays enhance the image of Christmas trees?
rediculous
I guess quran is a dirty word around here, requiring administrator approval, or something.
What a grinch.
… my apologies to all Doctor Seuss fans out there
Well, if the government wasn't so amped up about removing Christmas decorations from airports, train stations, govt. buildings, schools, etc. they'd have better luck.
And really — a tree tax? Seriously? They run out of things to tax?
Someone out there is about to buy a few $10,000 toilet seats…
Another billiant idea
The man is insane.
The man will tax everything if he could, even the air you breath!!
what does anyone expect from a redistribution, socialist, progressive, Marxist leaning individual? This was all known years ago from the company he keeps and the books he wrote. It still makes me laugh when he had his Bill Clinton moment, when he looked right at the camera with the whole nation watching and he said," I will not raise the middle class taxes one dime!", I guess he ment thousands of dollars really isn't "a dime".
Is this a satire..?
Excuse me, but the executive branch does NOT have the power to impose a tax on anything. That is a power reserved exclusively to the congress in Article I, Section 8, Clause 1, and only for the purposes outlined in the subsequent powers specified by the very same article/section of the constitution. That's ok. The federal courts would probably support this.
When the federal government has a monopoly on the interpretation of the constitution, one should not be surprised when it keeps discovering new powers for itself.
Down with Christians, i say stop Christmas!!!!
This, like Obama, is a joke, right?
Great job in catching this one Mr. Addington. Nothing that comes out of this administration should shock any of us, but this one strains the limits of credibility.
I immediately sent this over to my friends on another blog so they could add their spin and help spread the craziness. Here is their quick take on your story: http://mywtfblog.com/2011/11/christmas-tree-tax/
Thanks for your work and the laugh.
well theres your hope and change once again
Sheer evil genius. Let's tax Thanksgiving turkeys while we're at it… and gingerbread men and pumpkin pie-and the pictures kiddies draw for mom to post on the fridge. Sheesh.
You have got to be kidding.
Obama is now a professional at circumventing the Constitution. Although, I'm quite positive he would much prefer to just declare it null and void, and rule AmeriKa like the dictator wannabe he is.
Don't forget, Wall Street has made more money in the 2.5 years under Obama than it did in the 8 years under Bush. Yet Obama's OWS crowd mindlessly follows Soros, the Unions, the radicals like Ayers, Acorn, Pelosi, Reid, the Muslim Brotherhood…………….with trying to collapse our economic system. They have no idea the Communism they scream out will lead them straight to a Gulag.
So now the Government is is the business of promoting Christmas….lol…rotflmao
Why don't you not collect the tax and let the Christmas tree industry decide if they want better marketing. After all if it were worth it to them, I'm sure they would voluntarily do it as opposed to being forced. But then again, I know that the most prominent Christmas tree farmers usually make the transition into government, so I'd be willing to bet that the agricultural department knows FAR more about Christmas tree farming than those whose livelihoods depend on it. It's a slow pace, but it's quickening. If WE continue to LET the government impose it's will on us like this, pretty soon we won't have a choice in anything……Was this even voted on? The article makes it seem like a department kind of just "hey, we're doing this-so suck it"….
"We just want to help you", "Hello, I'm from the government and I'm here to help", and by the way, pay the fee or else.
Ask the other businesses that provide milk, and beef they also pay fees so the government can help there industry. Whether it helps the industry or not I'm not sure but it appears to provide plenty of reasons to party and have a good time on the industry's dime…, well actually, yours and my dime.
Things must be getting tight at the department of agriculture, their planned holiday ender parties werejust not going to happen… looks like Santa will come to the rescue, and hey, it's only fifteen cents so quit your whining.
This is a joke right? What next, a tax on department store santas?
Wonder of wonders, King Obama at it again.
Okay, is Obama the newest member of Doofenshmirtz Evil Incorporated? His next trick will be to to come out with the Christmas-inator.
Because you Proles insist on calling them Christmas trees they will now be taxed…if you Proles had more readily accepted the States rebranding them as Holiday trees perhaps this wouldn't have had to happen. Know your place Proles.
