Topic: Christmas (tax) in July

[Glock32]

I had forgotten about the attempted tax on Christmas trees.  Well, it's back.  More rent-seeking behavior from special commercial interests.

Remember back in 2011 when President Obama tried to impose a Christmas tree tax? It would have imposed a federal tax on the tree you buy to — no joke — fund marketing to promote the image and sale of Christmas trees. After Heritage Foundation expert David Addington exposed this ridiculous effort, President Obama issued a stay of the tax.

Well, it turns out the Christmas tree tax is back — and it’s in this year’s farm bill.

The House Agriculture Committee approved an amendment to its farm bill that would impose Obama’s Christmas tree tax. This tax, pushed by the Christmas tree industry itself, would punish those in the industry who do not comply with industry standards. Essentially, they are asking the government to do their dirty work. And the  government, after facing a serious backlash the first time around, has found a sneaky new way to slip this tax into law via the farm bill.

But not everyone in the industry agrees with the tax, Heritage’s Daren Bakst explains:

    After significant backlash, in large part due to the efforts of The Heritage Foundation, the Obama Administration backed away from imposing this tax . . . There are many Christmas tree producers and importers that don’t want this new tax. Based on the comments received by the Department of Agriculture regarding the program, about 26 percent of the commenters opposed it. If producers and importers oppose the tax, they will still have no choice but to pay it.

Furthermore, it’s a tax on consumers. As if Christmas weren’t expensive enough! Bakst continues:

    The new costs will be passed down to those who buy Christmas trees. The National Christmas Tree Association has claimed the extra costs wouldn’t be passed on to consumers. Maybe they were just in the Christmas spirit when they said this or had too much eggnog, but businesses don’t usually eat costs for no reason, especially businesses like Christmas tree producers who think they need government help to improve their bottom line.

http://www.myheritage.org/news/christmas-in-july-not-if-the-farm-bill-gets-through

[IronDioPriest]

God, how I hate this government. It's time for it to be destroyed. If we ever have another shot at a constitution, it must proactively safeguard against such a leviathan ever rising again. Something like a constitutional amendment against a single dollar being controlled by DC outside the military and funding the activities of the three constitutional branches. And a constitutional amendment against the existence of unelected federal bureaucracies.

[Pandora]

Is there one friggin thing we do or buy that isn't taxed?!  It. never. stops.

[RickZ]

Is there one friggin thing we do or buy that isn't taxed?!  It. never. stops.

Hookers.

[Weisshaupt]

Is there one friggin thing we do or buy that isn't taxed?!  It. never. stops.

Hookers.

Don't worry.  Prostitution will not only be made legal, licensed and taxed  before Obama leaves office, and there will be a middle school class to teach proper hooking technique to your daughter. or granddaughter.

[warpmine]

Is there one friggin thing we do or buy that isn't taxed?!  It. never. stops.

Hookers.

Don't worry.  Prostitution will not only be made legal, licensed and taxed  before Obama leaves office, and there will be a middle school class to teach proper hooking technique to your daughter. or granddaughter.

Shouldn't that be free under Obamacare? It's fairly obvious that it's therapeutic. The govt will clean up, pardon the pun, tax on condom, disposal fee, motel tax, linen cleaning tax.

[Libertas]

Is there one friggin thing we do or buy that isn't taxed?!  It. never. stops.

Hookers.

Don't worry.  Prostitution will not only be made legal, licensed and taxed  before Obama leaves office, and there will be a middle school class to teach proper hooking technique to your daughter. or granddaughter.

Shouldn't that be free under Obamacare? It's fairly obvious that it's therapeutic. The govt will clean up, pardon the pun, tax on condom, disposal fee, motel tax, linen cleaning tax.

Probably covered that at that several million dollar IRS "training" escapade I bet.

[Pandora]

I hate the thought of it, but I see an artificial tree in our future if this goes through. 

[Predator Don]

I hate the thought of it, but I see an artificial tree in our future if this goes through. 

We have come to the conclusion it is either an artificial or no tree at all. We will hang stockings, the wife has all sorts of Santa's she uses to decorate and a few other things.

[Libertas]

I like being ahead of the curve when I can...I gave up trees entirely several years ago, went with more modest decorations.

[Alphabet Soup]

I hate the thought of it, but I see an artificial tree in our future if this goes through. 

We have come to the conclusion it is either an artificial or no tree at all. We will hang stockings, the wife has all sorts of Santa's she uses to decorate and a few other things.

I may have to start observing Christmas again just so I can be defiant of the bass turds and their bloody taxes