Providing quality health care benefits is a top priority for SAF and its member companies. The rapidly rising costs of health care and insurance premiums, limited access to insurance and care, and the need for medical malpractice liability reform are all serious concerns that must be addressed by Congress. Conservative estimates show the number of uninsured in the United States at approximately 45 million, with over 60 percent of those employed by small businesses.
The floral industry is sensitive to rising labor costs, and health care is one of the biggest costs. Benefits are often used as a competitive tool to attract and retain employees. Yet many members cannot afford to offer their staff coverage because of the many barriers including high and rising cost of premiums cost and the lack of options in the small group market.
Confused about how the recently passed and signed health care bill is going to effect your business? Let SAF alleviate some of your worries by breaking down some of the parts that you should be concerned about. In our most recent edition of Wednesday E-brief, we had a look at some of the major provisions of the bill.
Take a look at this article to find out a bit more information about the newly signed legislation. Look for a feature article in next month's Floral Management Magazine as well.
The President has invited the leaders of the House and Senate to a health care reform summit meeting on February 25th. The summit will be televised and is supposed to be a last effort to find common ground that would enable them to pass a bill.
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.
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 Senate has made their first step towards bringing health care legislation to the floor. On Saturday, Nov. 21 the Senate passed a motion by a vote of 60-39 to begin debate on the Health Care bill. Debate will begin when the Senate returns from the Thanksgiving Day recess period on Monday, Nov. 30.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-N.V.) has hinted at the possibility that debate will last three weeks with a vote on final passage occuring before the New Year.
SAF asks that their members to be prepared to contact their Senators when key issues to floral industry members are being debated in the upcoming weeks.
Floriculture Legislative Issues 
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-N.V.) has hinted at the possibility that debate will last three weeks with a vote on final passage occuring before the New Year.