Addressing the challenges of 2007 and beyond It's looking a little blue in Washington, D.C., this month, and it has nothing to do with winter weather. The Democrats have come to town in force and will control the House and Senate when the 110th Congress convenes this month. Some political analysts compare the 2006 election to the "wave" election of 1994 when Republicans gained control of the House and Senate. Most of the Democratic victories in 2006 came in districts that had voted for President Bush in 2004. In a USA Today/Gallup Poll taken shortly after the elections, Bush's job-approval rating was his second lowest ever (33 percent). Approval of the Republican Party wasn't much better at 35 percent -- an eight-year low. Nearly half of the respondents said the United States would be better off under Democrats, one-third said not much would change and 16 percent said things would get worse. Congressional issues that impact the ornamentals industry this year are numerous: immigration reform, minimum wage, several tax issues (including the estate tax), health care and trade issues related to free trade and globalization. Growers choose priorities Another election took place in November at the Michigan Greenhouse Grower Expo. Growers were asked to select from a list of industry issues of greatest concern, including energy costs, managing new insect and disease pests, taxes, overproduction, immigration reform, environmental issues, industry competition, retailer price pressure and business regulation. Electronic voting machines were set up for growers to cast votes. The results will assist the Michigan Floriculture Growers Council (www.mifgc.org) to advocate with state and federal policymakers on behalf of growers. Most of the voters who participated in the survey were wholesale and grower/retailers. There were no significant differences in the responses between these groups. The most critical issues were energy costs, environmental issues and business regulation. Send this article to a friend Enter your e-mail address: Enter your friend's e-mail address: Click the image below to send: © 2006 Branch-Smith Publishing