Making the Connection

1
Making the Connection

• Working with the General Assembly on
  Environmental Issues

2
Truth, Justice, and the American Way

• Some basics
• Be as upfront as possible.
• Anticipate opposing arguments acknowledge them.
• Tell the whole story.
• Dont get angry.
• The person who disagrees with you today may be
  tomorrows biggest ally.
• Always keep your word.
• The General Assembly is all about relationships.

3
Before Approaching Your Delegate or Senator

• Identify the root of the problem or issue.
• Does it require legislative action, or is it a
• Policy or procedural issue?
• Regulatory issue?
• A local government issue?
• Get as specific as possible.
• Broad positions are OK to start with, but...
• The more specific your idea, the better chance
  there is of having action taken.
• What specifically should be changed?
• What are the facts to back up your argument?

4
Before Approaching Your Delegate or Senator

• Check for past similar legislation
• http//leg1.state.va.us
• Contact the patron.
• Find out what happened.
• Anticipate your allies and your opponents
• Contact potential allies first ask for their
  support.
• Can potential problem areas be addressed up
  front?
• Determine who you will need to convince
• What committee/subcommittee is likely to consider
  the bill?

5
Be prepared to spend the time needed to get your
bill passed.
6
TIMING

• For legislation
• Start early. Pre-filing for legislation started
  on July 17th.
• Pre-filing ends on December 11th.
• Otherwise, all bills go to that members five
  bill limit.
• For budget items
• Get it in the Governors proposed budget if at
  all possible.

7
STUDIES

• Who would have thought that studies would be
  harder to get through than legislation?
• But it is true.
• House Rules Committee limits itself to 15 studies.

8
PRE-INVOLVEMENT

• Make yourself a resource.
• Find a way to get potential sponsors involved in
  something non-legislative.
• GMU example.
• Invited legislators to general overview.
• Paid attention to specific interests/concerns.
• Followed through with individual meetings and
  offer to serve as resource.

9
Choosing Your Champion

• There are lots of reasons to choose a specific
  legislator
• Personal relationship.
• Connection to the legislative topic.
• Membership on a specific committee or
  subcommittee.
• Introduced similar legislation in the past.
• Geographic representation.
• Write or email, and request a meeting to discuss
  your idea.
• Follow-up with co-patrons dont let your second
  pick get away!

10
LEGISLATIVE SERVICES

• These guys are awesome!
• Pre-filing doesnt mean the legislation is ready
  for prime time.
• A paragraph and a signature will get you on the
  way.

11
Communicating Your Message

• Boil the message down to one or two
  pages.
• Can it be seen as a long-term investment? What
  will we save by changing behavior, investing in a
  new program, etc.
• Present a communications plan by the legislator.
• Plan on several ways of communicating the
  message.
• Leverage resources from organizations that have
  full-time staff.

12
Communicating YourMessage

• Treat the opposition with respect.
• Volunteer accurate information. Nothing is worse
  than a one-sided story.
• Have arguments both pro and con.
• Understand and acknowledge supporters.
• Anticipate who the legislator knows or would like
  to get validation from.
• League of Conservation Voters, Chesapeake Bay
  Foundation, Farm Bureau, Agribusiness Council,
  Municipal League, etc.

13
CONSTITUENTS

• Legislators respond to constituents and
  contributors.
• Just a few emails or letters will do dont
  overwhelm the legislator.
• Constituent meetings are much better than
  officials from an organization.
• Limit your message to 5 or 10 minutes.
• Minimum wage bill.
• Motorcycle helmet bill.

14
Dealing with Committees and Subcommittees

• All meaningful work is done on the committee and
  subcommittee level.
• Dont underestimate the power of testifying.
  People rely on testimony to make decisions.
• Be prepared to travel to Richmond.
• If testimony is one-sided, group think mentality
  kicks in.
• Subcommittees (5 to 9 people) can kill a bill.

15
Dealing with Committees and Subcommittees

• Think through what you are willing to back away
  from and what you are not.
• Be prepared to compromise.
• Lobbyists have time to think about how to
  neutralize a bill. You will have only a few
  seconds to react.

16
Be Prepared to React

• Even if you dont submit legislation, track and
  be prepared to react.
• Bad bills pass because no one challenges them.

17
THANK YOU

• Win or loose, say thank you.

18
Chronology of a BillHB 421

• Closes a loophole in solid waste planning and
  when a permit is required.
• Brought to patrons attention by Northern
  Virginia Regional Commission and Loudoun County.
• Pre-filed on the last possible day (December
  12th).
• DEQ provided input on specific bill language, and
  several minor changes were made.
• Loudoun County helped by obtaining several
  strategic co-patrons and talking to waste
  authorities.

19
Chronology of a BillHB 421

• Bill passed subcommittee.
• Bill passed full committee, with delegate from
  Charles City County voting against.
• Discussed and resolved issues.
• Bill passed full House.
• Evening before Senate committee hearing, patron
  got a call from a lobbyist representing a waste
  facility expressing concerns.
• Worked with DEQ, Loudoun, and waste
  representatives on substitute.
• Passed Senate unanimously and then the House.

20
David BulovaVirginia House of Delegates37th
District

• deldbulova_at_house.state.va.us
• [phone]