Prior to convening the meeting, the White House released and 11-page summary that makes changes to the Senate bill that would increase the costs an additional $75 billion. The proposal (highlight) is basically a convergence report - the blending of the House and Senate bills; it was written by the White House. The plan costs $950 billion over 10 years.

Stay tuned for more updates from the summit.

Message The Administration unveiled its FY2011 budget yesterday. The $3.8 trillion budget request includes a provision for permanent extension of the estate tax at 2009 levels - 3.5 million per person and a top rate of $45 percent.

During Congressional Action Days, SAF members will be visiting their Senators and Representatives we need permanence and the most generous level of relief possible. Congress can still pass an estate tax bill that includes more rate relief and a higher exemption which would protect more small floral businesses from this onerous tax. If Congress does nothing the estate tax will snap back to higher rates and a very low exemption in 2011.

Looking for more information on the 2011 budget proposal? Check here or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

SAF staff attended the Small Business Coalition for Affordable Healthcare meeting yesterday to discuss key small business provisions in the health care overhaul legislation. With many provisions that create a disincentive to hire, the coalition is planning a national call-in day.

Ping Pong Begins Next Week on Health Care Reform: With the House back in session and the Senate returning to work on January 20th, the "ping pong" will begin soon. Instead of using a formal conference process where the House and Senate players meet to iron out differences, they will use the "ping-pong" procedure - the formal term is "messages between the Houses." This is procedurally simpler than a conference. After the final version is complete, the Congressional Budget Office will provide a cost estimate before a final vote by Congress.

State of the Union Date Not Set - No one knows for sure when the President will deliver his State of the Union address. It turns out the White House does not choose the date - the Speaker of the House has that prerogative - so Speaker Pelosi will invite the President to come to the Hill. Ideally, health care reform will be signed before the state of the union but the negotiations are in flux. She is still mulling Feb. 2 or Feb. 9th.  So stay tuned.

The clock is ticking on Congress to take up the Estate Tax, but it is becoming increasingly likely that the issue will become one of the more controversial topics during the pending election year. Unless the Senate acts quickly before recessing for Christmas, which all indicators point to this not happening, the estate tax will expire for 2010 and return to a higher level of a 55 percent tax and $1 Million exemption for 2011.

Keep it tuned here for more information and be on the lookout for Week in Review this week for more information on the status of the Estate Tax.