What about the Festivus Pole. It's not fair. I'm the 99 percent. I deserve a tax on the Festivus Poles.
NNNNNNOOOOOOO!!!!!!!
Too many taxes…
Too many Programs…
Too much Government…
Stop it! Just Stop it!
15 cents?!?! 15 CENTS!!!! FIFTEEN CENTS! THAT'S 15% OF A DOLLAR! Fifteen pennies! Three nickles! Almost a quarter!
Not a tax? Let's see. The government charges me money that will go to the Federal Government to start a new Board… if it looks like a duck, and quacks like a duck… Our economy is in the toilet and this is the best this loser of a President can come up with? God help us survive until November 2012.
I am changing my voter registration from Democrat to Republican because i have had enough of the whole tax to pay for government programs thing!
This reads like an article from the Onion. I am not sure if I believe it or not.
unfortunately it's true. looked up the new regs. this follows from fed. govn't "similarly" imposed "promotional taxes on cotton, beef ,milk , pork ,watermelons,pineapples ," hops" raisins , "greenhouse" cucumbers , mushrooms , the list goes on ; california imposed same crap on 46 "commodities " and other states have followed the feds . btw louisiana has one on "pelts and skins "—but Christmas trees are in another league ; " The power to tax is the power to destroy ! " tommie Jefferson
Nothing surprises me anymore…
Article 1 Section 8 of the Constitution: The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes. "Increasingly Lawless" was the perfect description for this abomination of an administration.
So, what will it be called: The Winter Holiday Tree or what?
Just Fantastic! really..
This would be a great story for April Fool's Day but I suppose I'm not that surprised. So now, the federal government has progressed from taxing everything that moves to begin taxing things that just sit in our living rooms.
No problem. There will be a free Chairman Mao ornament with every tree.
Obama is just circumventing the Constitution, he's become quite the expert at that with Executive Orders.
Last I checked, only Congress could approve new taxes, Oh wait, maybe that's why they said it wasn't a tax?
Sigh….
Mr. Addington writes, "Nobody is saying President Obama doesn’t have authority to impose his new Christmas Tree Tax". Well I say so. Used in this way, the Commodity Promotion, Research and Information Act violates the Establishment Clause of the US Constitution by ostensibly promoting Christmas trees, part of the holiday celebration of Christians after all.
Unbelievable.
It's just a big money grab. They'll probably want to unionize the sellers too.
When will be be rid of the pretender! I for one cannot wait until he is unemployed, then maybe we can revoke his check for not being a US citizen and undue all that he has done in the name of one.
Head in hands….I'm beside myself!
Will this Christmas Tree tax increase each year? And why tax all growers of all Christmas trees? This puts a great burden on growers, which eventually passes to the consumer. If the tax is burdensome now for growers, what happens if the tax increases? If it increases will it be profitable for growers and will consumers want to spend the money? The question has to be asked -Is there a hidden agenda to slowly do away with Christmas trees, and thus its Christmas meaning? Is there a Grinch trying to steal/do away with Christmas?
He can't stop. Now the government is now going to ruin christmas.
Half jokingly – Is this a fee only on Christians? Is that legal?
If I call it a "Holiday Tree," does that mean I don't have to pay the 15 cents?
Say WHAT????? A new gubmint Dept. for some Madison ave flunky who couldn't make it in the real world now gets gubmint job and bennies besides retirement package with healthcare, just friggin great! I am sure that the Christmas Tree Growers Association already have this taken care of and doesn't need gubmint helping them sell their trees. Besides didn't Obama say he wouldn't raise taxes on the poor and middle class? This to me is a tax as well and just in time for Christmas to boot! The people want smaller gubmint not bigger and this dept. is just totally rediculous.
Is it 2012 yet?
FIRE Obama! Unbelievable!
I want to say I'm shocked…but with this Administration this is par for the course
"…designed to strengthen the Christmas tree industry’s position in the marketplace."
