Posted on 11/08/2011 6:52:57 PM PST by Texas Fossil
President Obamas Agriculture Department today announced that it will impose a new 15-cent charge on all fresh Christmas treesthe Christmas Tree Taxto 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 industrys 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).
(Excerpt) Read more at amerpundit.com ...
Are you sure?
From your link: "Congress may also be asked to reexamine its position on requiring the advertisements to show that they are, in fact, speech by the government, since this was a major criticism in the dissent and all circuit courts found insufficient governmental control."
Yep, I e-mailed my congressman last night....
Why doesnt Obama call this what it is, jizra. Christians under sharia law must pay jizra the protection tax demanded of all infidels living in Muslim lands.
jizra?
FUBO!
the feds are co opting the job the states have been doing for years
>>>Are you sure?
Yes. In February 2008 (during the Bush Administration), faced with declining sales, members of the National Christmas Tree Association created a task force to consider the merits of a checkoff program, which would allow the USDA to collect a fee from growers in order to fund research into marketing Christmas trees.
They created a task force. OK.
Was this voted on by the National Christmas Tree Association?
It appears you may be right. But nothing was stated about the vote or the approval by USDA.
http://averyjournal.com/Community/story/Choose-and-Cut-season-2011-arrives-id-009009
As reported in a series of articles last spring by The AJT, Christmas tree growers and their associations nationwide are trying to stem the tide of mostly imported fake Christmas trees. To do so, a national task force comprised of growers from across the country began work in 2008 designing a plan petitioning USDA to create a Christmas Tree Promotion, Research and Information Order, known as a check-off.
We are almost there, I am confident the check-off program will go through, said Church. USDA informed us to begin the selection process for the 12-member board of directors that will oversee the national program.
Some very good people have been nominated and we hope to have at least two members selected from North Carolina; the East Coast is allotted four members in all.
According to your previous link, there have been 3 previous lawsuits concerning check-off arrangements.
This one might be number 4.
The Grinch: "I must stop Christmas from coming... but how? I MEAN - in what way? "
"Cindy Lou Who: Santa, what's the meaning of Christmas?
The Grinch: VENGEANCE!
The Grinch: [calmly] Er, I mean... presents, I suppose."
>>>This one might be number 4.
Well, I hope you are right. It would set the stage for the repeal of Reagan’s milk, pork and beef taxes that frankly affect me a lot more than this tree tax.
He even looks like the Grinch.
0 decided to delay the tax. The outcry must have been tremendous.
Yep
I see that. Its funny they growers would want a tax to research marketing. First off that should be a part of their out of pocket expense.
I thought the tax was a way to get people to NOT buy real trees. Save the trees and all that.
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