Communicating with Congress: How to Turn 10-Minute Meeting with a Legislator into a Life-Long Relationship

Transcription

1 Communicating with Congress: How to Turn 10-Minute Meeting with a Legislator into a Life-Long Relationship Bradford Fitch President & CEO Congressional Management Foundation

2 Agenda Environment on Capitol Hill How to Build Relationships Back Home Advocacy 201: 4 Ways to Play Above the Rim

3 Sources Focus Groups with Congressional Staff Surveys with Congressional Staff Interviews with Members of Congress and Staff

4 Environment on Capitol Hill

5

6 Average Percentage Increase in Constituent Mail 865% House Senate All Offices 585% 548% 548% 396% 401% 297% 255% 241% 275% Baseline 111% 94% 66% 78% 64% 55% 154% 169% 114% 92% 110% 72% 202% 158%

7 Staffing Number of Full Time House Staff 18 Year House Staff Number Frozen 1974

8 cents

9 "If your Member/Senator has not already arrived at a firm decision on an issue, how much influence might the following advocacy strategies directed to the Washington office have on his/her decision?"

10 In-Person Visits from Constituents Contact From Constituents' Reps. Individualized Postal Letters Individualized Messages Phone Calls Telephone Town Hall Comments Visit From a Lobbyist News Editorial Individualized Faxes Form Postal Letters Form Messages 54% 51% 97% 96% 90% 88% 86% 85% 82% 75% 70% Postcards Comments on Social Media Sites Form Faxes 30% 42% 45% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% A Lot of Positive Influence Some Influence

11 A lot of influence In-Person Visit from Constituent 46% Lobbyist Visit 8% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50%

12 Survey Question How helpful is it for messages from constituents to include the following?

13 Message Includes Information about the impact the bill would have on the district 77% Constituent s reasons for supporting/opposing the bill or issue 74% Personal story related to the bill or issue 48% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Helpful Very Helpful

14 H.R.2784 No Private Contracts To Be Negotiated When the Patient Is Buck Naked Act of 1997

15 SEC. 3 CERTAIN SITUATIONS WHERE IT IS NOT APPROPRIATE TO NEGOTIATE A PRIVATE CONTRACT To promote equality in the negotiation of private contracts, the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services shall issue regulations prohibiting the discussion or signing of private contracts at any time (a) the patient is buck naked and the doctor is fully clothed (and conversely, to protect the rights of doctors, when the patient is fully clothed and the doctor is naked); (b) the patient is wearing one of those short, flimsy little hospital gowns that don't close in the back; (c) during any sigmoidoscopic or proctoscopic examination of the gastrointestinal tract or a digital rectal examination of the prostate;

16 How to Build Relationships Back Home

17 In your opinion, how important are the following for understanding constituents' views and opinions?

18 Attending events in the district/state Personalized messages from constituents District/state office hours In person town hall meetings Telephone town hall meetings Paper surveys/polls Facebook Identical form communications Online surveys/polls Online town hall meetings Twitter YouTube Member/Senator's blog MySpace 9% 68% 64% 56% 54% 44% 42% 34% 34% 98% 97% 90% 90% 83% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Very Important Somewhat Important

19 Invite Legislator to Facility

20 Attending events in the district/state Personalized messages from constituents District/state office hours In person town hall meetings Telephone town hall meetings Paper surveys/polls Facebook Identical form communications Online surveys/polls Online town hall meetings Twitter YouTube Member/Senator's blog MySpace 9% 68% 64% 56% 54% 44% 42% 34% 34% 98% 97% 90% 90% 83% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Very Important Somewhat Important

21 Attend a Town Hall Meeting

22 Attending events in the district/state Personalized messages from constituents District/state office hours In person town hall meetings Telephone town hall meetings Paper surveys/polls Facebook Identical form communications Online surveys/polls Online town hall meetings Twitter YouTube Member/Senator's blog MySpace 9% 68% 64% 56% 54% 44% 42% 34% 34% 98% 97% 90% 90% 83% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Very Important Somewhat Important

23 Set Up In-State Meetings

24 Build Relationships with State Staff Potential Champions Conduits to Legislative Staff District Director = Legislator s Best Friend in Office

25 Advocacy 201: 4 Ways to Play Above the Rim

26 How to get Lin-Fluence

27 Attending events in the district/state Personalized messages from constituents District/state office hours In person town hall meetings Telephone town hall meetings Paper surveys/polls Facebook Identical form communications Online surveys/polls Online town hall meetings Twitter YouTube Member/Senator's blog MySpace 9% 68% 64% 56% 54% 44% 42% 34% 34% 98% 97% 90% 90% 83% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Very Important Somewhat Important

28 1. Follow Your Member of Congress

29 Staffers Views on the Value of Social Media 72% 59% 55% 7% 10% 14% Social media enables us to reach people we were not reaching before. Social media is worth the time my office spends on it. Social media offers my office more benefits than risks. Agree Disagree

30 Attending events in the district/state Personalized messages from constituents District/state office hours In person town hall meetings Telephone town hall meetings Paper surveys/polls Facebook Identical form communications Online surveys/polls Online town hall meetings Twitter YouTube Member/Senator's blog MySpace 9% 68% 64% 56% 54% 44% 42% 34% 34% 98% 97% 90% 90% 83% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Very Important Somewhat Important

31 2. Participate in a Telephone Town Hall

32 3. Build a Relationship with Staff

33 4. Letters to the Editor

34 Sherrington s Law campaign Phone calls from VIPs Constituent visit Town Hall Meeting

35 We in America do not have government by the majority. We have government by the majority who participate. - Thomas Jefferson

36 CongressFoundation.org