Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D, MI), chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee, repeated history this week as she began shepherding her panel's second five-year Farm Bill in 12 months through Senate floor action. The White House publicly endorsed the bill, legislation that carries a 10-year $955-billion price tag, and is estimated to save about $18 billion over the same period.

As of late May 22, 194 amendments had been filed for possible consideration - many having nothing to do with the Farm Bill or USDA - and as of late May 23, only about a dozen had been resolved. While Stabenow had hoped to finish the bill this week, the Senate will resume consideration of the bill on Monday, June 3, when it returns from Memorial Day recess.  Stabenow and her ranking member Sen. Thad Cochran (R, MS) - who was relatively quiet through the floor battles - both expressed optimism the Farm Bill will be completed early the week of June 3 and the full Senate will approve the final package.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D, NV) told the full Senate he expected Stabenow and committee ranking member Sen. Thad Cochran (R, MS) to create a "finite list of amendments" leading to final passage of the bill.  This references standard floor procedure where noncontroversial and minor amendments are accepted by both sides for inclusion in the final "substitute" bill to be approved, while a short list of amendments for debate and votes are allowed, most requiring 60 votes for passage.  Reid indicated the final vote on the Senate's Farm Bill will also be the week of June 3.    

Several amendments seeking to modify the federal crop insurance program were offered, ranging from capping insurance premium subsidies at $50,000 per producer to requiring USDA to "drill down" on industry data to better detect and eliminate system fraud, waste and abuse. Stabenow hopes most will be resolved without debate or votes as part of a package of accepted crop insurance changes.  Stabenow vigorously opposed an amendment accepted on the 2012 bill and offered again this year by Sens. Dick Durbin (D, IL) and Tom Coburn (R, OK) to cut federal premium subsidies by 15% on policies held by farmer's with incomes of $750,000 or more, but she was unsuccessful and the amendment was approved.  Stabenow warned the chamber that to approve the amendment would raise insurance premiums on affected farmers by 40%, reduce the acreage required to comply with conservation programs, and place in jeopardy a finely balanced agreement among producer groups, conservation groups and environmentalists to tie crop insurance to conservation compliance.  Durbin prevailed by invoking deficit reduction and spending cuts, echoed by Coburn. Neither the premium provision nor the compliance agreement is in the House bill.

While House Agriculture Committee Chair Frank Lucas (R, OK) would not confirm the timing, sources close to development of the House's five-year Farm Bill report House leadership has told Lucas his bill will be on the floor the week of June 17.  Lucas has confirmed his goal is to have the bill completed and passed by the House before the July 4 recess.

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released its formal analysis of the House bill this week, estimating direct spending will total $940 billion over the next decade and the bill will save just over $40 billion during that period. That 10-year total reflects the bill's authorization of expiring programs through 2018 and an extension of those authorizations through 2023, CBO said.

Sign up now for Kitayama Brothes Design Competition - Register before may 31st and mention CSFA on your application and your entry fee will only be $10.00!  Sign Up Now!

• Kitayama Cup 2013 Green Gerbera Project Rules
• Open House 2013 Final Flyer
• Open House 2013 Schedule

Fun 'N Sun Weekend� 2013

July 17-20

Fess Parker's Doubletree Resort

Santa Barbara, CA

•  Click here for program

(May 24, 2013) To help California employers understand how to implement the Affordable Care Act (ACA), the California Chamber of Commerce will be offering a webinar on June 20. 

Yesterday, Covered California announced that 13 health insurance plans will compete to provide coverage to millions of Californians through the state's new health exchange.

Starting in 2014, employers with 50 or more full-time or "full-time equivalent" employees during the previous calendar year must offer at least minimum essential health care coverage or pay a penalty.

The CalChamber-moderated webinar will feature point-by-point guidance on strategically implementing the act. Special guest presenters Brigen Winters and Tamara Killion of Groom Law Group in Washington, D.C. will cover:

• Cost implications and other key considerations for the "pay or play" mandate;
• Design strategies to minimize liability under interim IRS regulations;
• Ways to calculate employee count correctly; Reporting requirements to show compliance.

