Dept of Agriculture imposing Christmas Tree tax...

[Belmont31R]

Only 15 cents per tree but lets see a tax on Korans, Menorahs, and other religious items used exclusively by one religious denomination...:rolleyes:




SUMMARY: 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) is authorized under the
Commodity Promotion, Research, and
Information Act of 1996 (1996 Act). The
Order will establish a national
Christmas Tree Promotion Board
(Board) comprised of 11 producers and
one importer. Under the Order,
producers and importers of fresh cut
Christmas trees will pay an initial
assessment of fifteen cents per
Christmas tree. Producers and importers
that produce or import less than 500
Christmas trees annually will be exempt
from the assessment. A referendum will
be conducted, among producers and
importers, three years after the
collection of assessments begin to
determine if Christmas tree producers
and importers favor the continuation of
this program.
DATES: Effective November 9, 2011

http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2011-11-08/pdf/2011-28798.pdf

[montanadave]

Before you get your knickers all in a knot, read what you post. The christmas tree growers supported the surcharge to fund promotional efforts to encourage people to buy real trees rather than artificial trees. No religious persecution at work here, just a trade group raising some cash to drum up business.

[FromMyColdDeadHand]

About $4 million a year. A figure $350k for the president of the thing, some $125K jobs for some VPs and then some other staff for about $1.5 million. Maybe $3-400K for admin, offices, overhead and benefits. Half a Mil for some studies, maybe a Mil for some media buys and 'out reach'. Nice little 'club' some big donators kid is going to walk into.

Just because some tree growers got together and decided to tax themselves and others doesn't make it right.

[Belmont31R]

Before you get your knickers all in a knot, read what you post. The christmas tree growers supported the surcharge to fund promotional efforts to encourage people to buy real trees rather than artificial trees. No religious persecution at work here, just a trade group raising some cash to drum up business.





The DOA isn't a "trade group" as you put it. :confused: Its a Federal government program administered by the DOA. Of course the producers would support it. Free advertising and leg work for them to get people to buy trees...:eek:



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).


http://nation.foxnews.com/president-obama/2011/11/08/obamas-new-christmas-tree-tax



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.

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

[montanadave]

Just because some tree growers got together and decided to tax themselves and others doesn't make it right.

Not sayin' aye or nay. Just sayin' let's not try to put a religious spin on it.

[Belmont31R]

Not sayin' aye or nay. Just sayin' let's not try to put a religious spin on it.





As I said if it were anything else people would be bitching from the rooftops about religious discrimination. Lets see a tax on some Korans but not Bibles and see how well that goes.

[variablebinary]

As I said if it were anything else people would be bitching from the rooftops about religious discrimination. Lets see a tax on some Korans but not Bibles and see how well that goes.

Despite what people think, the Christmas Tree is not a symbol for sales at Kohls.

There is a religious connotation...a Christian connotation to be specific.

[montanadave]

"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) is authorized under the Commodity Promotion, Research, and Information Act of 1996 (1996 Act). The Order will establish a national Christmas Tree Promotion Board (Board) comprised of 11 producers and one importer."

So it's a trade group funded through a fee collected and administered by the DOA. At the request of the tree growers.

And why are we talking about bibles and korans and religious discrimination?

The Dissembler strikes again! :ph34r:

[Belmont31R]

"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) is authorized under the Commodity Promotion, Research, and Information Act of 1996 (1996 Act). The Order will establish a national Christmas Tree Promotion Board (Board) comprised of 11 producers and one importer."

So it's a trade group funded through a fee collected and administered by the DOA. At the request of the tree growers.

And why are we talking about bibles and korans and religious discrimination?

The Dissembler strikes again! :ph34r:




No its a board composed of industry types formed, administered, and paid for by the government.


So what is Congress then? The Kiwanis Club of DC?


If it was a trade group they would be privately funded and administered like the National Christmas Tree Accociation which is ran by a private company called Drake & Co.


http://www.christmastree.org/about.cfm


But what we needed was a 15 cent tax one of a specific religions symbols and another government program...:confused:

[montanadave]

But what we needed was a 15 cent tax one of a specific religions symbols and another government program...:confused:

By god, you're right!

It's a surcharge levied by the DOA intended to promote the sale of a specific religious symbol. And that's a direct violation of the 1st amendment.

That sneaky muslim SOB. Using the mechanism of the state to promote christianity. Damn them! Damn them all!

[Belmont31R]

By god, you're right!

It's a surcharge levied by the DOA intended to promote the sale of a specific religious symbol. And that's a direct violation of the 1st amendment.

That sneaky muslim SOB. Using the mechanism of the state to promote christianity. Damn them! Damn them all!



Is that really what you have to argue?


So if taxing something promotes the sale of something then why not a 100% tax? Then we spend a couple billion promoting Christmas tree sales...:rolleyes:


For constantly griping about people seeing fire from smoke you sure put a lot of words in peoples mouths. Im pretty sure I never mentioned Obama once in this entire thread or said he had anything to do with it.

[Irish]

Plain and simple, it's a tax. Just what we need is more taxes. O and the rest can go **** themselves.

[kwelz]

Christmas trees are not a Christian symbol. More accurately they are not originally one. Like every other Christian Holiday they stole the idea of Christmas and the Christmas tree from pagan religions in an attempt to subvert the local beliefs and convert the people to their own point of view.

I find the gnashing of teeth that the Christmas tree has now been "Stolen" and turned into something else a bit amusing.

[montanadave]

Plain and simple, it's a tax. Just what we need is more taxes. O and the rest can go **** themselves.

A legitimate point of view.

The religious persecution angle is just a red herring. But, hey, if conflating the issues enables small government conservatives to link arms with the religious right and raise their combined voices in outrage, what's not to love? Disingenuous? Sure. Manipulative? Of course. Effective? Always.

[Belmont31R]

A legitimate point of view.

The religious persecution angle is just a red herring. But, hey, if conflating the issues enables small government conservatives to link arms with the religious right and raise their combined voices in outrage, what's not to love? Disingenuous? Sure. Manipulative? Of course. Effective? Always.



My only point is that there would be outrage if there was a tax instituted on other faiths religious symbols not that this is persecution of Christians.

[montanadave]

My only point is that there would be outrage if there was a tax instituted on other faiths religious symbols not that this is persecution of Christians.

And the outrage would be against the government taking an active role in promoting the sale and distribution of a religious symbol, in direct violation of the 1st Amendment.