The first year of the two year legislative session has just concluded.  This was an historic first year having a legislature where both houses had 2/3 super majorities, all statewide offices were held by Democrats and we had an improving budget.  The legislators elected for the first time in 2012 are allowed to serve 12 years in one house of the Legislature.  

Additionally, � of the Assembly were new members.  The longer career horizon for the legislators led to less bills being introduced 2540 total bills compared with over 3000, less bills going to the Governor at the end of session 568 compared with over 700 on average and the legislature attempting to engage in more oversight of the administrative agencies.  

Not much of the fears of the business community were realized.  While several tax bills were introduced, including: a split role property tax bill; a sugar beverage tax bill and a bill reducing parcel tax votes to 55%, none moved past the first house.   However, two labor bills of concern are headed to the Governor.  The Governor must act on all bills by October 14th.

AB 10 (Alejo) Minimum Wage Indexed to Inflation - This bill would increase the minimum wage to $9 an hour on July 1, 2014, and $10 an hour on July 1, 2016. 

(Pending Governor's Action)

SB 25 (Steinberg) Agriculture Labor Disputes - This measure would amend the binding arbitration timelines for ag labor disputes.   (Pending Governor's Action)

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The House approved by vote of 230 to 189 a FY 14 Continuing Resolution (H.J.Res. 59) that will fund the federal government through December 15 at current year levels (keeping sequestration in place) and also eliminates funding for the Affordable Care Act among other provisions.  The legislation provides funding for MAP and FMD at existing levels ($200 million and $34.5 million respectively), subject to enactment of a new Farm Bill or an extension of current law.

December 1st, 2013 Training Requirements for the Revised Hazard Communication Standard

OSHA revised its Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) to align with the United Nations' Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals GHS) and published it in the Federal Register in March 2012 (77 FR 17574). Two significant changes contained in the revised standard require the use of new labeling elements and a standardized format for Safety Data Sheets (SDSs), formerly known as, Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs). The new label elements and SDS requirements will improve worker understanding of the hazards associated with the chemicals in their workplace. To help companies comply with the revised standard, OSHA is phasing in the specific requirements over several years (December 1, 2013 to June 1, 2016).

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With no Democrats voting "aye" and five not voting, along with 15 Republican defections, the House GOP barely squeaked out a victory in passing a stand-alone nutrition bill that seeks to cut the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) by $39 billion over 10 years.   

Several national agriculture groups while silent on the bill, released statements after the vote demanding House Speaker John Boehner (R, OH) name conferees to negotiate a final 2013 Farm Bill.  Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D, CT), however, in a fiery floor speech against the bill, called out "corporate farms," income support payments - "members of this chamber may receive these payments" -- federal crop insurance subsidies and other aspects of the House-passed Farm Bill as examples of a GOP double standard on spending cuts.

Supporters of federal food stamp benefits - received by 47.8 million people in June - took to the floor to denounce the bill, the brainchild of House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R, VA), as taking food assistance away from 3.8 million children, elderly and military veterans, particularly in areas of high unemployment. Opponents argued the program is fiscally out of control, has lax eligibility requirements and needs to include work requirements to qualify for federal food assistance. The President said again last night he'll veto the bill if it reaches his desk, unlikely given statements from Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D, NV) - "the Senate will never pass such hateful legislation" - that he'll not bring the stand-alone bill to the Senate floor.  Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Debbie Stabenow (D, MI) said the bill is dead on arrival in the Senate.

The bill reduces so-called eligibility waivers and increases the requirements to automatically qualify for SNAP benefits. "Anyone subjected to the work requirement under this bill who are able bodied, under 50 will not be denied benefits if only they are willing to sign up for the opportunity for work," said Cantor.

House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R, VA) has his stand-alone nutrition bill cutting $39 billion out of federal food stamp spending, but does this mean the House will name conferees and move quickly to conference?  Not likely, given the procedural complexities Cantor created when he carved the nutrition title out of the House omnibus farm legislation.

Both House Agriculture Committee Chair Frank Lucas (R, OK) and his Senate counterpart Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D, MI), in their own ways, see the nutrition bill as just another halting step toward conference committee action on a 2013 Farm Bill.  Stabenow roundly denounced the House action on nutrition, but said in a statement, "The good news is that now that this vote is behind us, we are close to the finish line."  Lucas in his statement said, "Let's go to conference."

The stand-alone nutrition bill will move to the Senate on two tracks.  First, the bill will be sent over to the Senate for individual consideration, but Senate action is unlikely.  The bill will also be combined with the previously approved House Farm Bill as a new nutrition title before House conferees can be appointed.  House Agriculture Committee Chair Frank Lucas (R, OK) said this could happen next week in the Rules Committee. The House will have to vote to combine the two bills by approving the expected Rules Committee action.  By combining the Farm Bill nutrition rule with a larger rule governing other floor action, a replay of yesterday's bitter floor fight can likely be avoided, staff said.

House Speaker John Boehner (R, OH) said it's likely Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D, NV) will have to reappoint Senate conferees, a largely procedural move. "After we pass the nutrition bill today, we will send it over to the Senate, and as I understand it, the Senate will probably have to reappoint conferees.  When they ask for a conference, we will appoint our conferees as well, the sooner the better," Boehner said.  

