no kidding, christmas tree tax N/C

[knabe]

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

Acting Administrator Shipman had the temerity to say the 15-cent mandatory Christmas tree fee “is not a tax nor does it yield revenue for the Federal government” (76 CFR 69102).  The Federal government mandates that the Christmas tree sellers pay the 15-cents per tree, whether they want to or not.  The Federal government directs that the revenue generated by the 15-cent fee goes to the Board appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture to carry out the Christmas tree program established by the Secretary of Agriculture.  Mr. President, that’s a new 15-cent tax to pay for a Federal program to improve the image and marketing of Christmas trees.
Nobody is saying President Obama doesn’t have authority to impose his new Christmas Tree Tax — his Administration cites the Commodity Promotion, Research and Information Act of 1996.  Just because the Obama Administration has the legal power to impose its Christmas Tree Tax doesn’t mean it should do so.

that act should be revoked.  

http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/getfile?dDocName=STELPRD3479032
other commodities raised or produced on farms, as determined appropriate by the Secretary;

i recommend reading the act, it's pretty interesting and almost sounds like a dictatorship.
really it's just jobs for lawyers to create the document and federal workers to implement and maintain the program.
i can't believe we have allowed our government to get involved in this level of minutia.
all of these people will probably make more than the people selling christmas trees.  a complete and utter joke.
perhaps they seek to outlaw independent promotion.  disgusting.

in the comment section, a good point is brought up that it is discrimination.  what about commodities for other religions?  yeah, it's a stretch, but christians are funding the elimination of their religion.

on the other hand, people could just label the trees holiday trees and circumvent the tax.  at which point, the administration would sue them at a cost that exceeds the revenue generated from the tax.  maybe that's part of the goal.

 

[Gargan]

if i had pruned conifer trees to sell this 4th quarter, i would advertise them as islamic mosque landscaping trees. Im sure this white house administration would generate some federal funding to aid in such a unique and minority minded venture.  (lol)  this country is getting out of hand.

 

[Freddy]

the holiday tree is what OBAMA WANTS ,he is not having any CHRISTmas  trees in the white house ,he calls them holiday trees ,he won't have any thing that praises CHRIST is what the e-mail I received ....This guy wants to take over or get rid of our country and the religion it is based on ....He's getting real bold and with the UNION power he might get it done ....

 

[iowabeef]

This is typical of this administration.  It is time for us to band together, step it up and get rid of him at the ballot box.

 

[HAB]

This is typical of this administration.  It is time for us to band together, step it up and get rid of him at the ballot box.

(clapping)

 

[nate53]

This is typical of this administration.  It is time for us to band together, step it up and get rid of him at the ballot box.

(clapping)

I'm all for getting rid of Obama in the next election! (clapping)  My ? is who do you all think is the best person for the job, that actually has a chance at getting elected.  I'm not sure who I will vote for, (still looking and nobody really looks all that good to me )  but I do know it won't be Obama!  Whoever does run against Obama they will have to have things together with a heck of a plan,  because Obama still has a lot of dedicated supporters and a fund raising machine.

 

[twistedhshowstock]

The Obama administration apparantly thinks they can sweep everything under the rug by changing names.  He will argue he didnt increase any taxes because he called his taxes "fees". Its still a tax. And come on do we really need a committee to study improving the marketing and image of Christmas Trees???? Hell stores were sellin em before Halloween even gotten here.  Christmas has gotten out of hand if anything.  I dont think this comittee will do one thing to help Christmas Tree farmers, like many other Committees Obama has formed, I think it was just a guise to get some of his friends on the Govt Payroll.

 

[blackcows]

While I very much disagree with everything this administration has done in reality the 15 cent charge doesn't seem much different than the $1 we pay to the beef checkoff.

 

[knabe]

While I very much disagree with everything this administration has done in reality the 15 cent charge doesn't seem much different than the $1 we pay to the beef checkoff.

good point.  i really don't think we need the beef checkoff, especially from a federal type collection.  CAB seems to do well without it.  the best thing for the beef industry would be to break up the USDA and let individual producers figure out how to market their product, while still complying with a safety mechanism that would allow small producers to have carcasses inspected so producers would have an easier time connecting with consumers.  all these regs raise the bar too high for new ideas, smaller producers to create new ways to do things.

for whatever reason, people hate new things.

 

[knabe]

update.

http://www.christmastree.org/11_PR7.pdf

the below are not my comments, but i agree with them.

The reason that the NCTA wants government to collect the “fee” and run the promotion is to force compliance from tree producers who might not want to shovel money into the NCTA.

