Legislative & Media Advocacy: Working Together for Better Results

1. Legislative & Media Advocacy: Working Together for Better Results Commonwealth Prevention Alliance Nittany Lion Inn State College, PA June 6, 2012 Clay Yeager

2. What We’ll Cover Today How to Become a Great Advocate (When Good Isn’t Good Enough) How the Legislative Process Works How a Bill Becomes a Law Tools for Connecting to your Legislator Effective Communications Strategies for Engaging the Media

3. A Definition of Ad-vo-ca-cy (n) Skills and Qualities Necessary Knowledge of the Legislative Process Knowledge of the Issue(s) Personal commitment to the Issue(s)

4. Ask Yourself What are YOUR expectations in becoming involved in advocacy? What do you want to accomplish? What are the biggest barriers to getting involved? How have you already engaged in advocacy?

5. We Are……# 1 1st - Prison Built in US (Eastern State Penitentiary) 1st – Highest Rate of Juveniles in Out-of-home Placement Among 10 Most Populated States (OJJDP, daily census) 1st– Among 10 Most Populated with INCREASED out-of-home placements between 2001 and 2010 (OJJDP, daily census) 1st– Number of Juveniles Sentenced to ‘life without parole’ (Human Rights Watch) 1st– Largest increase in new inmates to state corrections (Pew Center, 2009)

6. Prevention or Prison in Pennsylvania? $ 2 Billion – 2011/12 Budget for State Corrections System $500 Million – Services to Delinquent Youth in PA. $ 1.3 Million – proposed 2012/13 Budget for Evidence-Based Prevention and Intervention Programs About 60-75% of adult inmates have juvenile records

7. A Few Facts & Talking Points $2 BILLION is 2,000 MILLIONS DAILY cost of prisons is $5.4 MILLION DAILY cost of evidence-based prevention is $5 THOUSAND More $ is spent between 6:00 am and 3:00 pm in ONE DAY housing 52,000 inmates than is spent during AN ENTIRE YEAR on proven programs designed to keep prevent them from entering

8. PA. Added More New Inmates in 2009 Than ANY Other State

9. If Drug Abuse and Addiction Were Its Own State and Federal Budget • In states, it would rank #2 behind public education • At federal level, it would rank #6 – behind social security, national defense, income security, Medicare and Medicaid • Federal and state governments spend 60 times more to clean up devastation of drug abuse and addiction on children as they do on prevention and treatment

10. State Operated Facilities –Annual Cost in Pennsylvania Y.F.C. # 2$142,715.00 Y.F.C. # 3 $156,220.00 Y.D.C. @ Loysville$162,060.00 Y.D.C. @ Cresson $180,310.00 North Central Secure $189,070.00 Y.D.C. @ New Castle$198,925.00 South Mountain Secure $213,890.00

11. A Hypothetical County $177,598.00 averageannual cost per youth YOUR county places 6 juvenile offenders in state operated facilities Annual Price tag $1,065,588.00 (for 6 kids)

12. Program Number Served Multidimensional Treatment Foster Care 60+youths in care for seven months 100+families enrolled for THREE Years 340+families taught the curriculum series 1,000+high risk children matched 5,100+schools trained 33,000+elementary school students taught social and emotional regulation P.A.T.H.S. 142,000+students taught peer resistance and conflict resolution skills

13. ‘People who love law and good sausage should never watch either being made’ German Chancellor Otto von Bismark 1815-1898

14. Pennsylvania’s General Assembly Bi-Cameral Legislature – Two Bodies (Chambers): House and Senate Senate – 50 members elected for 4-year terms; headed by Senate President Pro Tempore House – 203 members elected for 2-year terms; headed by Speaker of the House

15. Current Composition Republicans control the House, the Senate and the Governor’s Office 30 Republicans in Senate 112 Republicans in House 20 Democrats in Senate 91 Democrats in House

16. Some Little Known Facts Pennsylvania is the 2nd largest legislature in the country (behind New Hampshire) Each legislator represents about 60,000 residents Pennsylvania is the largest ‘full-time’ legislature in the country Members are paid $79,613 annually plus per diems while in session

17. Working Together: Building the Coalition for Advocacy Coalition (def.): ‘an organization of organizations’ working together to affect change on similar issues or concerns’. Advocates build coalitions to build the power necessary to do something not able to be done by one group alone

18. Communicating with your Legislator Advocacy with legislators is about persuading them to do what you want. The first step is building a strong relationship with them and their staff. You need to earn and nurture their respect Be prepared, know the subject, do not overload them and stick to the issue(s)

19. Some Useful Tips…….. Respect their time restraints – summarize clearly Research other issues they are involved with Present both sides so they can anticipate the opposition Compliment them on anything – a little ‘thank-you’ goes a long way Get to know their aides – they are a key to access

20. Useful Tips……. Provide positive public and media opportunities through awards programs, ‘photo ops’, annual meetings – anything to get them noticed Honor them – give them public recognition with a special award Remember their birthdays and other milestones – send a handwritten note Only provide them with useful information – facts, data, outcomes, cost savings

21. Legislators are Human The most important thing to remember is that elected officials are just like everyone else. They appreciate people who show an understanding and respect for the individual legislator’s personal philosophy and issues and they take note of coalitions that have a clear strategic vision.

