ANLA Knowledge Center

Washington Impact brings you up to date on the critical issues facing greenhouse and nursery growers, landscape firms and garden retailers (in language you don't have to live in Washington to understand!). Learn how Washington works and the true power you wield with decision makers. Get the latest compliance resources and learn what you can do to protect your business.

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IN EPISODE 5

Unintended Consequences: When Good Laws Go Wrong

Congress, in the 1980's significantly increased penalties for drunk driving. The result? An increase in the number of hit and run accidents (they later increased penalties for leaving the scene of an accident.) The Kudzu "plague" in the south? It was first introduced by the government for erosion control. Sometimes the best of intentions go horribly wrong. Worker safety protections make it impossible to actually do any work, environmental efforts promote parking lots over plantings. Sometimes your business needs protections from even the best intended laws. How are "good" laws in Washington Impacting your business?

EPISODE GUIDE

Episode 1

Who Will Do the Work?
Plants don't get grown, shipped, sold or installed without manual labor. Yet that very foundation is under threat. Fully 50% of our industry's workforce is comprised of immigrant workers. Even those growers, garden retailers, landscape firms or distributors who don't employ immigrant labor rely on vendors and customers who can't survive without them. Unworkable guest worker programs are getting worse, enforcement is increasing and American workers are increasingly moving away from manual labor, especially when it comes to farming. What is Washington's Impact on the workers who grow, ship, install and maintain the plants you sell?

Episode 2

SPECIAL EDITION: Mid-Term Election Results Analysis
The 2010 mid-term elections are over. The Republicans have re-gained control of the House and eroded the Democratic lead in the Senate. But what do these changes really mean? Will more get done? How will the "Tea Party" candidates influence the Republican caucus?

Most importantly, what do these changes mean for our industry and our biggest issues like the Estate Tax, reauthorizing President Bush's tax breaks, immigration reform and health care? Craig Regelbrugge, ANLA's Vice President of Government Relations offers his perspective from twenty years advocating for the nursery and landscape industry on Capitol Hill.

Episode 3

Banned: Fertilizer, Pest and Disease Controls, Watering
Imagine trying to grow plants or maintain a landscape without water, pest and disease controls, or fertilizer. Recent moves from regulators, testing the limits of their authority, suggest an increase risk of restrictions on these critical industry resources. Our neighbors in Canada face widespread bans on the use of chemical pesticides and disease controls, severely restricting both commercial application and consumer sales. Several states in the US have eliminated the use of phosphorus in fertilizers. The EPA is promoting the planting of landscapes that require less water. What are the risks and how will Washington Impact on your business' access to water, chemicals and fertilizers?

Episode 4

More Than Just Pretty: The Perceived Value of Plants and the Managed Landscape
Your local politicians see public parks as an expense, but public parking as a revenue generator. The EPA thinks your customers' landscapes contribute to overtaxed landfills, while their efficient washing machine contributes to a healthy environment. Tax credits support the purchase of a new refrigerator, but your customers receive no benefit for investing in the future energy savings that will be generated by planting a tree. What is Washington's Impact on your business when they don't understand that plants are more than just pretty?

Episode 5 NOW PLAYING

Unintended Consequences: When Good Laws Go Wrong
Congress, in the 1980's significantly increased penalties for drunk driving. The result? An increase in the number of hit and run accidents (they later increased penalties for leaving the scene of an accident.) The Kudzu "plague" in the south? It was first introduced by the government for erosion control. Sometimes the best of intentions go horribly wrong. Worker safety protections make it impossible to actually do any work, environmental efforts promote parking lots over plantings. Sometimes your business needs protections from even the best intended laws. How are "good" laws in Washington Impacting your business?

Episode 6

Breaking News: E-Verify Debate Begins in Congress
Congress has begun debating a bill which threatens to eliminate a significant percentage of America’s 7 million undocumented workers – with no solution for replacing them. This issue will shape the future of the greenhouse, nursery, garden retail and landscape industry.

Episode 7

Lockdown: The Future of Interstate and International Movement of Plants
While it's true that all politics are local, your sources for plant material are not. The domestic trade in nursery and greenhouse plants relies on the easy transportation of plant material across state lines. When pest and disease problems arise, we need a consistent and efficient way to identify problems without unnecessarily burdening the transportation of healthy plants. Emerald Ash Borer, P. ramorum, and Ralstonia and Wooly Adelgid have all tested the limits of this system. Just as important is the ability to import unrooted cuttings and new genetics into the US from foreign countries (yes, we're talking about Q37!). How does Washington Impact your ability to ship and receive the plants your business depends on?

