Being Effective on Capitol Hill

1
(No Transcript)
2
Being Effective on Capitol Hill

• Gary Sjoquist
• Quality Bicycle Products
• Bikes Belong/BikesPAC
• Bicycle Products and Suppliers

3
Who Is Sjoquist?

• Director of Advocacy for Quality Bicycle Products
• Director of Government Relations for Bikes Belong
• Treasurer of BikesPAC
• Chair of Advocacy Committee, Bicycle Products and
  Suppliers Association

4
Making Your DC Visit a Success

• Our thanks to LAB for hosting the Summit(s)
• Our thanks also to Bikes Belong, the lead sponsor
  of the National Bike Summit
• Tonights talk
• Hints about how to be more effective during
  Thursday meetings
• General tips about Capitol Hill
• Information about BikesPAC

5
1 Capitol Hill is a Big Place

• Blocks are long/buildings are large
• Give yourself time to get where you need to go
• Have a plan for the whole day on Thursday
• Cell phone coverage spotty at best
• Youre going to run low on energy
• Cafeterias/vending in basements
• Use downtime to meet and recharge
• Give your feet a break

6
2 But Youre Only the Staffer

• You may not be meeting with a Senator or
  Representative but rather a staffer
• On any given day, 100 constituents from the home
  state are on Capitol Hill visiting
• Pecking order of who gets in and who doesnt
• Think of staffers as the gate keepers
• Many of our gains in SAFETEA-LU are a result of
  developing working relationships with staffers

7
3 Youre, Like, 20 Years Old!

• Congressional staffers are often young
• Average age might be twenty something?
• They wouldnt be staffers if they werent quick
  studies and bright people
• Focus on developing a working relationship with
  CoS, scheduler, transportation staffer, etc.
• Dont underestimate them just because they look
  young

8
4 Dont Leave Too Much Stuff

• Dont leave a stack of important documents
  about your organization
• Staffers will appreciate that you dont
• They wont have time to read it anyway
• Give them the basics on our issues
• Have a flow to your information that ends with
  the ask
• Provide resources, contacts, bill numbers
• Be the source, but be concise
• You can always follow-up with a call from home

9
5 Be a Bridge Builder

• Our issues may not be important to some members
  of Congress
• Many members are single issue oriented
• Leverage their issue for our cause
• You need to build a bridge to where they are
• Use evolving relationship to educate
• A good percentage of the current Congress wasnt
  around for ISTEA or TEA-21
• If freshmen members, its a huge opportunity to
  indoctrinate

10
6 Dont Talk Over Each Other

• People often feel the need to clarify a point
  made by another member of your group
• Figure out what each person can add to the
  conversation before your meetings
• Work out the priority of what youll say and the
  ask in your state delegation meetings
• Have a sequence for talking and showing
• Think about using a laptop to keep focus
• Develop an elevator pitch for really brief
  encounters

11
Bike Trail Projects Pork?

• Senator, all bike trail projects in Minnesota
  have been carefully reviewed as part of a state
  transportation investment plan. In fact, these
  trail projects exist because your constituents
  have partnered with local governments to say we
  want this project built. Keep in mind that
  these are also public facilities, used and
  appreciated by people of all ages and abilities.
  
• What we hear, time and time again, is that these
  trails provide ways for kids to get to schools
  safely, families a way to recreate together, and
  in many cases, bike trails have spurred economic
  development in rural communities.

12
Bike Trails Pork? cont.

• Every year, the Root River Trail brings 180,000
  users into Lanesboro, MN. Over the years, for
  this community of 800 folks, this has meant 12
  new BBs, 8 new restaurants, a community theater,
  and a new museum. It has also meant being able
  to hire a fulltime fire department and a fulltime
  city administrator.
• Senator, trails get folks out to explore, shop,
  stay overnight in hotels, eat in restaurants, and
  participate in a healthy activity for the whole
  family. In fact, if you give me the name of your
  scheduler back in Minnesota, well set up a
  ribbon cutting ceremony for a new spur trail
  opening just outside of Lanesboro in May

13
7 Remember These Donts

• Dont launch into a long explanation of how your
  organization yadda yadda yadda
• Dont forget to say thanks if your Senator or
  Representative is a member of the Bike Caucus
• You need to know this before your visit
• Dont leave the office without a name from the
  home district for ribbon cuttings, events, etc.
• Dont miss your meetings No No Shows
• Dont prolong your meeting for one more point

14
8 Go For the Breakthrough

• Understand that youre one of hundreds to come
  through their office
• Reception might be cool or distant
• You need to break through if possible
• Staffers might be commuters or riders
• Figure out a benefits for constituents angle
• Defazio (D-OR) example from Jay Graves

15
9 Remember Our Goals

• Were here to
• Thank Congress for SAFETEA-LU/programs
• Begin/continue working relationships
• Were not here to resolve your particular issue
  back in the home district
• Youre here because youre a constituent, a
  business owner, taxpayer, and a voter
• You represent others back home to whom these
  facilities are extremely beneficial
• We need you to report back to LAB about each
  visit this is important!

16
10 Do a Thank You in 7 Days

• Its critically important to write a thank you
  letter as soon as possible
• Be sure to get business cards
• Follow-up needs to be a letter, not an email
• Reiterate your points in the follow-up letter
• Use this opportunity to expand a little on points
• Use the letter to suggest an event in the home
  district so you can begin a relationship
• If you dont do a follow-up letter, you never
  came to Capitol Hill

17

• There are two things that are important in
  politics. The first is money and I cant remember
  what the second one is.
• Mark Hanna, Ohio Senator, 1895

18
The Role of BikesPAC

• BikesPAC the first bicycle industry political
  action committee
• BikesPAC goals
• Raise and distribute funds to keep bicycle
  friendly members in Congress
• Establish working relationships with bike
  caucuses and congressional staffers
• Keep bicycling issues in front of Congress

19
Why Money to Congress?

• Re-election campaigns are expensive
• Incumbents have the most power
• Contributing distinguishes us from those who ask
  but dont give
• Given the current realities of how business is
  done on Capital Hill, we have no choice

20
Thank You!

• For more information, contact
• Andy Clarke at League of American Bicyclists
• Tim Blumenthal or Gary Sjoquist at Bikes Belong
• Let Tim or Gary know if you have someone in mind
  for a contribution from BikesPAC
• Thanks for attending the National Bike Summit!
• Your efforts are important and we appreciate the
  time and expense youve put out to be here
• Ask questions if youre not sure we can help!