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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.
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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.
Far from a tax initiated by the Obama administration, the proposal to create an assessment on tree growers to fund a research and promotion program through the USDA was begun by the industry during the Bush administration.
The christmas tree growing industry needs to collect a tax on a christmas trees to research and promote their own industry? What kind of research and promoting do you need if you're selling more than 500 trees. Evidently the christmas tree growing lobbyists are doing well in Washington DC
Wouldn't this be the same as the burger and fry industry wanting to collect a tax to research and promote the burger with the tax applying to those selling over 1000 burgers.
The foot in the door. 15 cents this year. $1 next year?
Works fine for me, I actually have it currently open. You are so far off base on this one. Maybe a quick search of these things to learn the truth and not take in just what you are spoon-fed would save 'ya some trouble.
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