Registration

For more information or to register for the Strategies for Employer Compliance Under the Affordable Care Act Webinar (available at no charge to CalChamber members) visit the CalChamber Store or call (800) 331-8877.

Available Health Care Plans

According to Covered California, the plans reflect a mix of large non- profit and commercial plan leaders, along with well-known Medi-Cal and regional plans.

This tentative selection of health plans is subject to a rate review by state regulators.

In the news release, Covered California explains that  it is difficult to make a direct comparison of these rates to existing premiums in the commercial individual market because in 2014, there will be new standard benefit designs under the ACA, and the actual change in an individual's premium will depend on the person's current insurance coverage. 

The rates submitted to Covered California for the 2014 individual market ranged from 2 percent above to 29 percent below the 2013 average premium for small employer plans in California's most populous regions.

Once plan rates are approved by state regulators, Covered California will sign final contracts and begin the work of enrolling millions of Californians in the following health plans: 

• Alameda Alliance for Health
• Anthem Blue Cross of California 
• Blue Shield of California 
• Chinese Community Health Plan
• Contra Costa Health Services
• Health Net Kaiser Permanente
• L.A. Care Health Plan
• Molina Healthcare 
• Sharp Health Plan
• Valley Health Plan
• Ventura County Health Care Plan 
• Western Health Advantage

The current list of insurers is for individual policies only. Covered California will announce its options for small businesses to buy health insurance in June.

About Covered California

Covered California is the first-in-the nation online health insurance marketplace established under the Affordable Care Act (ACA).  It will help individuals and small businesses compare health plans, get answers to questions, find out if they qualify for federal tax credits and enroll in a plan that meets their specific needs.

August CalChamber Webinars

CalChamber is also offering two more health care webinars in August. On August  1 Moss Adams will discuss tax implications of the ACA and on August 15 Wells Fargo Benefits has partnered with CalChamber to discuss employee benefits related to the ACA.

To receive more information on those upcoming webinars, register here.

by: Dennis Albiani, Legislative Advocate

Republican Vidak Picks Up Key Central Valley Senate Seat

Republican farmer Andy Vidak defeated democratic opponent Leticia Perez 51.9% to 41.7% in the heavily democratic San Joaquin Valley district. It was a low turnout election in former Senator Michael Rubio's district. Vidak's victory shaves the democrats' margin in the Senate which will now be 28-12 with Vidak's victory.  Because this was a special election, this Senate seat will be up for vote in the new boundaries in 2014 and is expected to be a rematch between Vidak and Perez.  The new district has almost a 4% more narrow gap between Democrats and Republicans.  To further impact the Senate's supermajority,  Senator Curren Price is due to resign to take a seat on the L.A. City Council meaning the margin would go to 27-12 with another special election to be held to decide Price's seat once he officially resigns.   Below is a link to the official results from the Secretary of State's office.   http://vote.sos.ca.gov/returns/state-senate/district/16/ 

Special Election Fills AD 80

The election to decide Senator Ben Hueso's former Assembly seat was a no contest with Democrat community organizer Lorena Gonzales capturing 72.3% of the vote compared to fellow Democrat Steve Castaneda's 27.7%. http://vote.sos.ca.gov/returns/state-assembly/district/80/ 

Appropriations Deadline Looms

Today, Friday May 24, is the deadline for fiscal committees to meet and pass bills.  Both the Assembly and Senate Appropriations Committees held their "Suspense" hearing on Thursday, May 23.  Next Friday, May 31, is the deadline for bills to pass out of their house of origin.  The association is watching and reporting on key ag labor bills, CEQA bills, air quality control issues and general ag legislation.  In yesterday's Senate Appropriations Committee, most of the bills aimed at creating new taxes on Californians were held by the Senate Appropriations Committee, making it extremely unlikely that taxes on cigarettes, soda, strip clubs, plastic bags or oil extraction will become law this year.   The committee, which reviews all bills with a cost implication for the state, considered 257 bills today as it went through the so-called "suspense file." Members allowed 185 of those to advance to the Senate Floor.