How and why exactly is this necessary? And how are they going to strengthen its position in the marketplace? Hey, maybe with the right ad slogan they can get Jewish families to start buying a Christmas tree! Maybe we can start promoting Christmas-In-July trees! That's like double the sales!
Honestly, this is one of the most ludicrous things I've ever heard.
How does increasing the costs for consumers to buy enhance the image of Christmas trees????
Last time I checked, the executive branch has absolutely no authority whatsoever to levy any tax of any kind unless it has been passed by Congress. Yes, this is a tax. It doesn't stop being a tax just because they say that it isn't a tax. "A rose by any other name…"
Another thing the ACLU will of course want to know: isn't this promoting the establishment of a religion?
Lovely, a tax to "improve the image and marketing of Christmas trees. What the hell does that even mean, I believe it means "money grab for federal employees"
Anyone care to disuade me from that opinion?
Since the money isn't for general revenue and has a particular goal of supporting the christmas tree industry Isn't this an endorsement of a certain religion and thereby prohibited?
Any affiliation (taxed or not) between any Christmas tree and the current federal administration will only mar the reputation of the Christmas tree.
O has no shame, nor do his lackies. They actually seem to take pride in their unabashed lies. It will truly be a Merry Christmas when they are sent packing.
Hahahahahahahahahahahaha …[catch my breath]…Hohohohohohohoho!
Keep vetoing Democratic Y'all !!!
What the… Is that legal? There is no interstate commerse if a tree is grow, harvested, and sold in the same state. I will not support Obama trees this year. SORRY, to the tree farmers in my area.
That picture off of Drudge was priceless. (The link is here)
http://l1.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/SWuSfcyF.Oti7vC…
Mass hysteria can and does happen, but mass insanity? They deny that our country is Christian, call Christmas a holiday instead of a holy day, won't allow Christian prayer as it might offend someone, but celebrate muslim holy days in the White House and make special provisions for muslim prayer in schools and work places and now they want to enhance the image of Christmas trees? Disgusting!
I didn't think we had Christmas trees anymore. I thought we had Holiday Trees. If I am Jewish and buy a Holiday Tree, do I get a tax waiver? What if I buy a Holiday Tree for firewood, do I get a tax waiver? If I buy a Christmas tree, but I am not Christian, do I get a tax waiver?
I think this tax targets Christians, so I am not surprised Obama ordered it, but I am surprised that he ordered a tax targeted to Christians at Christmas before an election year. I was under the impression that he wanted to win.
my hero….
What a tool
Now the Stooge Stole Christmas…..
So more corporate welfare… why should taxpayers have to subsidize marketing budgets for the Christmas tree industry? Isn't that something they should be doing on their own?
Maybe we should follow the money trail and see what political favors are being dished out? Is the Christmas tree lobby contributing funds to the Obama campaign?
America, wake up. Business as usual whether its republicans or democrats is not sustainable for much longer. So far neither party is offering up a viable candidate to lead the way out of this mess with the exception of maybe congressman Paul.
Why is there a federal program to improve the image and marketing of Christmas trees?
Calling the WH tomorrow and congress to complain.
Calling my congressman and senator to complain.
Blood shooting from eyes.
this is insanse
Why tax Christmas trees at this time of year?
This is a fee, not a tax!
unbelievable!!!
What kind of crap is this? Our gov. keeps putting fees or taxes on everything & then they wonder why people take their business to another country. Most people will not be able to afford the price of a tree this year due to the terrible economy. Drudge report says gas could go to $200 a barrel soon which means the price to transport trees will go up without the help of their stupid x-mas tree board. I guess we will have to ask ourselves " how much is too much?" & were can I chop down my own for free?
This isn't a tax. It's a producer-funded program known as a checkoff. It is also not "imposed" by the government. Producer groups ask USDA for permission to create the checkoff, for the purpose of promoting, marketing and research of their particular industry.
Producers of many crops (corn, soybeans, etc.) and livestock (cattle, hogs) have created checkoff programs for the same purpose. The most famous would be the "Beef… It's What's For Dinner" and the "Pork – The Other White Meat." Yep, these are producer-funded checkoff programs.
