Go here and be informed!!!

We as performers need to support the Floral and retail industries. Balloon laws are usually unfounded and ridiculous. More miss information is given than actual.

Sign the petition here:
http://www.savetheballoons.com/index.html

SB 1499 will be heard in the Appropriations Committee on JULY 16. We don’t
have much time; therefore, your assistance in fighting this bill is needed
TODAY. Here are the actions you can take NOW to help stop this bill to ban
helium-filled foil balloons:

1. California residents, fax a letter, on your company letterhead, to ALL
members of the Appropriations Committee in their District Office and to the
Committee office using the TALKING POINTS found below. (Fax numbers of
Committee Members are at the bottom of this e-mail.)
2. California residents, call every member of the Committee to voice your
opposition.
3. California residents, attend the Committee’s hearing of the bill on JULY
16. Please contact Terri Adishian via e-mail at tadishian@bwi-balloons.com
if you can attend.
4. Those outside of California, please sign the petition. Visit
http://www.savetheballoons.com to download a copy of the petition, and send
it to Lorinda Ferrell via e-mail at lorinda@continentalsales.net.

TALKING POINTS for your letter:

Lost Business – Can CA afford to hurt more businesses?
· It is estimated between 45-50 million foil balloons are sold in CA each
year.
· $200 million of direct sales of helium-filled foil balloons in CA will be
lost if SB 1499 passes.
· $900 million of indirect sales of products sold with balloons (i.e.
helium, weights, plush gifts, flowers, plants, party supplies, etc.) will
be at jeopardy if SB 1499 passes.
· Many businesses that sell balloons are at risk of being crippled or
closing if SB 1499 passes.

Lost Jobs – Can CA afford to lose more jobs?
· At least 20,000 jobs will be at risk as a result of a ban on balloons.
· Lost jobs leads to more unemployment and less employer contributions to
UI, ETT, and SDI.

Lost Tax Revenue – Can CA afford to lose any revenue?
· $80 million in annual CA sales tax revenue will be threatened if SB 1499
passes. Can CA afford to lose any more state sales tax revenues?
· $90 million in annual business/corporate income tax will likely be lost.
Can CA afford more lost income taxes?

Don’t punish a responsible industry
· CA already has a law that regulates balloons. The current law requires
balloons to be sold with weights.
· Weights on balloons work! If there is a weight on a balloon it will not
get into the power lines.
· Most members of the industry have been very responsible in following the
current law.
· Like SB 1499, the current law has no provisions for enforcement.
· SB 1499 is unnecessary! Don’t punish a responsible industry.

Vote NO on SB 1499 (Scott)
· SB 1499 can have devastating economic impact on CA.
· Balloons are an important part of our culture, please save the balloons!
· Vote NO on SB 1499.

COMMITTEE MEMBERS and Their District Office Phone and Fax Numbers:
Mark Leno (Chair), District 13
Phone – 415-557-3013
Fax – 415-557-3015

Mimi Walters, District 73
Phone (Laguna Hills) – 949-457-7333
Fax – 949-457-7305
Phone (Oceanside) – 760-757-8084
Fax – 760-757-8087

Anna M. Caballero, District 28
Phone – 831-759-8676
Fax – 831-759-2961

Mike Davis, District 48
Phone – 213-744-2111
Fax – 213-744-2122

Mark DeSaulnier, District 11
Phone – 925-372-7990
Fax – 925-372-0934

Bill Emmerson, District 63
Phone – 909-466-9096
Fax – 909-466-9892

Warren T. Furutani, District 55
Phone – 562-989-2919
Fax – 562-989-5494

Jared Huffman, District 6
Phone – 415-479-4920
Fax – 415-479-2123

Betty Karnette, District 54
Phone – 562-997-0794
Fax – 562-997-0799

Paul Krekorian, District 43
Phone – 818-240-6330
Fax – 818-240-4632

Doug La Malfa, District 2
Phone (Yuba City) – 530-751-8351
Fax – 530-751-8379
Phone (Redding) – 530-223-6300
Fax – 530-223-6737

Ted W Lieu, District 53
Phone – 310-615-3515
Fax – 310-615-3520

Fiona Ma, District 12
Phone – 415-557-2312
Fax – 415-557-1178

Alan Nakanishi, District 10
Phone – 209-333-5330
Fax – 209-333-5333

Pedro Nava, District 35
Phone (Santa Barbara County) – 805-564-1649
Fax – 805-564-1651
Phone (Ventura County) – 805-483-9808
Fax – 805-483-8182

Sharon Runner, District 36
Phone (Lancaster) – 661-723-3368
Fax – 661-723-6307
Phone (Victorville) – 760-843-8045
Fax – 760-843-8396

Jose Solorio, District 69
Phone – 714-939-8469
Fax – 714-939-8986

Committee Office
Phone – 916-319-2081
Fax – 946-391-2181

Please continue to check your e-mail and look for updates regarding SB
1499, and please follow up with the actions requested. We have come close
to stopping this bill on two separate occasions, and we will find a way to
stop the effort to outlaw helium-filled foil balloons in California. Thank
you again for your support on this critical effort.

In the meantime, you can visit the coalition Web site for more information:

http://www.savetheballoons.com

If you'd like to adjust your e-mail preferences, please visit:

http://www.qualatex.com/emailpreferences......14997808

When you change your e-mail address, please send your company name, mailing
address, and new e-mail address to mailto:contactus@qualatex.com.

This just in!!!


In the last several days, Barry Broad, our lobbyist, has been able to
restart compromise discussions with Senator Scott's office.

After some intense back and forth we feel we have reached an
agreement in principal that will modify the existing law - but which
will not ban foil balloon sales.

We are asking everyone to halt lobbying activities. Please
discontinue phone calls, letter writing, emails and cancel any planned
meetings. Legislators are aware that compromise discussions between our
industry representatives and Senator Scott's office are taking place.

In addition, there will be no need for interested parties to attend next
week's Appropriations Committee Meeting scheduled for Wednesday, July
16. Please cancel any travel arrangements you have made.

We will keep you informed as things develop and get finalized.

We appreciate your participation in this campaign and all your efforts
to Save the Balloons!

Lorinda & Lorna Ferrell, CBAs
Continental Sales
2924 18th Ave, Sacramento, CA 95820 800-350-4386
Wholesale to the professional balloon artist.
http://www.ContinentalSales.net