Taxing Christmas

The Obama administration (though probably not Obama specifically) has announced a new 15 cent tax on live Christmas trees.  The best part of the tax is that the revenue is intended to promote real Christmas tree purchases!  When has a tax ever increased commerce for that product?

To be fair, 3/4 of the industry is in favor of this new tax, which funds an estimated $2 million ad campaign for real Christmas trees.  But this begs the question - how is this the role of government?!  If private tree farms want to fund a public relations campaign, they do not need the government to do so.  If artificial tree manufacturers decided they need a PR campaign as well, will the federal government organize a tax on their products as well?  What about Menorahs for Hanukkah or fireworks for the 4th of July?

I almost forgot, the preferred nomenclature is now "Holiday Tree," not the intolerant Christmas Tree.