And the kicker… every three years the producers decide whether to continue with the program or end it. I'll repeat that, to make sure you understand it… the PRODUCERS pay the fifteen cents, and the PRODUCERS decide whether the program continues or goes away. Not the government.
Yep, it's not even close to a tax. You have totally misrepresented the program. Maybe a little more fact-checking would be in order.
You can get more information here: http://www.tmcnet.com/usubmit/2011/11/08/5915325….
But wait – it's can't be a Christmas Tree tax – it's a Holiday Tree tax
If he's trying to promote the Fresh Cut tree industry, wouldn't it make more sense to add a $1 a tree tax for ARTIFICIAL, NON-RENEWABLE trees as an incentive to buy fresh trees instead?
"expend existing markets for Christmas trees"
Truest typo I've seen in a while.
Of course, the board will have their quaterly meetings in Hawaii.
Here is a question that you failed to ask but is more important than the tax, why in the world is there a program to improve the image and marketing of Christmas trees & why does there need to be a Christmas Tree Promotion Board? Who is getting their palm greased on this deal? This is big government run amok!
I have to give Obama credit. Where does he come up with ideas for his ridulous taxes? They are so creative. Perhaps he should try his hand at science fiction?
I have to give Obama credit. Where does he come up with ideas for his ridulous taxes? They are so creative. Perhaps he should try his hand at science fiction?
Since when does the Christmas tree industry Need a better Image???? This is a Dem Law ..if it makes money TAX IT !!!!!. The Federal Government has no Need to manage the image of tree growers better they are private companies!!!!! Dems must go government must shrink to half of its size!!!!!
What next, a tax on the Easter bunny and the tooth Fairy ????
What next, a tax on the Easter bunny and the tooth Fairy ????
Don't give him any ideas
We'd like to throw this administration out of the White House – and their stupid Liberal pals with all their failed ideas – to improve the image of America.
This is just another grain of sand in the economic machine. The cost to small businesses to track and report this will significantly outweigh the revenue raised. A Christmas tree farm is a prime example of a business likely to be hurt by the burden of paperwork.
Oh Christmas Fee, oh Christmas Fee, how I wish I could void you…..
Oh Christmas Fee, oh Christmas Fee, how I wish I could void you…..
WINNING!
Stupid is as Stupid does.
Stupid is as Stupid does.
You have got to be kidding me.
A federal tax to improve the image of the Tree?
This is not a constitutional tax…
You have got to be kidding me.
A federal tax to improve the image of the Tree?
This is not a constitutional tax…
Every time I think this admin has sunk to its lowest level possible, they prove me wrong yet again. Is there NOTHING sacred to this devil in the WH?
Every time I think this admin has sunk to its lowest level possible, they prove me wrong yet again. Is there NOTHING sacred to this devil in the WH?
He just keeps screwing everything up.
He just keeps screwing everything up.
"I'm from the government and I'm here to help. Ho Ho Ho!" exclaimed the rosy cheeked man with his hand extended palm up, as though he were waiting for something.
"I'm from the government and I'm here to help. Ho Ho Ho!" exclaimed the rosy cheeked man with his hand extended palm up, as though he were waiting for something.
Is this for real?
If so, it is just another indication that President Obama is a taxaholic. He just can't help it. He loves to tax people and spend their money. He can't help it. He loves to raise taxes. He is addicted.
Tell me this isn't for real.
I don't believe that he is a taxaholic….but rather a combination of arrogant and power with a sprinkle of narc ism.
Is this for real?
If so, it is just another indication that President Obama is a taxaholic. He just can't help it. He loves to tax people and spend their money. He can't help it. He loves to raise taxes. He is addicted.
Tell me this isn't for real.
The marketing will be to advertise "holiday tree's" rather than Christmas trees! We will be powerless to change that federal program and also stuck with the bill…shame on you Mr. Obama!
The marketing will be to advertise "holiday tree's" rather than Christmas trees! We will be powerless to change that federal program and also stuck with the bill…shame on you Mr. Obama!
This is truly a government out of control.
