LOBBYING 101 1 How do you communicate with a Legislator? How can your special interest group become effective? How does a bill really become law? 2 Thinking Like A Legislator WHAT DO I WORRY ABOUT? Who can I trust? Is there a political risk? What will they think back home? Will I have money and support in the next election? 3 1
Use The Relationship YOU WILL GET OUT OF A COMMUNICATION EXACTLY WHAT YOU PUT INTO IT A pile of form letters means nothing. A single, personal letter means a lot. A visit always makes an impact. 4 When we say establish a personal relationship with the policy maker we mean it. 1972 Study: The American Medical Association acknowledges the role of personal friendships in a congressman s decision. Nearly a third of its district lobbying representatives happen to be the general practitioners who delivered either the congressmen or their children (Green et al, 1972, p. 249). 5 Contact Priority List Elections! Give money Volunteer Say nice things Regular Personal Visits Targeted Personal Visit 6 2
Contact Priority List Personal Phone Call Personal Letter Personal Email Form Letter or Email Petition 7 Lobby Tips Personalize your communication Never threaten Be brief and to the point Respect their frame of reference 8 How Can Your Special Interest Group Become Effective? Message Messenger Money 9 3
Issue Management KEY: Simple, concise, relevant and personal As you well know, what issues are discussed and debated are not generated randomly. The spin that is presented to the public does not just happen. 10 Group/Issue Analysis SWOT Strengths Weaknesses Opportunites Threats 11 Messenger Your effective messenger needs to come in two forms: Professional lobbying representation and grass roots people across the state. Professional representation People who understand the process, the people, and get you in the door. Strategy development. Grass roots Hired guns alone are not enough. You need real people to be the foot soldiers. 12 4
Professional Lobbyists PEOPLE Legislators Staff Bureaucrats Lobby Corps 13 Professional Lobbyists CROSS-POLLINATION Coalitions Client cross-over Roll-o-Dex 14 Professional Lobbyists PROCESS Right time Right person Right leverage 15 5
Professional Lobbyists PLAN Bringing all disparate facts into one strategy Field General 16 Grass Roots Lobbyists - YOU! 17 Why Should I Get Involved? I m busy enough doing my own job. They can make your job a lot tougher They won t listen to me. They are going to listen to someone. It s not my job. Someone will make it their job to impact your job. Want to trust them? 18 6
Why Would A Legislator Listen To Me? I m No Madison insider. EXACTLY! You are a constituent You have a base where you influence other constituents You have expertise 19 Building the Grass Roots NETWORKING GOAL: Every lawmaker should have a personal relationship with at least one of our members 20 Tips For Grass Roots Success Start early at candidate stage Pay attention to small issues Stay united It s never over Say thank you 21 7
Use Staff To Multiply Your Effect Treat staff with the same respect as the Legislator. Staff is often the gatekeeper. Don t sneak around them. Ask advice and acknowledge their role in advising the Legislator. Staff love to communicate by e-mail (it clears the desk faster). Brief the staff before the meeting. They will brief the legislator and your work will be half done before you arrive. Often a meeting with the legislator is just a catalyst for the staff briefing of the legislator. 22 Money PACs and Conduits Lobbying Media Time 23 How Does A Bill Really Become Law? 24 8
Legislative Process Legislature operates on a two-year cycle Start: January of odd year Do the budget in the first 6 months Hold session (off and on) through May of the election (even) year Very little activity May through December of election year 25 Legislative Process 99 Assembly Representatives. Each represents approx. 58,000 people. Each is elected to 2 year term. 33 Senators. Each represents 3 entire Assembly districts. Each is elected to a 4 year term. ½ of senate up for election each cycle. 26 Legislative Process Republicans control Assembly by a 63-35 seat majority. That means every committee chair is a Republican and Republicans decide every bill that comes up for a vote. Republicans control Senate by a 19-14 majority. 27 9
Statutes vs. Rules Both statutes and rules ARE THE LAW! Statutes are written by the Legislature and signed into law by the Governor. Rules are written by uneducated bureaucrats. 28 Statutes vs. Rules STATUTES: Become law through an affirmative process: A bill must pass each house of the legislature and then be signed by the Governor. 29 Statutes vs. Rules RULES: Become law through a negative process: Agencies adopt rules and they become law unless the Legislature objects to them. 30 10
Statutes vs. Rules Statutes are broad and sometimes lack detail. The Legislature counts on the agencies to fill in the blanks and add detail. 31 Simplified Process Idea Drafting Circulations Introduction and Referral Committee Hearing Committee Exec Majority Leader Floor Amendments Floor Final Vote 32 Simplified Process 2 nd House go back to Go Informal Conference Committee Conference Committee Governor Rules to Agency Advisory Committee Rules to Secretary of Board Rules Agency Hearings Rules back to Secretary Board Rules Referral to Standing Committee JCRAR Bill Introduced 33 11
34 At any step in the process there is usually one person who can kill a proposal! Questions? 35 FORWARD! 36 12