Advocating: Lobbying vs. Educating Providing Information and Education to Policy Makers Alaska Health Summit, January 17 2018
In this presentation: Define Policy, Educating and Lobbying Review Tobacco Industry tactics Direct Lobbying vs. Grassroots Lobbying Discuss what SOA TPC grantees can do Discuss what grantees can t do Look at a lot of scenarios
No worries!
Why do we care about Policy Policy Work advocacy? Lobbying Advocacy Foraker Group, 2008
Effective Advocacy Education and creating awareness Legislators & Decision Makers General Public Communicate policy impact Training Voicing perspective on issue Updating members on status of legislation Policy Advocacy is a BIG TENT, lobbying and educating are just some of the acts
What is lobbying? + Communication + With a Legislator + Expresses a view about specific legislation + Communication + General Public + Expresses a view about specific legislation + Call to Action = Direct Lobbying (Must Have all 3 to qualify) = Grassroots Lobbying (Must Have all 4 to qualify)
Lobbying is the practice of influencing decisions made by government
Can nonprofits lobby? YES. They can and they SHOULD 501c(3) organizations may participate in a limited amount of legislative lobbying under either the substantial part test OR by electing to operate such activities under the expenditure test of Section 501(h) of the tax code. Engage in limited lobbying activities Cannot support or oppose candidates for public office
Who is NOT a legislator? City Council or County Commissioners? School Board? Park and Recreation Board? Members of the general public?
Calls to Action Telling the public to contact a legislator Providing an address or mechanism for contacting legislator Providing means to communicate with legislator i.e. tear off postcard Identifying legislator
What is Education? Educate example: educate the community about the hazards of SHS and the benefits of smokefree environments the grassroots is important to policy advocacy Best Practices Rule!
Educate, educate, educate! You know everything there is to know about tobacco and secondhand smoke does your neighbor? Before a community is ready to undertake a policy change around tobacco, they must first understand why change is needed that is where you come in!
Opinion Leaders are Key Your job is to build Champions for change through education. Educating a decision maker about the facts, to strengthen their understanding of tobacco policies is an essential component of advocacy.
Why Policy Advocacy? Effective advocacy builds the capacity, effectiveness and impact of an organization.it enables organizations to achieve the greatest good for the greatest number of the people and communities that they serve. -Center for Lobbying in the Public Interest
Public Policy Advocacy for Social Change Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has. ~ Margaret Mead
What is Advocacy? Speaking, writing, or acting in support of a cause Using a variety of organized tactics to achieve a public policy goal Demanding a change to benefit the lives of many
Advocacy: Asks something of others Puts the demands of people into systems Deals with issues and conflicts Involves people Creates a space for public discussion Finds solutions to problems
Social Justice Advocacy Challenging power Telling stories Involving those affected Offering alternatives Standing on principles vs. compromise Balancing the scales of justice and equity Holding ourselves accountable
Tobacco Industry Reaction to the Movement It recognized the emerging nonsmokers rights movement as a problem More and more, smoking is being pictured as socially unacceptable. The main thrust of these zealots seems to be that smoking is not a personal right because it hurts others; that smoking harms non-smoking adults, children, and even the yet unborn. (Brown and Williamson Document 2114.02. March 15, 1973.)
Policy Advocacy: What is Allowed? O Grantees build demand for change! O Highlight and translate public health evidence O Collect and analyze data O Publish and disseminate results of research O Implement prevention strategies O Conduct community outreach services O Foster coalition building and consensus on public health initiatives O Provide leadership and training O Educate the public on the facts about tobacco, SHS and good policy O Demonstrate public support for smokefree environments O Foster safe and healthful environments O Communicate Best Practices to Decision Makers and the Public O Keep Legislators informed of progress and coalition achievements O Provide Information and Education to tribal councils and city councils about best practices for tobacco control and benefits of local policies and ordinances. O Assist Boards to pass smokefree policies
Dancing with the Decision Makers Exercise
Objectives: 1. Overcome perceived barriers for promoting smokefree air 2. Practice essential tactic of educating decision makers 3. Effectively plan and carry out meetings with stakeholders and decision makers as a part of a larger strategy 4. Rehearse skills for leading a group of stakeholders through the planning of a meeting with a decision maker
Educating: Organizing a Solid Meet with Decision Makers about your program Events Building the coalitions/teams Visits with decision makers Leadership development public speaking, media advocacy, social media, meetings, trainings Identify and engage real people Other? Foundation Getting the Word Out
Educating: Organizing a Solid Foundation Online Outreach and Organizing List serves E-Action alerts Social Networking (e.g., Twitter, Facebook) Media (e.g., You Tube, etc) Think about your target market and where they typically get their information.