Dear Friends in the Floral Community,

In 2013, Floralife, a division of Smithers-Oasis Company celebrates 75 years servicing the floral community.  We thank want to thank all of our customers for all the years of support and guidance.  Please see our press release attached herewith.

Catherine Jakaitis

Global Marketing Manager
Floralife, a division of Smithers-Oasis Company    

• Click here for Press Release

After three weeks and 301 amendments offered during Senate Judiciary Committee markup, the panel this week approved the bipartisan immigration reform bill on a 13-5 vote.  The panel action drew the endorsement of the Agriculture Workforce Coalition (AWC), the United Farm Workers (UFW), the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) and Western Growers.  

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D, NV) told the full Senate May 23, he will meet with Judiciary Committee Chair Sen. Patrick Leahy (D, VT) to determine when the full Senate will take up the bill, but indicated it will likely be next up after the Senate finishes the Farm Bill. The Associated Press said the bill faces an "epic showdown" on the Senate floor.  In 2007, the last time the Senate tried to pass an immigration reform bill, debate raged for days, only for the bill to fail when supporting groups defected.  

Critical to moving the bill were agreements with Sen. Orrin Hatch (R, UT), ranking committee member, to approve a Hatch amendment to increase the number of visas for high tech workers sought by U.S. employers.  The committee also accepted a version of a failed Hatch amendment to create a biometric exit system at the nation's 30 largest airports to track visa holders.  However, while he voted to move the bill to the floor, Hatch said he's not yet decided if he'll vote to approve the final package during floor debate.  Several amendments were defeated or withdrawn from Senate committee consideration including one by Leahy to recognize same sex couples for immigration protection - Leahy withdrew the amendment "with a heavy heart" after committee members convinced him including it would scuttle the entire package - and another by Sen. Ted Cruz (R, TX) who sought to strip the bill's path to citizenship language. Cruz lost 5-13.   

Prospects for House acceptance of the Senate bill disappeared this week when House Speaker John Boehner (R, OH) said House will not simply take up the Senate bill, but will fashion its own legislation, adding "there are a number of ways in which the House will approach the issue differently." Boehner refused to give a timeline on House action.

For agriculture guest workers, the Senate bill reflects an agreement between the AWC and the UFW on how many workers will be allowed into the U.S., along with pay rates for those workers.  It creates a "Blue Card" program for legal status and eventual citizenship for about half of the estimated 10-12 million undocumented workers in the U.S., and creates two new visa programs allowing ag employers needing both seasonal and full-time employees a stable workforce when U.S. workers can't or won't take jobs.   

A bipartisan House group said this week its efforts remain on track, announcing a tentative agreement on how the House will approach immigration reform from a health care perspective. Nearly derailed over criticism over whether illegal immigrants waiting to be citizens will qualify for federal health care benefits, the group announced undocumented workers will not qualify for Medicare or taxpayer subsidies to join health insurance exchanges, but will have to pay their own medical bills through personal insurance or face deportation. Both Boehner and Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D, CA) approved the agreement.  

Meanwhile, Boehner asked separate House committees to work on portions of overall immigration reform.  The Judiciary Committee held hearings and is preparing to vote on a bill to reform the ag guest worker program, and a separate bill on enhancing the E-Verify electronic employment verification system; last week, the House Homeland Security Committee approved a bill to enhance border security.

The 4th. Annual Floral Design Competition will be held on Sunday, June 23, 2013 from 10:30 AM to 2:30 PM on the Paul Ecke Jr. Flower and Garden Show Stage during the 2013 San Diego County Fair.

This is an open competition and you are cordially invited to join by participating or just watching. This year's event is assisted by Shinoda Design Center. Event segments will include, Designers Choice,  Surprise Package Competition  and the Award Presentation

Event Highlights include, Master of Ceremonies David Root, a prominent San Diego floral designer, lecturer and teacher. Root's imaginative ideas and unique creations have captured more than 125 awards,

A very special novice class in the program this year will feature our United States Military Wounded Warriors where a select group of our military heroes take command of the stage and (with help from the audience) drill each other in competitive fun to create the "people's choice" floral design.    