Not only is this belated delay the right move, the government should get out of the advertising industry altogether and let producers promote themselves.


these are my comments
as far as the beef checkoff goes, the shucks beef it's for dinner ads are like singing to the choir.  let producers keep the dollar, get rid of the infrastructure to collect and administer it and the salaries that go with it and promoter diversity, something sorely lacking in the beef advertisement and producer to consumer arena.  people like buying more direct from producers so find out what the barriers are (we know what they are) and reduce them to a point where new blood can get in.  one doesn't have to remove all the regulations.  forced or subsidized consolidation is a bad thing but for some reason, both parties love it.

 

[OH Breeder]

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

Acting Administrator Shipman had the temerity to say the 15-cent mandatory Christmas tree fee “is not a tax nor does it yield revenue for the Federal government” (76 CFR 69102).  The Federal government mandates that the Christmas tree sellers pay the 15-cents per tree, whether they want to or not.  The Federal government directs that the revenue generated by the 15-cent fee goes to the Board appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture to carry out the Christmas tree program established by the Secretary of Agriculture.  Mr. President, that’s a new 15-cent tax to pay for a Federal program to improve the image and marketing of Christmas trees.
Nobody is saying President Obama doesn’t have authority to impose his new Christmas Tree Tax — his Administration cites the Commodity Promotion, Research and Information Act of 1996.  Just because the Obama Administration has the legal power to impose its Christmas Tree Tax doesn’t mean it should do so.

that act should be revoked.  

http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/getfile?dDocName=STELPRD3479032
other commodities raised or produced on farms, as determined appropriate by the Secretary;

i recommend reading the act, it's pretty interesting and almost sounds like a dictatorship.
really it's just jobs for lawyers to create the document and federal workers to implement and maintain the program.
i can't believe we have allowed our government to get involved in this level of minutia.
all of these people will probably make more than the people selling christmas trees.  a complete and utter joke.
perhaps they seek to outlaw independent promotion.  disgusting.

in the comment section, a good point is brought up that it is discrimination.  what about commodities for other religions?   yeah, it's a stretch, but christians are funding the elimination of their religion.

on the other hand, people could just label the trees holiday trees and circumvent the tax.  at which point, the administration would sue them at a cost that exceeds the revenue generated from the tax.  maybe that's part of the goal.

http://www.snopes.com/politics/taxes/christmastree.asp

The Christmas Tree Industry petitioned for the "Christmas Tree Tax" not intended to be a "tax" passed on to the consumer but a surcharge like the beef check off program of 15 cents. The thought was to raise money for promotional growth.  The National Christmas Tree Association said the surcharge was favored by the majority of the growers.

 

[Doc]

I'm all for getting rid of Obama in the next election! (clapping)  My ? is who do you all think is the best person for the job, that actually has a chance at getting elected.  I'm not sure who I will vote for, (still looking and nobody really looks all that good to me )  but I do know it won't be Obama!   Whoever does run against Obama they will have to have things together with a heck of a plan,  because Obama still has a lot of dedicated supporters and a fund raising machine.
[/quote]

Couldn't agree with you more!!!

 

[knabe]

no one must be allowed to go without federal government assistance or regulation.

 

[knabe]

http://www.snopes.com/politics/taxes/christmastree.asp

The Christmas Tree Industry petitioned for the "Christmas Tree Tax" not intended to be a "tax" passed on to the consumer but a surcharge like the beef check off program of 15 cents. The thought was to raise money for promotional growth.  The National Christmas Tree Association said the surcharge was favored by the majority of the growers.

[/quote]

snopes is a left leaning debunking site that does not understand limits of the federal government.


the point is not that the majority agreed, but that the christmas tree growers association is a lobbying organization, and is using the federal government to force compliance from tree producers who might not want to shovel money into the NCTA.  and if the act is so good, why the cutoff at 500?  why is is so hard to have a one-size fits all taxation?  the fees simply ads more infrastructure to the government and creates a launch pad for future regulation and compliance and fee collection.

people continually complain they hate lobbies, unless it's their own issue.  the federal government should not be in the business of collecting fees to lobby itself.

 

[chiangus]

I'm all for getting rid of Obama in the next election! (clapping)  My ? is who do you all think is the best person for the job, that actually has a chance at getting elected.  I'm not sure who I will vote for, (still looking and nobody really looks all that good to me )  but I do know it won't be Obama!   Whoever does run against Obama they will have to have things together with a heck of a plan,  because Obama still has a lot of dedicated supporters and a fund raising machine.

Couldn't agree with you more!!!
[/quote]

Ron Paul?  I don't know if he has the support, but if you want someone that is different, he is your guy.