Advocacy 101

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Advocacy 101

• How To Be An Effective Advocate!

Presented by Carrie Curtiss Consumer Health
Initiative
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Colorado Consumer Health Initiative

• Non-profit formed 4 years ago by community
  foundations
• Mission to increase access to quality
  affordable health care for all Coloradans
• Programs focus on education and advocacy
• Coalition of over 100 organizations

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Types of advocacy

• Contacting legislator (call, e-mail, fax,
  meeting)
• Testify at public hearing
• Rally
• Media (letter to editor, meeting with editorial
  board)
• Press conference

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Who can lobby?

• Anyone and everyone
• General public
• Faith based organizations
• Non-profits yes, you too can and should lobby

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Types of lobbyists

• Citizen
• Organization-based
• Department
• Contract

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Who are you lobbying?

• City councilmembers
• County officials
• State legislators (100)
• Federal legislators (9)
• To find out who your legislators are, visit
  www.vote-smart.org

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10 Rules of Lobbying

• You are an expert.
• Tell the truth.
• Know who else is on your side.
• Know the opposition.
• Dont be afraid to say I dont know.

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Rules (cont.)

• Talk about any personal connection you may have.
• Be specific.
• Follow up.
• Dont Burn Bridges
• Remember- Your legislators work for you

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When Should You Lobby?

• You can schedule meetings with legislators all
  year
• Legislative session is from January-May
• Off-season is a good time to build relationships
  with legislators
• During the session, contacts should be more
  focused on specific pieces of legislation

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Coming to the Capitol

• Know the bill number
• Know the bill sponsors
• Identify yourself
• State your affiliation or personal connection to
  issue
• Tell them what youd like them to do
• Ask where they stand
• Follow-up

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The Session

• The legislative session in Colorado runs from
  January through May
• There are often special interim committees in the
  summer

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• How a Bill Becomes a Law
• (the fun version)

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Drafting

• Most bills are drafted during the summer and fall
• Often bill ideas come from constituents and
  advocacy groups
• Each legislator is allowed to propose five bills
  (with some exceptions)

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1st reading in House of Representatives (bill is
introduced)
House Human Services Committee (public
testimony)
Education Committee
Business Affairs Labor
2nd reading in House of Representatives (debate
on floor)
3rd reading of House of Representatives (vote
only)
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1st reading in Senate (bill is introduced)
Health Human Services Committee (public
testimony)
Education Committee
Transportation Committee
2nd reading in Senate (debate on floor)
3rd reading in Senate (vote only)
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Executive Branch
Governors Office Receives Bill
Governor Signs Bill
Governor Vetoes Bill
Bill Goes Back to House and Senate
Bill Becomes Law
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House Must Pass Bill by 2/3 Vote
Senate Must Pass Bill by 2/3 Vote
Bill Becomes Law
If Either House Fails To Achieve 2/3 Majority,
the Bill Dies
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HB05-1262

• Bill to implement tobacco tax passed by voters in
  November 2004.
• Senate sponsor Senator Hagedorn
• House sponsor Representative Boyd
• Supporters
• Opponents

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No time to track bills?

• Advocacy groups can help
• Most advocacy groups have e-mail policy listservs
• They will tell you when to call your legislator,
  the bill number and even talking points

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Resources

• Colorado Legislature www.colorado.gov
• To find elected officials www.vote-smart.org
• Feel free to contact me
• Carrie Curtiss, Policy Director, CCHI
• 303-839-1261 or carrie_at_cohealthinitiative.org