Here is the thing that I like about this: They called them "Christmas Trees", not "Holiday Trees". I bet that slipped through.
I agree. Last I checked there has not been any kind of image or marketing problem with Christmas trees.
I also like the statement that it is not a tax. Ok, all of the money withheld from paychecks is not for taxes, either, so that makes it all different. Everything's fine.
What gaul these people have.
The money will be used by the Board? Umm, I like the way that sounds. More vacay? Ski trips and such? Gifts for family and friends? Just wondering…
We have the 3 million, oops… 3k, jobs magically created by making some civil war fort a national monument. How about if Obama makes my apartment a national monument and just send me a modest check every month?
I also like the statement that the sellers are free to pass the .15 to the buyers. That was brilliant and never would have occurred to me that would happen.
I know it's only 15 cent, read like 50 cent, but still… it's the thought that counts.
The Christmas tree market already sucks….the price has dropped astronomically, this is going to help how?
They could care less if it helps. It's just to skim off a few cents on every tree for as long as they can.
Follow the money, after it is collected, and the heavy handed, punitive enforcment, on the retailers, many that are non profits, or religious, Christian entites. Why would the attack them?
Follow the money, after it is collected, and the heavy handed, punitive enforcment, on the retailers, many that are non profits, or religious, Christian entites. Why would the attack them?
Follow the money, after it is collected, and the heavy handed, punitive enforcment, on the retailers, many that are non profits, or religious, Christian entites. Why would the attack them?
The Christmas tree market already sucks….the price has dropped astronomically, this is going to help how?
If we change the name from Christmas tree to Holiday tree do we still have the tax?
Part II…
I know it's only 15 cent, read like 50 cent, but still… it's the thought that counts.
The National Christmas Tree Association reports that 25-30 million "real" Christmas trees are sold each year.
Since I'm was educated before liberals destroyed our education system… that is between 3.75 and 4 million dollars every year…. for "the Board."
I had NO idea the Christmas tree image and marketing was in such distress to warrant that kind of money.
Where's 60 Minutes?
What a joke… oh, Congress wants to impose a sales tax on internet sales. A new measure to be introduced by the Dems and GOP traitors. Just sayin….
The hits just keep on coming…
Good luck and buy fake trees from here on out.
ugh…Public Over-taxation issues aside, the irony here is that you know the cost to enforce and collect that 15 cents is going to be at least a $1.
I didn't know Christmas trees had a bad image. I wonder what they did to taint their image?
I didn't know Christmas trees had a bad image. I wonder what they did to taint their image?
I didn't know Christmas trees had a bad image. I wonder what they did to taint their image?
this has to be a take on The Onion, right? A Christmas Tree Promotion Board? really? to improve the image and marketing of Christmas trees??? the country is crashing and burning and THIS is what comes out of the government??!!
this has to be a take on The Onion, right? A Christmas Tree Promotion Board? really? to improve the image and marketing of Christmas trees??? the country is crashing and burning and THIS is what comes out of the government??!!
Why do dems keep calling new Taxes "Fees"? When the government mandates a fee on a good, service, transaction, or income, its a TAX! Just changing the term does not change that they take out money!
Why do dems keep calling new Taxes "Fees"? When the government mandates a fee on a good, service, transaction, or income, its a TAX! Just changing the term does not change that they take out money!
Only in Obama's America. Herman Cain 2012!
Only in Obama's America. Herman Cain 2012!
Hmmm… A new tax to fund a Federal program to improve the image and marketing of Christmas trees.
Hmmm… A new tax to fund a Federal program to improve the image and marketing of Christmas trees.
got get their greasy, sticky fingers into everything. Actually with the Feds involved I'll think I'll buy a Aluminum Tree. Sick of em.
WTF!!!!
WTF!!!!
The author forgot to write "April Fool" at the end of this story. This is utterly ridiculous.
The author forgot to write "April Fool" at the end of this story. This is utterly ridiculous.
Merry Christmas America ! O, O, O….
Merry Christmas America ! O, O, O….
Our government at work again! Unbelievable.