What is lobbying? + Communication + With a Legislator + Expresses a view about specific legislation + Communication + General Public + Expresses a view about specific legislation + Call to Action = Direct Lobbying (Must Have all 3 to qualify) = Grassroots Lobbying (Must Have all 4 to qualify)
Plus: 3.) Expressing a view about specific legislation (vs. Statement of Fact)
Expressing a View vs. Fact Fact: Smokefree ordinances give everyone the right to breathe clean air in public places and at work. Fact: Exposure to secondhand smoke is a cause of serious health problems, including cancer and heart disease. Fact: Secondhand smoke contains 7,000 chemicals and almost 70 carcinogens, including formaldehyde, arsenic and lead. Fact: Increases in cigarette prices lead to reductions in the prevalence of smoking and its intensity among youth and young adults. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ View: I think our city should pass a smokefree ordinance and raise tobacco taxes. View: I want you to vote to make our city smokefree and/or raise taxes on cigarettes. View: I urge you to call your council member and ask them to pass a smokefree ordinance.
Specific Legislation Includes: (any of the following) Legislation introduced in a legislative body. A specific legislative proposal that an organization supports/opposes. Anything with a bill number. Proposed legislation not yet introduced or written out (ie: drafted)
Is this Specific Legislation? Example 1: Someone approaches Senator X and says, Alaska s state laws do not protect all bar workers from secondhand smoke in their workplaces. (NOT specific legislation) Example 2: Someone approaches Senator X with another state s tobacco tax law and proposes Senator use that state s law or a similar law. (YES--specific legislation)
Grassroots Lobbying (need all four) 1. Communication + 2. With the General Public + 3. Expresses a view about specific legislation + 4. Call to Action
4.) Call to Action Four Types: 1. Tell someone to call their legislator 2. Provide contact info for legislators 3. Provide a mechanism by which public can contact their legislators (i.e., Click here. ) 4. List undecided or decided legislators; List committee members deciding on particular legislation. Alliance for Justice www.bolderadvocacy.org www.afj.org
Exceptions to the Rule Written request for technical assistance Self Defense i.e. program funding in jeopardy Examinations and disclosures of broad social economic and similar problems Volunteer time does not count
What s on the list of what not to do? As a grantee, you cannot have people sign a petition to raise taxes, support smokefree air, or fight against coal mines but your coalition members can get signatures and you can in your off time. You cannot use any grant funds to do direct lobbying or grassroots lobbying. If it is general support for initiatives (ie: tobacco free pharmacies) and not towards specific legislation, collecting support is ok.
Nuance 2 Week Rule 2 Click Rule Can t run media or ads within 2 weeks of a vote. Can t link directly to action/lobbying on the web. Need 2 clicks before taking action/lobbying.
www.showmeabrighterfuture.com Lobbying or Non- Lobbying?
Lobbying or Non-Lobbying?
Lobbying or Non- Lobbying?
Lobbying or Non-Lobbying? http://cleartheairarkansas.com/
Lobbying or Non-Lobbying?
Lobbying or Non-Lobbying? www.philipmorrisusa.com/
1 st Check it: To whom am I talking? Legislative: Senate, Representatives, City Council, Mayor, City Staff. (Ballot measure?) If Yes: then ask next question: are we talking about specific legislation, such as a bill or ballot or draft? If a Ballot, then the general public is the legislature. School Board, Parks and Recreation Board, Health Commission, Tribal Administration, Zoning & Planning Commission If Yes: Then you are in the clear
Check it Does the communication refer to specific legislation and express a view on it? If No Then not lobbying If not lobbying then it s education and advocacy If Yes Then Lobbying.
Messaging Tobacco companies want to sell more cigarettes even though they know it causes cancer and heart disease and kills nearly half a million people every year. 32.5% of Alaska youth have tried smoking. Increasing the cigarette tax is a proven way to fight this deadly problem and keep kids from starting to smoke.
In a ballot measure, the general public = the legislature
1 st Check it: To whom am I talking? Legislative: Senate, Representatives, City Council, Mayor, City Staff. (Ballot measure?) If Yes: then ask next question: are we talking about specific legislation, such as a bill or ballot? If a Ballot, then the general public is the legislature. School Board, Parks and Recreation Board, Health Commission, Tribal Council, Zoning & Planning Commission If Yes: Then you are in the clear
Check it Does the communication refer to specific legislation and express a view on it? If No Then not lobbying If not lobbying then it s education and advocacy If Yes Then Lobbying.
Resources Alliance for Justice: Bolder Advocacy http://www.afj.org/our-work/issues/bolderadvocacy Center for Lobbying in the Public Interest http://www.clpi.org/why-advocacy Independent Sector https://www.independentsector.org/advocacy
Questions? Other Examples? www.nonsmokersrights.org Twitter: @ANR_Smokefree char.day@no-smoke.org www.nonsmokersrights.org
Let s Access: Something that I liked about this training Something I learned that I didn t know already Something I still feel confused about Something that needs to be better highlighted in the training