Christmas tree tax

[chickened]

I have heard it all. The whitehouse wants to tax Christmas trees.

Do these guys sit around and figure out ways to tax us or what.

Maybe they should take the tax money and buy glass stomachs.

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/11/09/8720034-a-tax-on-christmas-trees

 

[redhen]

Yeah, i read that earlier today...

 

[Avalon1984]

Me too. Makes me appreciate my 14 wooded acres. And after beating up my new truck with pine trees in the way, I feel like getting into the christmas tree business this year and just chop them all down. Them are angry trees!!!!

 

[sourland]

Nope, the Whitehouse does not want to 'tax' Christmas trees. It was an industry proposed surcharge for advertising funding. Ain't gonna happen anyway.

 

[conny63malies]

Quote:
what advertising? the only thing i ever see are some hand painted signs on the road side. Xmas trees dont need advertising, either you buy a real one each year or you got a plastic one(or none at all. Whats next ? Menora tax for the candles? things the industry comes up with

 

[chickendude]

Quote:
you are correct. Here is a quot from the article....

"The Obama Administration is not taxing Christmas trees. What's being talked about here is an industry group deciding to impose fees on itself to fund a promotional campaign, similar to how the dairy producers have created the 'Got Milk? campaign. That said, USDA is going to delay implementation and revisit this action,"

 

[CupOJoe42]

I thought they were calling them "Holiday trees?"

 

[chickened]

I admit I didn't read the whole article but as a former christmas tree guy I really am confused why tree growers/sellers need help marketing the trees. All the people I know already know how to market them. The government could help by stop calling them "holiday" trees.

The problem here in Oregon is there is a glut of trees on the market. Our prime farm land was coverted to trees and now there is too many.

If this is going to be similar to the milk campaign then no thanks, they probably will make you a criminal if you sell a tree that the USDA has not inspected.

 

[sourland]

Read further. The USDA (and I dealt with them while earning a living

) wants no part of this.

 

[Spookwriter]

Slightly off subject, but for us Christmas trees began shipping
last week.

Seems way early to me.