I had hoped to see a date tag on this article that said April 1st. Sadly, no such luck. 364 days and counting…
this has to be a take on The Onion, right? A Christmas Tree Promotion Board? really? to improve the image and marketing of Christmas trees??? the country is crashing and burning and THIS is what comes out of the government??!!
As far this administration is concerned, money does grow on trees . . .
its not the fee that scares me, its the fact that government is concerned with improving the image and marketing of christmas trees. i bet way too many people made some extra non taxed money for the holidays for the baddies to put up with.
The Grinch who stole America and now Christmas….
This has to be a joke
Don't you mean HOLIDAY trees?
He's a one trick pony, tax, tax, tax. Its all he knows. And then spend, spend, spend. And more paperwork for the Christmas tree growers. And we job creators withdraw as the risk become higher, the paperwork more plentiful and the taxes more numerous and confusing. We sit at the sidelines watching the ship sink.
They called it a Christmas Tree……?
I long for the old America and the freedom we once had.
What they fail to see is the precedent to "promote" the Christmas tree with be a foot in the door to promote other things using the straw argument well if we are going to promote Christmas trees I am sure there are some other items that should be promoted. Since those other "items" will not be as widely sold they will use the Christmas tree money for other things or more than likely increase the 15 cent tax to $15.
Help me, why?
Where is the ACLU to scream about separation of church and state. Are we going to have a candle tax too?
WTF?
WTF?
Oh my gosh!!! When will it stop???
This is a literal example of the government nickle and diming us to death with taxes. one nickle plus one dime equals fifteen cents. $ 0.05 + $0.10 = $0.15.
It will not stop there. Look at your cell phone I am not sure where the starting point was for taxes on a cell phone years ago, but now it is up to over 20% taxes from every agency that can get there hands in your pocket, not to mention all the surcharges by the companies themselves.
"A tax on Christmas trees to support a new Federal program to improve the image and marketing of Christmas trees."
That's enough to stun the Mad Hatter. Are they insane, or are they trying to bring the U.S. down?
Yes!
"A tax on Christmas trees to support a new Federal program to improve the image and marketing of Christmas trees."
That's enough to stun the Mad Hatter. Are they insane, or are they trying to bring the U.S. down?
Yes to both questions. Insane and hell bent on destroying the United States
That's all the democrats can do: tax and spend! It is time for change we can live with, time for a new administration to put the power back in the hands of those who respect freedom and property rights.
So separation of church and state, Christmas of course being a Christian holiday, doesn't apply if there's money to be made?
How ridiculous.
How ridiculous.
Is this a joke?
If not. its still pretty funny.
Christmas tree purchases are typically all cash transactions with no paper trails.
So is this is not a joke, the lack of compliance will be even more hysterical.
Is this a joke?
If not. its still pretty funny.
Christmas tree purchases are typically all cash transactions with no paper trails.
So is this is not a joke, the lack of compliance will be even more hysterical.
Is this a joke?
If not. its still pretty funny.
Christmas tree purchases are typically all cash transactions with no paper trails.
So is this is not a joke, the lack of compliance will be even more hysterical.
OBAMA = The GRINCH
OBAMA = The GRINCH
Wow. So this tax is only for bazillionaires right?
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/promises/…
"I can make a firm pledge. Under my plan, no family making less than $250,000 a year will see any form of tax increase. Not your income tax, not your payroll tax, not your capital gains taxes, not any of your taxes."
Riiiiight?
Gosh! I guess the Obozo just won't get it…..well; Ya caint fix stupid. I live in the country, I'll just go harvest a wee Cedar and 'call it a Christmas Tree.' I don't think Jesus will mind.
You're not agitated over any "Christmas Tree Tax". Let's keep it real. Why are you loose? Why haven't they put you away? My advice to you is to keep your trap shut and lie low. The shadows are where you belong. You offend light. Someday people will come to realize who you are and what you've done.
Ho freaking ho.
How did the Christmas tree industry get by for all these years without a Federal Christmas Tree Promotion Board? The horror!
