The Obama administration has reversed its decision to approve a new tax on Christmas trees after conservative critics accused the White House of spoiling Christmas. 

"The American Christmas tree has a great image that doesn't need any help from the government," said David Addington, a former chief of staff to Vice President Dick Cheney. 

"This new tax is a smack in the face to each and every American who celebrates Christmas, and may be the best example to date of President Obama's obsession with taxing and regulating hard-working American families," Rep. Steve Scalise, R-La., said.

The Agriculture Department had planned to charge a 15-cent fee on fresh Christmas trees.

The money was to be used to support a new federal program to improve the image and marketing of Christmas trees.
    
The Heritage Foundation reports that the new charge applied to anyone who sells more than 500 trees a year.    
    
It noted, however, that the sellers would likely pass along the fee to consumers.