Pumpkins in the Pea Patch?

Iowa Democrats will have their caucuses in early January. Iowa tax coffers are scheduled to be augmented by additional sales tax within this quarter from the sales of pumpkins. Pumpkins you say? Of course. Numerous governments at all levels have become creative taxers: if it moves, tax it! If it doesn't move, tax it anyway!

As reported by Ken Fuson of the Des Moines Register: "Renee Mulvey, the department's [Iowa Department of Revenue] spokeswoman, said officials decided that pumpkins are used primarily for Halloween decorations, not food, and should be taxed. Previously, they had been considered an edible squash and exempted from the tax."

Wow! Golly Gee! That's great logic used by the Department. Tax the kids for carving their pumpkins. Tax the adults for decorating their porches. But, wait! There is an exemption. If the consumer fills out an exemption form stating that the pumpkin will be used for food, then it remains non-taxable. I suggest getting the exemption and cleaning, roasting, and eating the seeds. You can carve or discard the unused container as you wish. Now, does the Department really expect total consumer honesty on the exemption form? Many embattled consumers will say the pumpkins purchased are for food and then go ahead and carve them.

Naturally, the only way for the Department to protect its new tax is to create a task force of armed state police to go to the houses of the signed exemptees and check whether or not the aforesaid pumpkins are really in the pumpkin pie and not on the front porch.

In the near future, will the State determine as taxable all oranges and cloves used together for Christmas decorations? And cranberries and popcorn used to trim a tree? Or peppermint canes used for house decoration? Or rice used at weddings? Or tomatoes thrown at bad actors? Or the eggs so often on my face? The list goes on.

Congratulations and a large, one-handed applause to the Iowa Department of Revenue for a job well done.

Flash!!! Per CNN: "Iowa Governor Chet Culver on Wednesday ordered the Department of Revenue "to do the common sense thing" and offer refunds for anyone affected by the 'ridiculous' policy." [It took him long enough. People all over the country are laughing at the Io-way of taxation.]

*Wow! I didn't realize I was so influential. I just wrote this thing and bam! The Governor woke up from his beauty sleep and---'acted wisely.'