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.

[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.

[Freedom56v2]

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.