Jeffrey Shaw, MPH, MA

Transcription

1 Jeffrey Shaw, MPH, MA Director of Public Policy Connecticut Association of Nonprofits Prepared for: Fairfield County s Advocacy Day l October 8,

2 Legislative & Advocacy Experience 11 years in public policy development Former legislative staff Member, Council of State Governments (CSG) Director of Public Policy, CT Nonprofits Project Director, CT Nonprofit Alliance Issues areas: state budget, state bonding, economic impact, education, health care and federal issues Advisor, YMCA Youth & Government Program

3 Flight Plan Overview Advocacy vs Lobbying Legislative Process in CT State Budget Legislative & Administrative Advocacy Advocacy Strategies & Activities Takeaways & Resources Questions to Consider? Are you doing what you can to further your public policy goals? Take CT Nonprofits self-assessment to find out! (on our website) Why Is Advocacy Important; Who Has the Time? Who can I talk to today to advance my nonprofits mission? Advocacy is the active support of an idea or a cause. In order to operate effectively and advance its mission, a nonprofit should advocate on behalf of the people it serves, its organization and the common interests of the nonprofit sector. Level of involvement in advocacy, public policy and civic engagement will vary based on the organization s mission, capacity, and strategic direction Should advocacy should be an every day activity? It probably is and you may not realize it We can, we should, we must! (Congress, 1976)

4 Advocacy vs Lobbying (US) While all lobbying is advocacy, not all advocacy is lobbying. Advocacy is any action that speaks in favor of, recommends, argues for a cause, supports or defends, or pleads on behalf of others. It includes public education, regulatory work, litigation, and work before administrative bodies, lobbying, nonpartisan voter registration, nonpartisan voter education, and more.

5 Advocacy vs Lobbying (CT) Advocacy Any activity meant to change government policy Much bigger than lobbying (year round) Lobbying CGS says communicating directly or soliciting others to communicate with any official for the purpose of influencing any legislative or administrative action Very specific meaning Outside vs Inside

6 Advocacy vs Lobbying Advocacy - Telling your story, impact - Site visit - Volunteer work - Fundraising assistance - Public speaking - Help with constituents - Appear at events - Barbeque cook-off Lobbying - Asking for a vote - Introduce bill - Testify for/against - Exceptions Asked to testify Provide data Self Defense 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3) no substantial part of the activities of which is carrying on propaganda, or otherwise attempting, to influence legislation (except as otherwise provided in subsection (h)),

7 Examples of Advocacy Nonprofits can advance their missions through advocacy (not just legislative lobbying): Administrative/regulatory (OMB Uniform Guidance/rulemaking reform) Ballot measures (Same day voter registration) Executive (appointments to particular positions within government i.e., Governor s Cabinet - from agency heads to members of advisory commissions) Judicial (recent court decisions on health care) Media (OpEds, quotes, social media - #PeopleMatter) Nonpartisan voter education/registration/turnout ( Nonprofit Votes Count ) Research & analysis (government contracting reports) Next level advocacy focuses on organizational buy-in, what I call every day advocacy and utilize the unique power of board members to influence policymakers Despite decades of groups trying to promote nonprofit advocacy, we will never succeed until we change the culture. Advocacy is part of mission!

8 Why Is Advocacy Important? It is becoming more and more clear that advancing a nonprofit s mission goes beyond addressing internal needs. Advancing mission often requires advocacy to remove harmful policies, promote problem-solving, and get ahead of the curve on community crises.

9 Legislative Advocacy: The Golden Dome Legislative Office Building (LOB) Caucus offices Legislators offices Legislative committee offices Public hearing rooms Nonpartisan offices Cafeteria Security Protocol Underground Walkway State Capitol Governor s Office, Lt. Governor s Office, SOTS Some legislative offices State Senate (36) House of Representatives (151) Caucus meeting rooms House & Senate Clerks Security Protocol

10 Legislative Session Long Session (odd years) January June ( interim session outside those months) Governor proposes two-year budget to take effect July 1 Legislators can introduce any bill Short Session (even years) February May Legislators can only* propose bills related to the budget Election year Committee deadlines come up quick! Joint Rules Bill Tracking LCO Deadlines

11 CT Senate & House of Representatives State Senate 36 Senators 21 Democrats; 15 Republicans 19 votes or majority present to pass or defeat legislation State House of Representatives 151 Representatives 87 Democrats; 64 Republicans 76 votes or majority present

12 Legislative Leadership Six Legislative Leaders Elected by their members shortly after election Appoint members to committees Appoint leadership team Develop caucus legislative agenda; coordinate campaigns Have appointing authority (commissions, boards) Get the votes! House 76 magic number (if all members are voting) Senate 19* magic number (if all members are voting) Appropriations & Finance Committees Screening Committees Deputy Leaders Governor & OPM Secretary

13 Legislative Committees 27 Standing Committees Leadership: Co-Chairs, Co-Vice Chairs, Ranking Members Staff: Committee, Sessional Staff, OLR, OFA LCO Calendar Deadlines

