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A Case Study in “Grassroots” Lobbying:How MADD Fixed the Flaw in Hawaii’s Drunk-Driving Law
Relevant Lobbying Provisions: • Grass Roots Lobbyingoccurswhenanonprofitorganizationurgesthegeneral publictotakeactiononaspecificlegislation.Keyindicatorsofgrassrootslobbying: –Relatestospecificlegislation –Reflectsapointofviewonthelegislation’smerits –Encouragesthegeneralpublictocontactlegislators
The Public Policy Situation:TheHawaiilegislaturepassedanewdrunkdrivinglawthatdeletedthe“impliedconsent”provisiondesignedtovirtuallyguaranteedriver’slicenserevocationforrefusaltotakeaBreathalyzertestafterapolicestop.Withthelegislatureadjournedandlittlemorethantwomonthsleftbeforethenewlawbecameeffective,onlyaspecialsessioncouldrestoretheprovision.
MADD’s Lobbying Strategy:Actingonpoliticalintelligence,MADDleadershipdecidedtofocuslobbyingeffortsonthegovernor,whosupportedthe“impliedconsent”provision,andthesenatepresident,RichardS.H.Wong,theonlyofficialwhocouldconvenethespecialsession.Togaintheirsupportandtheattentionofthewholepoliticalestablishment,MADDlaunchedahugegrassrootscampaigntokeepthegovernorandthesenatepresidentinthemediaspotlightwhiledemonstratingthepublic’sstrongsupportforfixingtheflawedlaw.
MADD’s Tactics:MADDchoseMemorialday—typicallyaslownewsdaywithhightrafficfatalities—tostageaneventinfrontofHawaii’sEternalFlamewarmemorial.There,beforenewscameras,MADD’slegislativechairpersonremindedHawaiianstorememberthosekilledonhighwaysaswellasinwars.Atwo-foothighsignattachedtothepodiumborethephonenumbersofthegovernorandWong.Onthesameday,MADDmembers,accompaniedbyotherhuge“callorwrite”signs,begancollectingsignaturesonapetitiontobepresentedtoWong.MADDusedonlyonemessagetogainsupport:“AfterJuly1st,mostdrunkdriverswillnotlosetheirlicensetodrive.Theywillbelegallysharingtheroadswithusandourfamilies.”
Inamedia-heavyceremonyafewdayslater,adelegationofMADDstateandchapterleaderswearingyellow“RingWong”T-shirtspresentedWongwiththepetitions.MeanwhileMADDvolunteersflashedthetwophonenumbersonheavilytraveledhighways,andthestate’smedicalassociation,togetherwiththenurse’sassociationandemergencyphysician’sassociation,heldanewsconferenceinsupportoftheMADDcampaign(MADD’sothermajorcoalitionpartnersincludedlawenforcementagencies,insurancegroups,theHawaiiConventionandVisitorsBureau,andtheChamberofCommerce).AsDemocraticsenatorialcaucusmeetingsrelatedtoamendingtheflawedlawbegan,MADDvolunteerspresentedeachsenatorwithaballoontiedtoagoldkeyandanotesaying,“Youarethekey.”
Thoughthecampaignwasdrivenbygrassrootslobbying,MADDleadershipalsousedtraditionaldirectlobbyingtechniques:buttonholingeverysenator,nosecounts,vigilsduringcaucusdeliberations,andpreparationofsenatetestimonyandwitnesses.
Public Policy Outcomes:Theimpliedconsentprovisionwasrestoredwithonlyonedissentingvote,andMADDgarneredwidecommunitysupportwithoutalienatingpoliticalleaders.
One MichiganAvenue EastBattle Creek, MI49017-4058USA269-968-1611TDD on siteTelex: 4953028Facsimile: 269-968-0413Internet: http://www.wkkf.org
HE 4411Item #563500 5/06
Definitions
• Lobbyingisvirtuallyanyadvocacyactivityaimedatinfluencinga“legislator’s”voteon specificlegislation.
• Direct Lobbyingoccurswhenanonprofitorganizationattemptstoinfluencespecific legislationbystatingapositiontoa“legislator”orothergovernmentemployeewho participatesintheformulationoflegislation.
• “Legislator”refersto – membersofCongressortheirstaff – statelegislatorsortheirstaff
– locallegislativerepresentatives(e.g.,oncountyboardsandcitycouncils) – thepublic,inthecaseofaballotmeasure –membersofanorganization(ifaskedtotakeactiononlegislation)
• Legislationisdefinedasactionbyalegislativebodyincludingtheintroduction, amendment,enactment,defeatorrepealofacts,bills,resolutions,appropriations, andbudgets.AlsoincludedaretheU.S.Senateconfirmationsofexecutiveandjudicial branchnomineesandproposedtreatiesthatneedU.S.Senateapproval.
Therearefourstatutoryexceptions: • Nonpartisananalysis,studyorresearch~mayhaveapointofviewbut
mustprovideafullandfairexpositionoftheunderlyingfactstoenable readertoformanindependentopinionorconclusiononthesubject andbewidelydisseminatedandnotlimitedtopeopleononesideof
anissue.
• Requestfortechnicaladviceorassistance~awrittenrequestfroma legislativebodythatisavailabletoallmembersoftherequestingbody.
• Self-defense~communicationonanactionwhichcouldimpactan organization’sexistence,powers,duties,tax-exemptstatus,orthe deductibilityofcontributionstotheorganization.
• Discussionofbroadsocial,economic,andsimilarproblems~discussion ongeneraltopicswhichmaybethesubjectofspecificlegislationbut mustnotrefertospecificlegislationordirectlyencourageaction.
Source:TheMADDcasefactsweredrawnfromalongercasestudyin“LobbyingSuccessStories:ExamplesofHowNonprofitLobbyingHasChangedOrganizationsandChangedLives,”apublicationoftheCenterforLobbyinginthePublicInterest,www.clpi.org.