USDA Christmas Tree Tax Takes Effect

breitbart ^ | Nov. 15, 2014 | Rich Tucker

[PROCON]

This year, your real Christmas tree will be more expensive than it needs to be. That’s because the Department of Agriculture is imposing a fee on each fresh-cut tree sold.

A few months ago, the federal government created a national marketing program to advertise the virtues of real Christmas trees. It’s funded by a 15-cent surcharge that will be added to the cost of each tree sold. It’s not a tax, Washington insists -- merely a fee that you have to pay.

“The Christmas tree industry requested this initiative to fund Christmas tree research and marketing, the program will be funded solely by the industry, and the government is not imposing any tax on Christmas trees,” an Agriculture Department spokesman explains.

It’s a distinction without a difference. If a fee is imposed on a product by a government, it’s a tax on the consumer.

[Pollster1]

Just ask Obama and Chief Justice Roberts. It's not a tax.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks for recognizing my genius, but this is a 15 cent tax. I know! Let’s dress up in politically incorrect attire and throw a bunch of $80 christmas trees into the harbor! /s

[ronnie raygun]

I guess we can assume that the allah tree and the kwanza tree are exempt from this christian hating law

[GailA]

Then the writer is a dumb butt as a government FEE is a tax. Just another name for it.

I learned that in HS Civics/Government classes in the 60’s.

A true fee is what you pay to go to a museum.

[MeshugeMikey]

There are plenty of folks around here who are fairly angry about being told what they can burn and when....

Were they to be made aware of the crux of the law....they would make certain to SHARE that information Im sure.

[sheana]

http://www.valleyair.org/Home.htm

[Talisker]

There are plenty of folks around here who are fairly angry about being told what they can burn and when.... Were they to be made aware of the crux of the law....they would make certain to SHARE that information Im sure.

I already did SHARE it. Click here to read it.

Your move.

[MeshugeMikey]

Thank you.