The hot issue in Washington, D.C. right now is the much-discussed economic stimulus package, which has evolved and changed over the course of negotiations between Senate leaders, Obama administration officials and other involved parties. One of the provisions that could affect nursery owners would be the Kingston amendment, which is part of the House-approved version […]
Judge places Columbia County measure on hold
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Columbia County’s controversial Measure 5-190, approved by that county’s voters in November, was supposed to take effect today. The measure would have penalized businesses that employ undocumented immigrants. However, Columbia County Circuit Court Judge Ted Grove ruled on Friday that the measure cannot be enforced until legal questions surrounding it have been sorted out. Plaintiffs […]
OAN legislative agenda
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The Oregon Association of Nurseries announced its federal and state legislative agendas for 2009. On the federal level, the top priority continues to be comprehensive immigration reform, which includes border security, an adjustment of status for workers currently in the United States, and a visa system that is flexible and provides for a future flow […]
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Now that the historic moment has passed and President Barack Obama has been sworn in, expect to start seeing (and hearing) more analysis on how the new administration will affect agriculture and the nursery industry. Here’s a well-rounded piece from the California Farm Bureau Federation.
The great immigration debate
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The Wilsonville Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Committee played host yesterday to a discussion on U.S. immigration policy. The presenters were Coalition for a Working Oregon Co-Chairman and OAN Government Relations Director Jeff Stone and Oregonians for Immigration Reform President Jim Ludwick. Each gave a 10 minute presentation, and then there was a question-and-answer period. […]
Minimum wage now $8.40 per hour
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It’s a familiar pattern: new year, new minimum wage. In Oregon, the state-mandated hourly rate is now $8.40, up 45 cents from $7.95 in 2008. Under Oregon law, the wage rises each year, automatically, based on increases in the consumer price index. As one might expect, many papers did stories on the new minimum wage, […]
Bailout bill contains provisions that can help nurseries
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When Congress passed the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, better known as the bailout package, it provided $700 billion in relief to the troubled financial industry. However, it also included many provisions that could benefit the nursery and greenhouse industry directly through tax incentives and other tax deductions. Steve Shropshire of the law firm […]
Reaction on Vilsack
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We reported yesterday that former Iowa governor Tom Vilsack would be named the new Secretary of Agriculture, and indeed it came to pass. Reaction has been largely positive from the agricultural community, particularly in Iowa, but what about nurseries? Dwight Hughes, owner of Dwight Hughes Nursery in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, recently served as president of […]
Vilsack to be named Secretary of Agriculture
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President-elect Barack Obama will nominate former Iowa governor Tom Vilsack as his Secretary of Agriculture today, according to several news reports: New York Times Washington Post Des Moines Register | Commentary Vilsack is generally regarded as a political centrist. He briefly ran for the 2008 Democratic nomination for president, dropping out not long after Obama […]
Governor’s chief of staff visits nursery leaders
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Chip Terhune, chief of staff for Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongoski, visited with members of the OAN Government Relations Committee yesterday. Association officials deemed it significant that the governor’s top aide would come to listen to the views and concerns of green industry leaders. “It speaks to the strength and credibility of our organization,” OAN Director […]
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