Date post: | 28-Mar-2015 |
Category: |
Documents |
Upload: | regan-pembleton |
View: | 216 times |
Download: | 1 times |
Lobbying 101:Delivering Your Message
To Elected Officials
Margie Metzler(916) 248-6148;
[email protected] 14, 2013
Advocacy vs Lobbying• Both = influencing public officials to take a specific
position on a piece of legislation or take a desired action
• Advocacy is intended to improve the social, economic, political environment
• Advocacy is intended to affect improvement of the community – or some subset within the community
• Advocacy is typically done by citizens or 501(c)(3)s
• 501(c)(3)s can spend up to 20 percent of budget on lobbying*
• Nonprofit organizations can and should lobby
*According to the Internal Revenue Code.
Advocacy vs Lobbying
• Lobbyists are generally paid and represent specific industries or companies
• Lobbyists must comply with various ethical and lobbying disclosure laws governing their activities
What is Advocacy?• Education of legislators
• Strategic influence
• Getting information/ establishing relationship with legislators and their staffs
• Creating awareness on both sides
• Suggesting Improvements to people who have power
• Getting a legislator to take on legislation you want
• Offering help and support
5
What is Lobbying Activity?
• Spending money
• Attempting to influence
• Legislative or administrative advocacy
• What we have beendoing is bird-dogging,not lobbying
What can you offer elected officials?
• Compelling stories
• Expert knowledge
• Community perspective
• Raising awareness in the community
• Thanks when they are doing the “right thing”
6
Studies: Is advocacy really effective?
7
• Staffers surveyed said that constituents’ visits to the Washington office (97%) and to the district/state office (94%) have some or a lot of influence on an undecided member
• When asked about strategies directed to their offices back home, staffers said questions at town hall meetings (88%) and letters to the editor (80%) have some or a lot of influence
http://www.independentsector.org/governance_ethics_resource_center
Studies: Is advocacy really effective?
8
• Constituents who make the effort to personally communicate with their Senators and Representative--except via fax—are more influential than lobbyists and news editors
• Nearly identical percentages of staffers said postal mail (90%) and email (88%) would have influence on an undecided Member of Congress
SUCCESSFUL ADVOCACY :Consider the motivations of public officials
• Build relationships with decision makers
• Conduct “power analysis” – identify which decision makers to target
• Make allocation of resources based on “What activity is most likely to motivate this particular public official?”
9
10
Levels
StateState Legislators/Agencies
FederalMembers of President/Congress
LocalCity Council, County Board of Supervisors
11
How to Set up a Meeting
• Call to find out whom to contact
• Include the date, time, and topic
• Be flexible
• Call back in a week
Meeting with Your Legislator
• Try to meet face to face
• Research committee assignments and specialties
• Establish rapport with legislator AND STAFF
• Leave informational one page
• Leave your business card and take one from staff
• Thank your Assembly member, Senator, City Council Member or County Supervisor
13
Meeting Tips
• Identify yourself as a constituent
• Have a clear "ask”
• Explain why it’s needed
• Give local examples
• Ask their position and why they hold it
14
Meeting Tips (continued)
• Don’t neglect legislators on the opposite side
• Ask your legislator about specific votes
• Take materials with you
15
Lobbying Don’ts
1. Don’t cover too many issues in a visit
2. Don’t be argumentative
3. Don’t expect them to be specialists
4. Don’t do all the talking
16
After Your Visit
• Always follow up with a Thank You
• Volunteer to be a resource contact
17
Information on Lobbying Regulations
• Alliance for Justice– [email protected]– 866-675-6229– www.afj.org– For fact sheets and publications
• Independent Sector:http://www.independentsector.org/governance_ethics_resource_center
Resources
• Detailed info: how a federal bill becomes a law: http://thomas.loc.gov/home/lawsmade.toc.html
• Federal legislation: http://thomas.loc.gov/home/thomas.php
• State legislation:http://www.legislature.ca.gov/port-bilinfo.html or http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/
18
Contacting the White House
• Contact online: http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/submit-questions-and-comments
• Call:– Comments: 202-456-1111– Switchboard: 202-456-1414– TTY/TTD Comments: 202-456-6213– Visitor's Office: 202-456-2121
• Write a letter to the President– The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NWWashington, DC 20500
19
Contact Senators• All Senators:
http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm
• Dianne Feinstein: http://www.feinstein.senate.gov/public/
• Barbara Boxer: http://www.boxer.senate.gov/501 I Street, Suite 7-600, Sacramento, CA 95814(916) 448-2787; 501 I Street, Suite 7-600Sacramento, CA 95814; (916) 448-2787; (202) 228-3865 fax
20
Washington, DC Office:331 Hart Senate Office Bldg.Washington, D.C. 20510Phone: (202) 224-3841Fax: (202) 228-3954TTY/TDD: (202) 224-2501
San Francisco Office:One Post StreetSuite 2450 San Francisco, CA 94104 Phone: (415) 393-0707 Fax: (415) 393-0710
Contact Congress Members• Find all Members of Congress: (202)225-3121
http://www.house.gov/representatives/find/• Doris Matsui (http://matsui.house.gov)
• Ami Bera (as of Jan. 1, 2013)Craig Belden, Director of Operations916-517-5881Box 582496, Elk Grove [email protected]
• Tom McClintock: http://mcclintock.house.gov/contact/index.shtml
21
428 Cannon HOBWashington, DC 20515Phone: (202) 225-2511
8700 Auburn-Folsom Road, Suite 100Granite Bay, CA 95746Phone: (916) 786-5560
Washington, D.C. OfficePhone: (202) 225-7163 Fax: (202) 225-0566222 Cannon Building
Washington, DC, 20515-0505
Sacramento OfficeRobert T. Matsui U.S. Courthouse
501 I Street, Suite 12-600Phone: (916) 498-5600
Sacramento, CA, 95814-7305
Contact State Legislators• Find Senators or assembly members;
contact info; maps:http://www.legislature.ca.gov/legislators_and_districts/legislators/your_legislator.html
• Bill info: http://www.legislature.ca.gov/port-bilinfo.html or http://www.leginfo.ca
• Pocket Directory of the California Legislature: Capitol gift shop or app at www.govbuddy.com
22
23
Have
fun!