Also on the schedule is special floral design demonstration featuring Jolene De Hoog owner of The Dutch Flower. Following the demonstration will be the unveiling of her new book "The Dutch Flower Montage" and a live book signing.

Deadline for online registration is Friday, May 17. Entry Fee: $50, Cash Awards: 1st., $350.00,  2nd., $200.00, 3rd., $100.00. For online registration visit our website at www.sdfair.com/entry or call (858) 792-4273. *NOTE: Previous first place winners of the San Diego County Fair Floral Design Competition or Cal State Top Ten Competition are not eligible to compete.

"Game On!" is the theme for the 2013 San Diego County Fair. Get ready to PLAY! The summer of 2013 promises to be filled with fun and games galore for 24 days. The "Game On!" theme invites everyone young and old to have the time of their lives. The Fair will spotlight classic and nostalgic games we grew up with and show how games have evolved over the years. From board games and pinball, to television, videos and computers, technology has enhanced the gaming culture beyond our wildest dreams.

The San Diego County Fair is the largest annual event in San Diego County and is the 4th largest Fair in North America. In 2012, the Fair drew more than 1.5 million visitors, breaking the record for the fourth consecutive year. The 2013 San Diego County Fair will open on Saturday, June 8 and run through Thursday, July 4. The Fair will be closed the first three Mondays, June 10, 17, and 24.

For information about the 2013 Flower and Garden Show contact:

Flower & Garden Show Office 858-792-4273

Online Flower and Garden Show event entry form www.sdfair.com/entry.

Don't miss this unique all-day, live wedding event during the 2013 San Diego County Fair held on June 30th, 2013  at 10:00 am to 6:30 pm. The event is presented by the Flower & Garden Show featuring floral demonstrations, designer creations, new ideas and latest tips. Come early, stay late and watch and learn from select teams of expert floral designers and wedding professionals create the perfect wedding with unique romantic settings to display top-trending style themes. Then, be part of the festivities and join a heartwarming live ceremony. Yes, it can be your real wedding ( bring your marriage license), or just renew your vows, or take free photos for your Save The Date Pictures.

Participate in the moment by renewing your own vows at this unforgettable setting. Contact your free wedding coordinator www.bridalstopandevents.com The event concludes with cutting of the cake and throwing the bouquet.  You are cordially invited to participate by exchanging vows with your own special someone!

"Game On!" is the theme for the 2013 San Diego County Fair. Get ready to PLAY! The summer of 2013 promises to be filled with fun and games galore for 24 days. The "Game On!" theme invites everyone young and old to have the time of their lives. The Fair will spotlight classic and nostalgic games we grew up with and show how games have evolved over the years. From board games and pinball, to television, videos and computers, technology has enhanced the gaming culture beyond our wildest dreams.

The San Diego County Fair is the largest annual event in San Diego County and is the 4th largest Fair in North America. In 2012, the Fair drew more than 1.5 million visitors, breaking the record for the fourth consecutive year.

The 2013 San Diego County Fair will open on Saturday, June 8 and run through Thursday, July 4. The Fair will be closed the first three Mondays, June 10, 17, and 24.

For information about the 2013 Flower and Garden Show contact:

Flower & Garden Show Office 858-792-4273

For general fair information, visit www.sdfair.com.    

Online Flower and Garden Show event entry form www.sdfair.com/entry.

CALIFORNIA CERTIFIED FLORIST (CCF)

EXAM PREPARATION CLASSES SCHEDULED

The California State Floral Association (CSFA) &  

The California Certified Florist (CCF) Program

Present:

CCF Prep Classes

Sunday, September 22nd

Two Locations:

A To Wholesale Floral Supply Inc.  

1511 E. McFadden Avenue,

Santa Ana, CA  92705

Northern California - Location To Be Announced

MARK YOUR CALENDARS!!

For More Information call the CSFA office at 916-448-5266 or go to the CCF website at:  www.californiacertifiedflorist.org