If are you attending CAD, and you use Twitter, make sure you keep up with the #CAD2010 Hashtag. Attendees are encouraged to use this on their tweets when posting comments and questions about Congressional Action Days.

Just got out of an important meeting? Did you see a key Senator or Representative in the hallway? If so, tweet about it and share it with other attendees and SAF mebmers.

See you at CAD!

Before joining the firm, Sullivan served as the highest ranking government official charged with exclusively advocating the views and needs of small business before government agencies and Congress during his seven-year tenure as Chief Counsel for Advocacy in the Small Business Administration. As Chief Counsel, Sullivan headed a team of attorneys and economists who worked to remove regulatory barriers and to elevate small business visibility within all levels of government. The SBA's Office of Advocacy under his tenure helped save America's business community more than $65 billion. Inc. magazine in 2006 named Sullivan "an entrepreneur's best friend in Washington, DC."

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.

SAF just recently released the issues that CAD attendees will be bringing to Capitol Hill and CAD veterans will see some they recognize. This year you'll be taking a total of five issues to the hill: immigration reform, estate tax reform, health care reform, floriculture research funding and the Employee Free Choice Act.

A couple of these might be familiar to experienced CAD attendees, but every year it is important to make sure the staff members and lawmakers know how they affect your business and the floral industry. The turnover within a committee and even a congressional office is very high on Capitol Hill. Staff members are moving between offices and to other positions within the same one. This doesn't even include the lawmakers that retire or fail to win re-election. House members are up every two years and Senators face re-election every six.

So what does this mean for you? Just because you attended CAD in 2009, spoke to your lawmaker, and they are still in office now doesn't mean you can assume that the staff knows how the issues affect the your business. You might be talking to a new staff member or a completely new congressional staff!

Each CAD is as imporant if not more then the last. If you haven't registered, reserve your spot today for March 8-9 in Washington DC.

Unless you have been living under a rock somewhere, you probably have heard by now that the Nation's Capitol has been absolutely doused with snow in the last five days; with another storm on the way. The federal government has even shut down (which never happens) but that is old news.

The real news is that SAF's Congressional Action Days is just a month away!

March 8-9 snuck up on you and I can say this with confidence; you won't have to deal with the blizzard like conditions we have now. It will be perfect weather for you to make an impact on Capitol Hill in meetings with your lawmakers and other SAF members.

Appointments are being made as we speak, so make sure you have reserved your spot for the 30th Annual CAD. Your business needs to be represented!

Register at www.CongressionalActionDays.com

SAFPAC Gold Club supporters will be treated to an informative talk from Congressman Steve LaTourette (R-14-Ohio). LaTourette, a supporter of the floriculture and nursery industry, as well as small business. He will address SAFPAC Gold Club members during lunch on Tuesday's event at SAF's 30th Annual Congressional Action Days.

Don't forget to register today for SAF's Congressional Action Days and if you would like more information about SAFPAC and what it does for you and your business, contact Brian Gamberini at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .