Lobbying

1
Lobbying

• How to lobby your legislator
• with

Bill Hanlon
2
The Basics

• Be respectful
• Be knowledgeable
• Be personal, appeal to the heart
• Dont assume a legislators position
• Say thanks
• Lobby year round

3
Targeting Legislators

• Champions
• Allies
• Fence Sitters
• Mellow Opponents
• Hard Core Opponents

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Champions

• Inside strategy, have them
• Make the case for you
• Visible public spokespeople

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Allies

• Inside strategy
• Encourage them to speak up in party caucuses or
  on the floor to support your cause

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Fence Sitters

• Key Targets
• Inside persuasion
• Outside pressure

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Mellow Opponents

• Clear votes against you, but not inclined to be
  active.
• Lobby enough to give pause without making them
  angry

8
Hard Core Opponents

• Leading the Opposition
• Isolate them
• Highlight extremes of their positions, rhetoric,
  and alliances to give other lawmakers pause about
  joining them

9
The Message

• Present a clear message
• Cite the bill name or number with a brief
  description
• Know your subject
• Dont overload with issues
• Goal vote, leadership, or informational
• Leave a fact sheet or informational material

10
Inside Lobbying

• Meetings with lawmakers
• Providing analysis and information
• Testifying
• Negotiating with policymakers and other lobby
  groups

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Outside Lobbying

• Media
• Local lobbying by constituents
• Building broad and diverse coalitions
• Letter writing
• Grassroots

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Media

• News conferences
• Editorial boards
• Assisting reporters

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Telephone

• Identify yourself by name and address
• Identify the bill and number
• Briefly state your position
• Speak to staff
• Thank-you note for time

14
Letter Writing

• Do not use form letters
• Short, concise and polite
• Identify the issue and include bill number
• If you live in district, say so
• Ask for a response
• Send a thank-you note
• Include name, address, and phone number
• Type, check spelling and grammar

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Sample Letter Template

• Indicate training relevant to your teaching
• Introduce yourself
• Thank them for funding RPDP program
• You have learned content, instructional
  strategies, and about assessing student work
• You are applying that knowledge in your classroom
• You are seeing changes (gains) in student
  understanding
• You expect gains in student achievement
• You would like to see the RPDPs funded again

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Mailing List

• Governor Guinn
• Senate Majority Leader Raggio
• Speaker Perkins
• State Superintendent Rheault
• President, State Board of Education
• Members Legislative Cmte on Education
• Members Assembly Education Cmte
• Local superintendent(s)/Board of Trustees
• Your own legislative contacts

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Coordination

• Inside and outside lobbying activities should be
  coordinated to assure the make strategic sense in
  terms of timing, targeting, and message.

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Make Connections

• Legislators
• Other lobbyists
• Media
• Legislative staff
• Influential citizens

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Build a Relationship

• No permanent friends No permanent enemies.
• Acknowledge past help
• Turn down heat on other side

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The Staff
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Follow-up

• Be sure to send a thank-you note.
• Restate your understanding of any commitments

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Some Donts

• Dont ever lie or mislead
• Dont threaten or antagonize
• Dont overwhelm
• Dont be inflexible
• Dont negatively talk about others

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Appeal to Reason

• Common sense more often than not will win out in
  political discussions. This approach will
  solidify your position and reinforce your
  credibility.

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Additional Information

• Be prepared to provide additional documentation