Christmas Tree Fee On Hold For Now

The White House says not so fast, to a new Christmas tree fee that had some folks seeing red.

FOX News Radio’s Mike Majchrowitz reports from the White House:

Accused of being the Grinch that taxed Christmas, the Obama Administration abruptly stalled a new fee that was to be slapped on fresh Christmas trees.  The fee supported by tree growers, was to help fund campaigns to convince Americans to buy fresh not fake.  Michael Jarvis with the Agriculture Department says this was an industry led fee, not a Government tax.

“These are local domestic producers that decided to get together to pool a fund which then they use for marketing.”

The growers insist the fee would not have driven up the final price of a fresh tree.

At the White House, Mike Majchrowitz, FOX News Radio.

White House Spokesman Matt Lehrich tells Fox News:

“I can tell you unequivocally that 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.”

Editor’s Note:  The charge would have been 15 cents on most real trees sold in America.