New Jersey Food Council
30 West Lafayette St., Trenton, NJ 08608
Phone: 609/392-8899
Fax: 609/396-6571
Email: mailto:njfc@njfoodcouncil.com

ASSEMBLY STALLS ON MOVING PAID FAMILY LEAVE
The business community received a slight reprieve and early holiday gift after the Assembly debated paid family leave in caucus yesterday and decided to delay taking action on this anti-business proposal. In a statement regarding caucus' discussion of the paid-family-leave insurance legislation, Speaker Joseph J. Roberts, Jr., released the following:

"The Assembly Majority Caucus spent the better part of an hour discussing the paid-family leave issue from all sides. Members expressed significant support and significant concerns about the legislation.

"It was clear from the scope of discussion that we will need more time to work through some issues, such as the bill's impact on small businesses, the potential for abuse, and the timing of some of the bill's provisions.

"These issues are surmountable and it is my belief that a paid-family-leave insurance bill will soon become law in New Jersey. It's not a question of if; it's a question of when."

There is significant pressure right now from Governor Jon Corzine and Senate leaders calling for immediate action on the bill but for the moment paid family leave will not be considered before the holiday break. Every day the bill is stalled is considered a small victory for the business community. Action can still be taken the first week of January which is the last week of the Lame Duck session. NJFC members are still encouraged to call their local legislators and tell them Paid Family Leave is an entitlement program your business can not afford.

NJFC INITIATED ORT BILL RELEASED FROM ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE
Last Monday, NJFC Loss Prevention members joined NJFC at the State House to support legislation that would create an Organized Retail Theft (ORT) Task Force within the Attorney General’s Office. Sponsored by Assemblyman Joe Cryan, the bill was released from the Assembly Law and Public Safety Committee and heads to the floor of the General Assembly for a full vote by the lower house.

The NJFC Loss Prevention Committee worked closely with the bill sponsor to seek support in combating the ORT epidemic. This important legislation strengthens law enforcement leadership, defines a partnership between public safety officials and retailers and creates actionable measures to investigate and defend against this growing crime wave.

NJFC is attempting to get the bill moved through the Senate in the final days of the Lame Duck legislative session.

RECYCLING ENHANCEMENT TAX MOVES CLOSER TO FINAL PASSAGE
Earlier this week, the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee favorably voted on legislation that would impose a recycling tax on solid waste generation in order to provide financial incentives to support county and municipal recycling. The bill, in its original form, imposed a $3 per ton tax on trash generation but the Committee voted to cut the tax to $2 per ton. The revenue generated on trash would be deposited in the New Jersey State Recycling Fund, which is administered by the DEP, to fund recycling grants to municipalities and counties.

NJFC remains neutral on this issue since language in the bill protects the industry from the implementation of a bottle or container bill if this legislation were to be enacted. Similar to the Assembly Committee last week, several environmental groups presented arguments to strip this language from the bill but it remained intact.

NJFC learned the Assembly Speaker supports the $2 per ton amendment and is expected to move the bill in the lower house. There is a strong movement to get this proposal to the Governor’s Desk by the end of the session.

In other legislative activity this week, the following bills received action:

A.424/S.780 – Prohibits the sale of Yo-Yo Waterballs
Passed in the Assembly and sent to Governor 71-7-0

A.2523/S.383 – Increases penalty amounts to $1,500 and $3,000 for violations of certain laws regulating retail sale of motor fuel
Passed in the Assembly and sent to Governor 75-4-0

A.3622 – Provides certain employment protections for employees on military leave in time of war or emergency
Passed in the Assembly and sent to Governor 80-0-0

A.1044 – Requires prenotification of certain plant closings, transfers and mass layoffs
Passed in Assembly 52-24-1

A.4156 – Establishes minimum energy efficiency standards for certain products
Passed in the Assembly 71-9-0

A.4160 – Revises civil service status of certain county welfare agency management positions and requires county welfare agencies to adjust office hours
Passed in Assembly 59-16-4

INTERNET POLL HIGHLIGHTS MOOD OF FOOD INDUSTRY
In November the FMI DailyLead polled subscribers to react to issues confronting their business. Here are your answers. The poll should be considered only a general indication of attitudes since the respondents were not counted.

Which issue had the greatest effect on your company in 2007?
Food Safety – 37%, Interchange Fees – 30%, Food Labeling – 17%, ORT – 16%

What do you expect will become even more important in 2008?
Organic/Locally grown foods – 41%, Private-Label brands – 17%, Prepared Foods – 17%,
In-store marketing – 14%, Niche marketing – 11%

What concept is your company most likely to introduce in 2008?
In-store nutritionist and nutrition counseling – 30%, Café/sit-down restaurant – 23%,
Online shopping – 20%, Cooking classes – 15%, Biometric payment system – 12%

What legislative issue will dominate the food retail industry in 2008?
• Food Safety – 70%, Country-of-Origin labeling – 19%, Medicare/Medicaid – 5%, Iterchange – 4%, ORT – 2%

27 SPONSORS – ARE YOU A PREMIUM SUPPORTER!
The NJFC Event Sponsorship program for 2008 is growing fast! The association continues to accept commitments so be sure you are on this list. Sponsors are considered premium supporters of the Food Council.

The program will continue to include four levels of sponsorship that will entitle companies to a pre-determined number of tickets to NJFC events, including the Annual Meeting, Night of Distinction, Trade Relations Conference and the Golf Outing. In addition, event sponsors will receive recognition in NJFC publications such as the News & Views and the quarterly newsletter ExpressLine, on our web-site as well as acknowledgement in promotional materials and placement on banners at NJFC events.

We just kicked off the 2008 sponsor campaign and already NJFC members are demonstrating their strong support for this program. Let’s add your company’s name to the list of NJFC premium sponsors! Contact us today for details.

Photos Galore

Don't forget to check out our library page to view photographs from our events.