14 State Budget Biennial Constant tracking of revenue projections, spending levels, economic trends to inform Summer of Priorities; State Agencies send options to Governor (Fall) Governor s Proposed Budget (early Jan/Feb) Appropriations Committee public hearings; subcommittee work groups (11) on specific state agencies Hearings, votes, negotiation (less public process than other bills) Chairs, staff hold the cards Appropriations Committee: Recommended Budget; Minority Caucus: Alternate Budget Final Legislative Budget (agreement w/ Governor) CT budget bill has the numbers, implementers have the narrative Budget reserve rainy day fund (aka Budget Reserve Fund) Spending Cap Bonding Budget Options (OPM & OFA) Consensus Revenue Reports (Jan, April, November) Comptroller Certifies Budget (usually in September) Federal matching funds (Medicaid) Rescissions (5 th time in 4 years) The latest round of cuts also reduces the amount of payments to municipalities from the state that are intended to offset the loss of tax revenue due to tax-exempt properties owned by governments, and nonprofit hospitals, colleges, and universities. As a result, Connecticut nonprofits can expect the push to continue by some politicians to reduce or undermine property tax exemptions in the state.)

15 Legislative Advocacy How A Bill Becomes a Law Sponsors Committees Chairs, Screening, JF deadlines Hearings, Meetings, Forums, Substitute Language, Referrals Calendars Amendments, vehicles Strike all amendments Governor signs or vetoes

16 Legislative Advocacy How A Bill Really Becomes Law Legislative Champion (ideally identify one supporter in in each caucus) Information leaking (purposefully or not) Fiscal notes State agency support Attentiveness Christmas trees (SB-1502), Politics, old scores, other baggage Leadership

17 Administrative Advocacy Office of Policy and Management (OPM) Secretary Ben Barnes Very powerful Include them early both top and bottom Create relationships of trust, can be champions and important sources of info They (OPM) implement the laws the devil is in the details They are not elected Some appointed vs unionized Agency turf issues

18 Key Public Policy Questions Federal Issues Tax Reform Budget, Spending, Sequestration Politicized Nonprofits Grant Reform/OMB Uniform Guidance State Issues Taxes, Fees, PILOTS State Budget Deficits Nonprofit Compensation Unfunded Mandates Nonprofit-Government Partnership

19 Advocacy Strategy 4 P s 1. Positive Be friendly, helpful and listen Understand that your issues have to get in the queue 2. Prepared Know the rules (don t cross velvet ropes, no cell phones in hearing rooms/galleries, deadlines) Know as much as you can about your target (legislator, statute, etc) Legislators are part-time, not policy wonks, diverse, never make assumptions on their views/ask them, rely on legislative staff, leadership rules Meet them where they are Be sure what you want to say, practice elevator speech Bring concise fact sheets/ one-pagers Wear comfortable shoes!

20 Advocacy Strategy (4 P s Continued) 3. Passionate Understand and respect the system Offer solutions, don t just complain Don t take anything personally Be patient and flexible Story-telling sometimes most effective 4. Persistent Rare that a bill passes in its first year Rep. Joe Aresimowicz, House Majority Leader, provides opening remarks at CT Nonprofits Advocacy Conference Understand that sometimes the answer is no (not enough time in the session, missed a deadline, fiscal note too large) Create a long term relationship, check in even when you don t need anything

21 Strategic Advocacy Activities Demonstrate community impact Legislative agenda Legislative breakfasts Writing letters, s (local, not form) Look-Up Your Legislator Meetings with legislators Collaborate across subsectors Testify (or submit) at public hearings Fact Sheets Working with a contract lobbyist Treat advocacy as core to your mission Promote good public policy; pre-empt bad public policy

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23 Other Considerations Freedom of Information Act Right to obtain records and attend meetings Regulations Statutes give guidance, regulations give detail Program Review & Investigations Committee, Regs Review Com. (unusual equally bipartisan and bicameral) Media CTN Coalitions Lobbyists institutional knowledge Judicial Voter Registration Election Aftermath

24 Takeaways Create and maintain relationships everywhere you can Say thank you, to everyone and anyone who helps Never make up answer I don t know, but I ll get back to you. gives you an opportunity to follow up Value legislative staff, and maintain relationships with them Avoid making assumptions about legislators views-ask them You can t be a subject matter expert in everything, but you can be a resource Networks matter Advancing your mission through advocacy Advocacy should be an every day activity So, why is advocacy important? Why must we make the time? Advocacy is the active support of an idea or a cause. In order to operate effectively and advance its mission, a nonprofit should advocate on behalf of the people it serves, its organization and the common interests of the nonprofit sector.

25 Resources CTN Video Series: Turing the Gears of Democracy Connecticut Association of Nonprofits National Council of Nonprofits Stand for Your Mission Nonprofit Votes Count

26 Questions Jeffrey Shaw, MPH, MA Director of Public Policy Connecticut Association of Nonprofits x1027 l jshaw@ctnonprofits.org