SAF Joins Forces With Business Groups in Letter to Boehner

The Society of American Florists

SAF joined 636 business organizations in signing a letter to House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) urging that the House move forward on immigration reform this year. The letter, organized by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, was also sent to Majority Leader Cantor, Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy and Republican Conference Chair Cathy McMorris-Rodgers.

It urges the House Republican Conference to use the standards released by House Republican leaders in January as a guide.

“The timing on this letter couldn’t be more perfect, in advance of SAF Congressional Action Days,” says SAF’s Lin Schmale. “It specifically notes agriculture’s needs. We believe that agriculture has made its case and desperately needs reform this year—in fact, we have needed it for several years!”

The large and diverse cross-section of American businesses signing the letter clearly points to the great economic consequences of failure to move forward this year.

The letter says: “We are united in the belief that we can and must do better for our economy and country by modernizing our immigration system. Done properly, reform will deter illegal immigration, protect and complement our U.S. workforce, better respond to changing economic and demographic needs, and generate greater productivity and economic activity, while respecting family unity.... Failure to act is not an option.”

“During Congressional Action Days, we will be adding floriculture’s voices once again to what is becoming an increasingly loud call for action,” Schmale said. “If you’re not at CAD, you’re missing a chance to help move one of the great issues of our era.”

Congress Looks to Define “Full Time”
An Affordable Care Act provision that many SAF members feel is unreasonable and out of touch with the floral industry workforce comes before the House of Representatives in late March. Representatives are expected to vote on legislation to raise the ACA’s definition of full-time work from 30 to 40 hours of service per week. At press time, the vote had not been cast of yet.

“The 30-hour rule is, hands down, the biggest issue with the ACA that we have heard about from our members,” said SAF Senior Director of Government Relations Corey Connors. “Thirty hours a week is simply not considered full-time employment throughout the floral industry. This arbitrary line in the sand limits health benefits options for both employers and employees.”

The ACA’s employer mandate to offer coverage to all full-time employees becomes effective for plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2015, and the various enforcement delays announced by the Obama administration do nothing to change the law’s underlying definition of “full-time,” Connors said. To amend that definition, Congress must pass legislation and the President must sign it into law.

Amending the definition of full-time employment is one of the issues that industry members took to Capitol Hill during SAF’s 34th Annual Congressional Action Days.

Score One for Employers: Final Healthcare Regs Ease Some Provisions
Three years of lobbying by SAF paid off on when the Obama Administration released regulations that give employers more flexibility on how to comply with several provisions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

The U.S. Department of Treasury’s regulations regarding the Employer Shared Responsibility provisions of the ACA clarify how the federal government will enforce employer-related provisions of the ACA in 2015 and beyond. Notably, the regulations include several components of transition relief for which SAF and its partners in the Employers for Flexibility in Health Care (E-FLEX) coalition have advocated since the ACA passed in 2010.

“SAF truly appreciates the Administration’s efforts to accommodate concerns expressed by the business community with the relief provided in this final rule,” said SAF Senior Director of Government Relations Corey Connors.

The transition relief provided by Treasury includes:

Employer Mandate “Phase-In” for Mid-Sized Employers—Large employer mandate penalties will not apply until January 2016, instead of January 2015, for businesses between 50 and 99 full-time employees if the employer provides a certification as described by the regulation.
Percentage of Workforce Receiving Offer of Coverage—Businesses that are subject to large employer mandate provisions in 2015 must offer coverage to at least 70% of their full-time employees to avoid penalties, down from 95% in preliminary rulemaking. The 95% offer of coverage will take effect for all large employers in 2016.
Previous Transition Relief Adopted in Final Rule—Additional E-FLEX recommendations that made it into the final rulemaking include a more common sense way to determine an employee’s full-time status and whether a plan meets the ACA’s affordability standard, and more clarity on spouse and dependent coverage, among other measures. GT

“SAF in the Lobby” is produced by the Society of American Florists, 1601 Duke Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22314; Tel: (703) 836-8700 or (800) 336-4743; Fax: (703) 836-8705; or visit the SAF Web site: www.safnow.org. For more information on legislative issues, contact the Government Relations Department.