Boehner also hinted at a press conference he could name conferees on the bill who are not on the agriculture committee, another untraditional move. When asked about such conferees, his response was "we will see."

A bill to set energy efficiency standards by providing incentives to both the private sector and the federal government may be pulled from Senate floor consideration by Majority Leader Harry Reid (D, NV) if an agreement on proposed Republican amendments on the federal health care law can't be reached.  Even with an agreement, however, a week-long delay in floor action on the bill means Reid may have to move to other time-sensitive legislation, including a continuing spending resolution, before resuming action on the energy bill.

Debate last week stalled when Sen. David Vitter (R, LA) demanded a vote on an amendment to the new federal health care law to require the President and other specified executive branch officials to enter health care exchanges without receiving any federal offset to their health insurance premiums.  Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R, KY) pushed an amendment to delay the individual health care mandate on the purchase of health care insurance.

Democrats are reportedly developing an alternative amendment to Vitter's action; Reid has promised votes on the Vitter and McConnell amendments. However, as of September 19, Reid threatened to pull the energy bill off the floor if no agreement over the amendments is reached.

The energy bill, authored by Sens. Jean Shaheen (D, VT) and Rob Portman (R, OH) is likely the only major piece of energy legislation to be considered this session by the Senate.  It seeks to boost building code standards, train workers in energy efficient building technologies, help manufacturers be more energy efficient and bolster conservation efforts by the federal government.

The bill was endorsed in a letter from an unlikely group of organizations, including the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), the Alliance to Save Energy and the Business Roundtable.  The groups said the bill "reflects a bipartisan, consensus agreement on a set of energy policies that will benefit the economy, advance energy security and improve the quality of the environment."

Sens. Roy Blunt (R, MO) and Joe Donnelly (D, IN) plan to offer an amendment to block any EPA rulemaking mandating "best available technologies" on carbon capture and storage for new coal-fired power plants if the technology is not broadly commercially "viable" and available.  

The Blunt/Donnelly language would require EPA source performance standards for power plants to set limits tailored to the fuel used to power the plant, but based on "widely demonstrated and commercially viable technology."  Without such language, say supporters of coal powered plants, new plant construction will be impossible.

Expected if floor consideration resumes is an amendment or a joint resolution by Sen. John Hoeven (R, ND) and Sen. Mary Landrieu (D, LA) expressing the sense of Congress that the Keystone XL pipeline project is in the national interest of the U.S.  An amendment may carry stronger language, going as far as requiring the approval of the controversial pipeline project.  Hoeven pushed a non-binding vote on the Keystone project during Senate consideration of its budget resolution earlier in the summer and received 62 votes in favor of the project.

ALEXANDRIA, VA. (Sept. 19, 2013) - The words "murder," "sex" and "greed" aren't normally associated with floriculture, unless you are the American Floral Endowment (AFE), which tonight at their annual fundraising dinner launched a fresh and eye-opening approach to educating the industry about the positive impacts it makes on critical industry problems.

"It's no secret that flowers and plants make people happy," Paul Bachman, AFE Chairman and President of Bachman's, Inc., said. "However, AFE and the many ways it benefits the entire floral industry are secrets that need to be discovered by more retailers, wholesalers, growers, importers and allied organizations. We took a somewhat surprising approach so that people will take notice."

AFE, an independent nonprofit organization that funds research and scholarships in floriculture and environmental horticulture created a custom animated short video, spotlighting how AFE-funded research supports healthier and longer lasting flowers and plants and how its scholarships and grants promote training and hands-on experience for future industry leaders.

The animated video is the primary communications vehicle for carrying AFE's new message to industry members. Murder, sex and greed describe solutions AFE-funded research has unearthed, from controlling and eliminating pests and diseases to solving breeding and genetic issues. The video has custom animation and musical score and is intended to be shared digitally member-to-member in order to increase awareness and contributions, which can be made online.

Murder, Sex, Greed

AFE has also created vehicles and materials to enable industry members to share the video, including digital ads and banners, newsletter articles and language for use in social media. Those interested in helping spread the word, can contact AFE Communications Specialist Suzanna McCloskey via the above contact information or visit AFE's website for ads in multiple sizes.

"For more than 50 years, the Endowment's work has benefited everyone," Bachman said. "We're hoping the new video effectively reinforces all the good that has been accomplished thanks to our current donor base, as well as introduces a new generation of supporters to AFE."

Gallup & Stribling Orchids - 3450 Via Real, Carpinteria, CA

Saturday, October 12^th

California Certified Florist (CCF) Testing

Education Workshops

Evening Student Design Competition

Sunday, October 13^th

Top Ten Design Competition

Trade Show

Afternoon Design Show Sponsored by FTD Featuring

Deborah De La Flor, AIFD, PFCI

Click on links for all important documents below...   

• PROGRAM
• 2013 DESIGN WORKSHOPS
• REGISTRATION FORM
• SILENT AUCTION
• TOP TEN COMPETITION
• STUDENT COMPETITION

Get More Details/Register:

Call CSFA:  916-448-5266

Email:  ann@agamsi.com

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

MARK YOUR CALENDARS!!

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