Behind the Scenes with Nursery Management magazine

The Grinch who stole the Christmas tree tax

It's sometimes funny to see what upsets people. In the case of the so-called Christmas tree tax, it's just plain silly. The Christmas tree growers wanted a self-imposed fee to help pay for a program to fund research and marketing. The growers would have paid 15 cents per natural tree sold, and imported producers would have paid 20 cents per tree. But a blog post turned the fee into a political folly. It was blown completely out of proportion, with tons of misinformation being passed around.

From CNN Money: "But the idea that the administration is behind the 15-cent fee led to an outcry, particularly among politicians and the social media. And, according to media reports, that outcry led to a delay and re-evaluation of the levy.

The outcry was "fierce."

Jim DeMint, a senator from South Carolina blogged about it, calling it "the single stupidest tax of all time."

Sen. DeMint, remember what Mrs. Gump said, "Stupid is as stupid does."

Robert Aderholt, an Alabama congressman, issued a press release that stated, "The administration's new Christmas tree tax and ad campaign is clear evidence of misaligned and misguided priorities in Washington."

The administration's Christmas tree tax? With all due respect Rep. Aderholt, do your homework.

Would a fee imposed on nursery and greenhouse products receive the same backlash? It's something to ponder as the green industry investigates a national marketing campaign.

— Kelli Rodda