Conservatives kill proposal to help Xmas tree industry help itself

[CatWoman]

For the last three years, the National Christmas Tree Association, a trade group of more than 5,000 tree farmers from around the country, has been working to organize a pro-business promotional campaign that would laud the merits of a natural rather than artificial tree. (Personally, they had me at “Merry Christmas,” because I can’t stand an artificial tree.)

To spread that message, the industry wanted to assess a small fee on itself –15 cents on each tree it sold — as part of a nationwide promotional campaign. And as it turns out, the U.S. Department of Agriculture already has a mechanism in place to allow such fees to be collected. (The promotional campaign itself would be run by the industry, through a 12-member independent board of tree growers.)

Well, it ain’t gonna happen. The conservative movement caught wind of the idea this week and immediately started whining that the Obama administration was going to impose a new tax on Christmas trees.

http://blogs.ajc.com/jay-bookman-blog/2011/11/09/conservatives-kill-proposal-to-help-xmas-tree-industry-help-itself/

[iris27]

1. Real Christmas trees wreak havoc on my allergies, but for those who don't have those issues, buying

real is a great way to support local business instead of Chinese factories. Of course the conservatives can't allow that!

[PoliticAverse]

2. Good. I'm against government promotion of cartels. n/t