Xmas tree Tax

[beeker]

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

This isn't so bad and the cost to the consumer is minimal, but the reasoning makes no sense:

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.

I don't know what that means.  In the US somewhere around 95% of us put up trees, even many of us Jews, so what image needs improved?  This is one of the instances where I think it would be acceptable to say "Hey we need to put money in our coffers",  we might even get more folks to put up a tree just to be part of the recovery.  

[oldster]

That headline sounds a little like intentional misleading by whomever wrote it.  I believe that a federal tax can only be instituted by the House of Representatives.  I will venture that the fee is called a tax only by those who wish to disparage.  Perhaps disparagement may be in order, but using the term tax is, I believe, dishonest and misrepresentative of reality.

[beeker]

That headline sounds a little like intentional misleading by whomever wrote it.  I believe that a federal tax can only be instituted by the House of Representatives.  I will venture that the fee is called a tax only by those who wish to disparage.  Perhaps disparagement may be in order, but using the term tax is, I believe, dishonest and misrepresentative of reality.

If the gov't, as a third party, imposes a levy that is paid per unit by the consumer you can call it what ever you want, but it is a tax regardless of where it was created because the Gov't had no play in producing the product, preparing the product or selling the product in fact other than some mysterious effort in promoting the little known or displayed Christmas tree, they just get a check for some one elses work, that to me is tax. 

[yoyo]

Obama would never approve anything with the word Christ in it, blame the growers for this one.

. . .This rule establishes an industry-funded promotion, research, and information program for fresh cut Christmas trees. The Christmas Tree Promotion, Research, and Information Order (Order), was submitted to the Department of Agriculture (Department) by the Christmas Tree Checkoff Task Force (Task Force), an industry wide group of producers and importers that support this program. Under the Order, producers and importers of fresh cut Christmas trees will pay an initial assessment of $0.15 cents per tree, which would be paid to the Christmas Tree Promotion Board (Board). This Board will be responsible for administration and operation of the Order. Producers and importers that produce or import less than 500 Christmas trees annually will be exempt from the assessment. The program is authorized under the Commodity Promotion, Research, and Information Act of 1996 (1996 Act)....

buy your tree from a local grower this year and save your 15 cents.

[pbal]

That headline sounds a little like intentional misleading by whomever wrote it.  I believe that a federal tax can only be instituted by the House of Representatives.  I will venture that the fee is called a tax only by those who wish to disparage.  Perhaps disparagement may be in order, but using the term tax is, I believe, dishonest and misrepresentative of reality.

Is hair-splitting the only defense for this move?

...blame the growers for this one.

No. The growers didn't have the authority to impose this fee on anyone but their own members. I'll blame Obama, thank you very much, since Bush isn't around any more. Anyone know what these guys have contributed to his campaigns?

[millcreek]

No one taxes shiit if you cut your own tree on top of the mountain.

[Wiener]

If I have to pay money now that I didn't have to before then I am with Beeker and Pbal on this one it is a tax.  Obama has been working around congress since he took office, this is nothing new for him and I expect more of it if he gets re-elected. 

[redcap]

Fees have become popular since the voters imposed limits on taxes. The government wants money. The law prevents them from taxing. A fee is imposed for what was once free.

You are welcome to say it is not a tax, but in doing so I believe you show your total lack of willingness to hold the government responsible.

IMO All fees that are not related to the use or upkeep of what the fee is colleceted for are a TAX.

[yoyo]

Private tree growers approached a government agency, using legislation that has been around for more than a decade, to set up a marketing program paid for by their own members (and most definitely passed on to the consumer).  So yes, I can blame the government for the original legislation, I can blame the government for continuing to approve proposals under that legislation, but i am also going to hold responsible the private tree growers, who instead of choosing to organize freely under their own direction, chose to bring their problem to the government to solve it for them.  Nobody forced them to go to the government for this help, they chose to do that on their own (Yes, it was made easier to do with the government mechanisms in place).

Get ready because, honey produces, avocado growers, raspberry farms, and lumber mills have lined up to take advantage of the proposal as we.


".......A national research and promotion program for Christmas trees would help the industry to address the many market problems it currently faces. According to the Task Force, two main factors currently affecting Christmas tree sales, both in the domestic market and abroad, are increased competition and changing consumer habits.Show citation box
According to additional data supplied by the Task Force, the market share of fresh Christmas trees in the U.S. from 1965 to 2008 has declined by 6 percent. In comparison, the market share of artificial trees has increased 655 percent from 1965 to 2008.

According to the proponent data, sales of fresh cut Christmas trees decreased by 15 million trees from 37 million trees sold in 1991 down to 22 million trees sold in 2002. The industry saw an increase in sales in 2003 through 2007 when the industry conducted a voluntary marketing campaign which was lead by a small group of producers and retailers. This voluntary marketing campaign saw sales rebound by 9 million trees—from 22 million trees sold in 2002 to 31 million trees sold in 2007. Even with the strong sales response to the marketing efforts, the voluntary marketing program suffered from a lack of funding.

The Christmas tree industry has tried three different times to conduct promotional programs based on voluntary contributions. Each time, after about three years, the revenue declined to a point where the programs were ineffective. The decline in revenue is attributable to the voluntary nature of these programs. Therefore, the proponents have determined that they need a mechanism that would be sustainable over time. They believe that a national Christmas tree research and promotion program would accomplish this goal....."

[redcap]

And, of course the government can not say NO. Especially if they are being asked by those who donated to the campaign.

NOPE, if the government approves it it is the government's tax.

For, you see, this is exactly how all of those tax breaks, and government bail outs, and (I like this one) government incentives have come about.

If you choose to complain about those as coporate welfare then you must complain about this as government welfare.

[yoyo]

We know we cant trust the government to do the right thing, the people (in this case the tree growers) need to be better  than that, and need to be held to a higher standard.

[WDVE]

Another example of the guvment meddling, or in the case, the messiah.

You're right, we can't trust the government to do the right thing....difference is I'm being sarcastic.

[millcreek]

No tax on the mountain.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_HBOBMRwfk&feature=results_main&playnext=1&list=PLBE39AC48EC703F69

[beeker]

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2011/11/obama-administration-to-delay-new-15-cent-christmas-tree-fee/

Son now what does the effort mean?

[Wiener]

We know we cant trust the government to do the right thing, the people (in this case the tree growers) need to be better  than that, and need to be held to a higher standard.

I think the mountains will be missing more small pines this dec than ever before, thank you government and tree growers of america.