This report says that the tax is on hold, but Heritage Foundation spins the story so it sounds like it's going into effect right away. Unsurprisingly, Heritage isn't supportive: "Just because the Obama Administration has the legal power to impose its Christmas Tree Tax doesn’t mean it should do so."
Talking Points Memo tells another side of the story. Concerned about the popularity of artificial Christmas trees, tree farmers began looking into creating a promotional program similar to the "Got Milk?" campaign before President Obama took office. TPM reports:
“This program was requested by the industry in 2009 and has gone through two industrywide comment periods during which 565 comments were submitted from interested parties,” the National Christmas Tree Association said in a statement, adding that nearly 90 percent of the state and multi-state associations who commented on the program supported it.
“The program is designed to benefit the industry and will be funded by the growers at a rate of 15 cents per tree sold,” the release states. “The program is not expected to have any impact on the final price consumers pay for their Christmas tree.”
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