How did the Christmas tree industry get by for all these years without a Federal Christmas Tree Promotion Board? The horror!
absurd, over-reaching, out of touch, brainless. fire all government employee. what does this bureaucrat know about marketing or business. government has become a blight.
You've got to be kidding.
Our church sells Christmas trees to fund its youth programs. This will impact us this year. More than 500 are sold each year- I guess some of the youth members will have to dig up some more money to fund the mission trip.
Hmmm, so the liberals will immediately denounce this tax as a separation of church and state issue, after all, the government will be pushing a religious item (Christian) using a government agency………there is NO tax the liberals hate……….so they will remain silent.
And how stupid is the government official identifying their new tax as a promotion of the CHRISTMAS Tree industry…….
The real silent majority will speak in 2012!
The article is wrong. It's a Winter Season Tree Tax. To be a Christmas Tree Tax would imply that the Government of Obama believes in Christmas, which would offend too many voters.
You just can't make this stuff up! The ploy to have everyone expect anything this group of lunatics proposes and get us use to following the orders this joker imposes and make the sheep so compliant, he can have his "brown shirts", "purple shirts" or "union shirts", or whatever the useful idiots of the day are, to foment more of his BS for eventual usurpation of our Constitutional Rights. It follows the plan to a 'Tee'….
Free to pass this tax along to consumers? Like Sales Tax? Is this above and beyond the national timber Tax?
Free to pass this tax along to consumers? Like Sales Tax? Is this above and beyond the national timber Tax?
So the more trees that are sold, the more tax the government collects to promote something that's already selling well
It's become beyond preposterous.
I seriously thought this was an Onion mock article at first. 2012 can't come soon enough.
I seriously thought this was an Onion mock article at first. 2012 can't come soon enough.
WHAT????? this is such a STUPID tax. PROMOTE christmas trees? What are they going to do, try to get us to put them up on the 4th of July? Use them during Easter? Christmas trees are sold at Christmas !!!! Are they trying to get more real ones than artificial ones? Obama is just a blood sucking leach on the public. If there is a way to slap him down, Washington better do it and do it soon. I wish he would just dissappear and go sit in the time out corner. SHeeeesssshhh.
Last I checked, fresh-cut trees are getting killed by artificial ones. Seems like they could use some marketing. And I'd wager this was an initiative proposed by Christmas tree growers themselves, since these things just don't pop out of nowhere.
Another attack on Christianity by the self–proclaimed messiah, Apostate Obama.
1. Why do you have to market Christmas Trees? It's Christmas… people go buy a tree. 2. I might have to consider an artificial one this year. 3. Scrooge!
They called it a Christmas Tree? Sweet!
They called it a Christmas Tree? Sweet!
Christmas and Christmas trees have a fine "image" with me; my image of medlesome, greedy, tax-and-spend politicians, self-serving bureaucrats and arrogant regulators is appreciably less positive.
The 2012 election can't come soon enough for me!
I demand a 15 cent tax on all Chanukah Candles! Whats fair is fair!
"strengthen the Christmas tree industry’s position in the marketplace"
Against what? The Menorah? Or perhaps the Festivus Pole.
Simple…I will go buy a fake tree and never buy another fresh one….obama ain't gettin' into my pocket if there is any way I can prevent it…Can't wait until Nov. '12….
are you sure they are still calling it a christmas tree. I thought for sure they would change that to a holliday tree.
This is ludicrous.
Forced Marketing Program, I didn't know that the Christmas Tree Industry was a wholly owned branch of the government.
Why in the name of anything that is sane is this NECESSARY?! Does the stupid idiotic federal government feel that nothing in this country can survive and prosper without a bureaucrat's piledriver "help"? Sheesh! Just ridiculous!
Ho Ho Ho , Merry Christmas !
This Santa doesnt come down the chimney , he just slides down your pocket right to your walet .
Did he chip in 15 cents for the monster of a tree for the White House ?
It just doesn't get any better than this.
What a joke. Pathetic.
