How a Bill Really Becomes A Law. What they didn t teach you in civics class!

Transcription

1 How a Bill Really Becomes A Law What they didn t teach you in civics class!

2 9 Basic Step of the Legislative Process Introduction Committee Action Rules Committee Floor Action Committee Action, Opposite House Rules Committee, Opposite House Floor Action, Opposite House Concurrence/Conference Governor

3 Key Things to Remember About the Washington Legislature Must adjourn sine die after 105 or 60 days To meet that deadline they pass rules creating multiple deadlines called cut offs. Committee, house of origin, committee, opposite house. (Budget bills exempt from cutoffs) Also, we have a strong rules committee system What this means is, they are in a hurry, so unless your bill is really important it is easy to kill!

4 Get your idea on paper You can t present legislators with a concept. Get it in writing, in bill form if you have a lawyer who can do that

5 Get The Right Sponsor You don t have a bill until a legislator agrees to sponsor it. Only a legislator can go to the Code Reviser and get a bill drafted. Your sponsor is critical. You want the Chairman of the Committee, or at least a member of the majority party

6 Get the Right Co-Sponsors Once the bill is written, it comes with a blue sheet for co-sponsors to add their names. You, or the sponsor carry the bill around to get signatures from the right co-sponsors. Try and get balance

7 Consider Adding Public Affairs Public affairs tactics augment direct lobbying Common tactics: Earned Media Paid Media Member Mobilization

8 First Reading Once you have all the co-sponsors, you, or the sponsor take the bill to the hopper Yes, there really is a hopper. It is then read on the floor and assigned to a committee. You might need to lobby leadership staff and/or leadership to get your bill referred to the right committee

9 Beg For a Hearing Committee Chairs have complete control of their agenda. They can kill your bill without ever bringing it up. You have to lobby vigorously to get them to notice and hear your bill Only in the rarest cases do you try and go over the Chair s head

10 Put On a Good Show At The Hearing Get the right people to testify Have good, clear hand outs Be clear, persuasive, and brief NEVER LOSE YOUR TEMPER Be prepared for surprises and changes at the hearing

11 Beg For a Vote Just because the Chairman heard your bill, that doesn t mean she is going to schedule it for a vote. Executive session means votes will be taken. You must lobby hard for the Chairman to exec your bill The role call is meaningless, what counts is the committee report signature sheet

12 Find Someone To Pull Your Bill in Rules Tons of bills die in the Rules committee; often by design. Find a member who is willing to pull your bill. (Make a motion to add it to the floor calendar) It often takes two pulls Lobby members of the Rules committee

13 Don t Let Your Bill Die on The Floor Calendar Most bills that make it to the Floor will pass, but don t take your eye off the ball! Lobby the Majority Leader and his/her staff. Work with your sponsor and/or the Chairman to pass or defeat amendments

14 Do It All Over Again In The Opposite House Lather, rinse, repeat. Exact same process. But it should be a little easier because now you have a Chairman who likes your bill and should lobby for it.

15 Conference and Concurrence Most bills don t go to conference, that gets very tricky Try and avoid getting caught up in ping pong between Chairmen

16 And Finally, The Governor Lobby the Governor s staff to sign the bill Are there partial vetoes you want or want to prevent? Smile for the picture and take the pen home!

17 So Why Do Some Bills Pass and Others Don t? Some bills must pass Many bills will never pass For others you must generate momentum by constantly drawing lawmakers attention to the bill

18 Effective Advocacy Personal relationships. Get to know your lawmaker. Try and meet with them in their district during the interim Lots of messages from voters. Press coverage Facts. Make a good case.