Episode 8

Raise Revenue. Cut Spending.
This summer's debt ceiling debate was just the start of a fight that will take center stage through the 2012 elections. There are only two ways to reduce the deficit. What spending is expendable and how can Congress raise billions without passing a single new tax? Discover how Washington's Impact on the deficit may cost you and your business more money and cut services our industry relies on.

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	What Your Civics Teacher Didn't Tell You: The Law of Unintended Consequences Unintended consequences can be far greater than just a Congressional "oops!" Bob Dolibois offers his perspective on the true risk and how our industry can protect itself.
	What's Keeping You Up at Night? Keep Your Friends Close Craig Regelbrugge examines how a 1 billion tree planting program hurt your business and the very real, unintended downside of e-verify.	NOW PLAYING
	Collateral Damage: We Mean You No Harm How does a bill designed to align government spending with corporate interests end up favoring big business and diverting funding from the governments own research programs? Marc Teffeau looks at unintended damage from regulators and NGO's.
	When the Best of Intentions Goes Horribly Wrong Reducing foreign energy dependence and cutting the federal budget are goals most Americans can get behind. Hadley Sosnoff asks, "So how could they produce such damaging legislation?"

MEET THE CAST

Bob D.

Craig R.

Marc T.

Hadley S.

		Bob Dolibois Robert J. Dolibois, CAE, is executive vice president of the American Nursery & Landscape Association (ANLA). Bob's association management career has spanned 36 years with organizations including Association Management Group (AMG)and the National Association of Life Underwriters (NALU). He is immediate Past Chairman of the Board of the Small Business Legislative Council and is a member of the Committee of 100 of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Dolibois received the Certified Association Executive (CAE) designation in 1979. Following college, he served as a naval officer for five years. He and his wife, Susan, reside in Arlington, VA. bdolibois@anla.org http://www.anla.org

		Craig Regelbrugge Craig Regelbrugge serves as the American Nursery & Landscape Association's Vice President for Government Relations and Research. He serves in several leadership positions regarding the green industry and labor and immigration reform. He is national co-chair of the Agriculture Coalition for Immigration Reform (ACIR), working to secure an affordable and legal workforce for nursery and greenhouse growers. In 2008 he was elected vice chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Immigration Forum, and represents agriculture and the green industry on the management team of the Reform Immigration FOR America campaign. cregelbrugge@anla.org http://www.anla.org

		Marc Teffeau Marc Teffeau is ANLA's Director of Research and Regulatory Affairs. He directs the activities of the Horticultural Research Institute (HRI) related to the scientific community for research and statistics, as well as managing the details and relationships associated with the USDA - ARS Floricultural and Nursery Research Initiative. In the regulatory area he represents the industry's interests with key federal agencies such as EPA, OSHA and USDA. Prior to joining ANLA's staff in October, 2004 Marc completed a 30 year faculty career as an Extension educator with the University of Maryland Cooperative Extension and Maryland's Eastern Shore. And he is just waiting for you to ask him about the "chicken feather pot" project. Seriously. mteffeau@anla.org http://www.anla.org

		Hadley Sosnoff Hadley Sosnoff is the American Nursery & Landscape Association's Director of Government Relations. He comes to ANLA from serving as Legislative Director for former Congressman, and nurseryman, Walt Minnick. During that time Hadley worked with Walt on many issues of critical concern to the nursery and landscape industry including immigration, the BCAP threat to our industry's bark supply, and governemnt support for community-based tree planting efforts. hsosnoff@anla.org http://www.anla.org

For More Information...

From its beginnings as a wholesale cut flower operation started by George J. Ball in 1905, Ball Horticultural Company has grown into a leader in all facets of floriculture, with distribution capabilities in all of the major world markets. Since its founding, Ball has introduced many innovative, award-winning varieties to the world of horticulture, including the Wave® Petunia series, and Super Elfin® Impatiens. The company has also expanded to include nursery product offerings, perennials, and dedicated support for retail and landscape businesses. Ball is also on a continuous, many-faceted journey to find the healthiest, most sustainable solutions for the horticulture industry, and is committed to helping its customers grow a better world. Ball’s global family of breeders, seed and vegetative producers, distribution companies, and research and development teams, have a strong presence in over 20 countries on six continents.

Company Profile

Phone: 630-231-3500

Website: http://www.ballhort.com

PUBLISHING TEAM

Project and Editorial Design: Jonathan Bardzik, ANLA

Concept and Partnership Development: Kellee Magee, ANLA Visual and Video created by Fresh Brew Studios
Steve Kendall, Producer
Josh Miller, Producer

Graphic Design created by The Design Works