A proposed 15 cent fee on Christmas trees, described as a “tax,” may not come to fruition, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The DOA officially delayed the fee, which the Obama administration said was not a tax, but was designed to help fund an advertising campaign to promote fresh trees over plastic ones.
In a statement on Thursday, the Federal Register said, “Due to recent events, the regulations are stayed in order to provide all interested persons, including the Christmas tree industry and the general public, an opportunity to become more familiar with the program.”
The proposal was heavily panned by conservative politicians, including Sen. Jim Demint of South Carolina, who on Nov. 9 said the fee only serves as “a marketing slush fund for the Christmas tree industry.”
The National Christmas Tree Association favored the fee and wanted to use it to promote the industry in the vein of the “Got Milk?” ad campaign.
“And while we’re asking questions, does anyone in America—anyone?—believe that Christmas trees have a bad image that needs taxpayer-subsidized improvement?” DeMint said in a statement at the time.
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