As a former tree farmer…my family's farm of 40 plus years, we really didn't need to improve the image or marketing of Christmas trees. Don't we have enough gov't? Geez, what a waste.
Is there no small corner of our pathetic existence that does not require active government intervention and oversight?
Whew, thank god…. I am only buying a holiday tree.
It's 15 cents….who cares
How utterly ridiculous.
Oh you've got to be kidding me. 15 cents compared to what is bound to be an overpriced tree anyhow? This story is not even worth reading for 15 cents.
Send him packing in November 2012.
How is the promotion of Christmas trees the responsibility of taxpayers? This is an industry problem, if there is any problem at all!
Wow….just wow. Government for the sake of government. Sure it 'saves,' or 'creates,' a job or two for someone to mismanage this new pot of gold.
This is a joke, right?
oh really now??
The nickle and dime administration at it again.
Great PR move.
That's got be the stupidest thing I ever heard of.
Sarcasm?
Looks like the Grinch lives on Pennsylvania Avenue…
You can't make this up. A Christmas tree tax?! And we all know it will end up in someone else's pocket. I think I am about ready to blow a gasket!
Question…." is a new tax on Christmas trees the best Obama can do ?" Yes…yes it is.
Gift wrap tax will be next. #PresidentDownGrade #PresidenMalaise2.0
Enough is enough! First the Obama administration says no to Christmas and the army donating to the Operation Christmas Child toy drive, then they want to promote "Christmas" trees! Wait a minute…I Got it…they ought to just rename them "Totalitarian trees."
Have a happy Commie Christmas…it's the worst idea of the year…oh by golly have a crappy commie Christmas…this year!
"Before tyranny goes to sleep, it checks under the bed for Ron Paul." –Ron Paul 2012.
Yet another sneak attack tax. I assure you it will grow every year. Now that the Christians have a new tax, let's find one for the other major religions.
Yes, just what the country needs, to overhaul its image on Christmas trees…Obama has DUMAS syndrome.
Gas Tax, Beer Tax, Soda Tax, Cigarette Tax, now a Christmas Tree Tax the government should just keep out of what they shouldn't be in. And he wants to be elected again in 2012? Fat Chance. Please let there be a Democrat that will run against him.
Sounds like Scrooge to me!
Why tax Christmas trees at this time of year?
How do you promote something by making it more expensive?
when is a tax not a tax? when is a socialist not a socialist?
I can't believe this isn't straight out of The Onion. This makes my head explode. People we are in trouble, there are UNBELIEVABLY stupid people holding public office. We must make it stop.
I can sum all this up with one word…. GRINCH!!!
Obama just can't stop holding his hand out for other people's money.
HEY BARRY – my tree is a fake one and paid for long ago. PACK SAND!
Sounds like Scrooge to me!
I hope that when Americans fire Barack Obama this time next year, our Republican president gets rid of the Christmas tree tax.
This is TAXATION without REPRESENTATION!!! White House, your a THIEF!!!
I have a better idea. Why not tax every Washington bureaucrat every time they venture out of the city. I suggest a $1,000 tax, with the bureaucrat to be held in the nearest jail, or pig sty if a the jails are full, until such time as their families, or unions, pay their "transfer tax".
At the same time, we could levy a $5,000 a ton tax on all food that crosses the Washington DC city limits.
After a while, we can see whether the leeches in Washington like taxing more than they like eating.
Regrettably, they already rob us for any debt they may accrue while 'acting' as our 'representatives'. They will only up the ante.
How about every time they enter the city? They can only vote when they are there.
I have a better idea. Why not tax every Washington bureaucrat every time they venture out of the city. I suggest a $1,000 tax, with the bureaucrat to be held in the nearest jail, or pig sty if a the jails are full, until such time as their families, or unions, pay their "transfer tax".
At the same time, we could levy a $5,000 a ton tax on all food that crosses the Washington DC city limits.
After a while, we can see whether the leeches in Washington like taxing more than they like eating.
Regrettably, they already rob us for any debt they may accrue while 'acting' as our 'representatives'. They will only up the ante.
How about every time they enter the city? They can only vote when they are there.