Is it a marketing tool, is that it? "I will introduce this new form of corporate welfare, then you guys attack it as tax and spend activist government so the public does not realize it is an industry handout."

It was not a tax, but was unnecessary. If the Christmas tree growers want to run an advertising campaign, let them and the consumers who respond pay for it, but I do not pay the USDAs salary so they can help the industry do it. The real question is why there is not similar outrage over the fact "at least 18 other agricultural commodities" already enjoy the same taxpayer assistance under "a board of industry representatives [that] make[s] decisions." The absurdity of a Cheney lackey insisting, "The American Christmas tree has a great image that doesn't need any help from the government" despite the industrys equal insistence that it needed just that is entertaining, but obscures the deeper and broader issue here. I had no idea the various agricultural promotions with which Americans are so familiar were government assisted (not that I was supposed to) and still have no idea WHY. All the same concerns about the cost being passed along to consumer-taxpayers in the form of higher prices exist there, not just on December 25th, but every day, all year. Why are we spending money for government employees to help industries find ways to convince us to spend yet more money on their products that will cost still more money to recoup the fee they pay government for the help?