Obama Couldn’t Wait: His New Christmas Tree Tax

Heritage ^ | 11-8-11 | David S. Addington

[Driftwood1]

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.

[Driftwood1]

http://blog.heritage.org/wp-content/uploads/Christmas-Tree.jpg

[Orange1998]

You almost had me, that onion is something else.

[SgtBob]

The first year in 48 years I will have a fake tree. BHO, suck this! I’m keeping my 15 friggin’ 15 cents....beeotch!

[RightGeek]

Some things you just can’t make up.

[fullchroma]

Is this real life?

[patlin]

http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2011-11-08/html/2011-28798.htm

[patlin]

http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2011-11-08/html/2011-28798.htm

[j_tull]

I was sure it was satire because the Federal government is not permitted to put the word Christmas in writing anywhere.

[kosciusko51]

We have too many laws. I don’t think a man can get out of bed (or into one for that matter) without breaking a law.

[BenKenobi]

Yes, Obozo will tax Christmas.

FUBO! I’m going to cut one of yours down!

[twister881]

So, let me see if I’ve got this right...the Socialists do all in they can to ban religious practices, observances, and displays from the public square, and then impose a tax on the American people to promote Christmas trees.

Makes perfect sense to me...ban it AND tax it.

Now someone please point out to me in their copy of the U.S. Constitution where it says the government is authorized levy a tax for Christmas trees.

[SkyDancer]

Fourteen cents of which will go for administrative costs to run the program.

[Hoodat]

Please tell me this is satire.

[RetiredArmy]

This sounds like the scene in the movie “Dave” where he is looking for costs savings in the budget and asks the guy why they are paying $65 million dollars or something like that a year to make people feel good about the car they just BOUGHT!!! LOL.

[Brandonmark]

Satire?

[Churchillspirit]

This IS a joke, right?

[WhistlingPastTheGraveyard]

a new Federal program to improve the image and marketing of Christmas trees

[Usually_Disappointed]

more like 21 cents of which will go for administrative costs to run the program.

[NoLibZone]

The only church Obama has ever been a member of , was the God Damn America one.

He is a muslim.

[Stormdog]

This is a friggin joke, right???

[matt04]

the Secretary of Agriculture will appoint a Christmas Tree Promotion Board

A what?

[stylin19a]

I believe it doesn’t go into effect until it’s been in the register 10 days. Congress can overturn it in that 10 day period.

Can any Freepers knowledgeable on this shed some light ?

[GeronL]

too believable.

[twister881]

I hit the print button this Federal “rule.” It runs for 37 pages! Why this country is in a s*** hole.

[Billthedrill]

Oh, yeah. Because Lord knows the image of Christmas trees has suffered so much the last few years that only a government program could save it. I used to think pretty well of them, but lately the little buggers just piss me off. I’d gladly - I’d be PROUD - to pay fifteen pennies on the buck to have My Government reassure me that they’re really OK, they just have a negative image like rattlesnakes, the Black Plague, and Joe Stalin. I feel better already.

[stylin19a]

I think I found it.Don't know if it applies here.

"Under the APA, the agencies must publish all proposed new regulations in the Federal Register at least 30 days before they take effect, and they must provide a way for interested parties to comment, offer amendments, or to object to the regulation." ...

The Congressional Review Act (CRA) allows Congress 60 in-session days to review and possibly reject new federal regulations issued by the regulatory agencies.

[usmcobra]

Oddly enough KWANZAA trees are tax free.

[patlin]

I came unglued yesterday. Hubby called in and could tell I was upset. I sure was. Our fine so-called conservative RINO’s are also trying to pass a new farming welfare program that basically guarantees all farmers income whether they make stupid mistakes or not. I am SICK of corporate welfare, whether it be small family corps or large ones. Welfare is welfare and it is ruining our country & economy.

[bushwon]

I don’t see Onion anywhere in post...

[American in Israel]

I will cut my own or do without before I pay these pukes one more dime. Somehow it reminds me of a Mafia Movie, Where the punks come a knocking saying "Godfatha Grinch wants a piecea da Action".

Screw the Scrooge!

[Osage Orange]

That’s the plan, FRiend!

[Driftwood1]

UN FREAKIN BELIEVABLE.

[Venturer]

Unbelievable.

[giotto]

I was sure it was satire because the Federal government is not permitted to put the word Christmas in writing anywhere.

Maybe it's their sly way of charging us for the right to call it a Christmas tree instead of a "holiday tree." At any rate, that's what it's called in the government decree, so that gives us the official right to call it a Christmas tree. They can't have it both ways.

[Brandonmark]

Parody?

[Mountain Troll]

Or is this fantasy?

[Reddy]

I thought Muslims didn’t believe in Christmas? Oh. Never mind.

[Aevery_Freeman]

It must be deliberate. Just as he passed the "Cracker Tax" (tanning booth tax) to put a finger in the eye of white people, this tax must be designed to delight his Muslim brethren by insulting Christians.

We should call it the "Scrooge You Christians" tax.

[rbmillerjr]

Please tell me this is BS.

I cannot believe Obama is this stupid.

[wintertime]

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.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

This is satire, isn't it?

With Obama anything is believable and could taken seriously.

[ridesthemiles]

What is the tax on burqas?????

[Brandonmark]

Hoax?

[davius]

http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=AMS-FV-10-0008

[Gator113]

Screw Obama... go into the woods and cut one down.

Actually, we bought live trees for over 20 years and they have made a very nice difference in our landscaping. I just always figured, if I have to buy a tree, I don’t want to just toss it after a few weeks.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

This is just a way of forcing Christians to fund another overpaid federal bureaucracy staffed by Eric Holder's people.

They will create all sorts of regulations on how Christmas trees can be grown and marketed.

Control-freaks gone wild.

[NonValueAdded]

Name: Wendy Lee Kelly Richardson
Address: Spring Grove, IL,
Organization: Richardson Christmas Trees
General Comment:
I approve of and support the proposed Christmas Tree promotion, research and information order. It will be helpful to the Christmas tree industry.

Dear Wendy, I do NOT approve and will be damned if I buy a tree grown on your farm.

[NonValueAdded]

Name: George Lester Alpaugh
Address: Stockton, NJ,
Organization: Citizen
Government Agency Type: Local
Government Agency: none
General Comment:
I am opposed to mandatory registration and collection of fees to promote cut Christmas Trees. My son and I own a 150 are farm and run a choose ‘n cut Christmas tree operation. The very last thing we need is another government program to “help” us. If you want to do some good make it easier for me to give my interest in the farm to my son and grandson without bankrupting us.

One of the very few comments I saw in opposition. if you are in the NJ area, consider going to Mr. Alpaugh’s farm for your tree.

[wintertime]

It is for real.

Oh Wow! Cain could have a WONDERFUL time with this! Can you see the Grinch You Tube videos now! ( Sitting here laughing!)

“Obama the Man Who Stole Christmas”!

This political ad should run just before the election. Can you see Cain's cute smile grinning at the end of **that** ad!

[frposty]

Could the Administration possibly think this will help them in the 2012 election?