22. Do Not…… Confront, badger or challenge Take up too much of their time – respect theirs Lecture them – instead a provide clear, concise message to leave with them Threaten them with negative consequences Become a Jack Abramoff

23. Tactics to Consider to Communicate with Legislators Letter Writing/e-mail Telephone Face-to-face meetings Public Hearings Testimony

24. Writing Letters to Legislators Be clear about what you want Letters should be less then one page Be precise about what you want – get right to the point Only address one issue at a time Send letters only when it’s necessary

25. Send Letters Only When Necessary Trying to initially drum up support for an issue A vote on a bill of importance is looming The legislator has done something advocates want to praise The legislator is undecided about an issue

26. Not Sure What to Say or How to Say It? Be very clear about the issue and what action you want them to take Address the letter properly (see guidelines) Personalize the issue. Tell them how the issue impacts you, outcomes for youth and families, cost impact Do not ramble Thank them for their attention – ask for a written response and their position Include your full nameand address to assure them you are a constituent

27. Calling Legislators While nothing is better than a face-to-face meeting, calling assures that someone will answer If the member is not available, it is equally important to convey the message on the issue to the appropriate staff person, e.g. policy director

28. Calling Your Legislator – Some Useful Tips Prepare your message before you call Identify yourself as a constituent Say exactly what you are calling about – use bill numbers or issues State specifically what you would like your legislator to do Leave your name and contact information

29. Calling Your Legislator – Some Useful Tips Call their capitol office – has more impact. During recess, call their local office Do not criticize or debate The call will likely be about 2 minutes – critical to get your message across If unable to speak directly to member, staffers have the ear of the boss Conclude by thanking legislator or their staff for their time and attention

30. Visiting Legislators – Face-to-Face Meetings Every citizen has the right to seek a meeting with their elected officials A face-to-face meeting is the most effective way to get your message across You can meet several in the Capitol and also in your home district

31. Meeting Your Legislator Face-to-Face….Some Useful Tips Make appointments as far in advance as possible Dress professionally Arrive early and be prepared to wait Keep the group small Choose a spokesperson – preferably a key, visible leader or someone with a personal connection Ensure the group is diverse; able to address issue from multiple sides

32. Meeting Your Legislator Face-to-Face….Useful Tips Be informal, but not disrespectful Do not use jargon or acronyms (CTC, SPIF-SIG, PCCD, DPW, EPIS, D&A, ODAP,) they do not speak your language Learn in advance with whom you are meeting; if staff member, it’s okay as they convey message to member Be specific about what you are asking of the legislator; (cite bill # or line item)

33. Meeting Your Legislator Face-to-Face….Some Useful Tips Be prepared to answer questions Bring packets of information to leave, include briefsynopsis of issue – one sheet fact sheets are best Make yourself available to the legislator as ‘experts’ on these issues Follow-up; send thank-you letter immediately, along with your contact information

34. Public Hearing and Testimony – Telling Your Story Generally, public hearings are held after a bill has been introduced and assigned to a committee in either the House or Senate Hearings are held to give individuals and groups the opportunity to interact and exchange information and to seek comments regarding a proposed bill

35. Public Hearings and Offering Testimony: Some Useful Tips A chance to tell your story (10 minutes or less) Provide facts and data – Legislators want hard data, costs, numbers, research, outcomes and impact Start by introducing yourself, the group you represent, the bill # or issue Be brief and precise – avoid lengthy clichés or philosophizing

36. Public Hearings and Offering Testimony: Some Useful Tips Use personal (and local) examples to prove your points Do not make claims you are not prepared to defend Prepare a written copy of your testimony to leave with committee members, staff, the media and other attendees End by thanking the committee and legislator for the opportunity

37. How A Bill Becomes Law in Pennsylvania

38. How a Bill Becomes Law in Pennsylvania

39. How a Bill Becomes Law In Pennsylvania

40. How a Bill Becomes Law in Pennsylvania

41. How a Bill Becomes Law in Pennsylvania

42. How a Bill Becomes Law in Pennsylvania

43. How a Bill Becomes Law in Pennsylvania

44. How a Bill Becomes Law in Pennsylvania

45. How a Bill Becomes Law in Pennsylvania

46. The Budget Process in Pennsylvania

47. Working with the Media The primary purpose of working with the media is to influence public attitudes about the same issues you advocate. Public opinion is a powerful tool in advancing the issues

48. Three Rules of Working with the Media Respond to coverage – develop and nurture relationships with reporters Become an expert resource – Reporters need story ideas, so help them develop stories about your issue Read, watch, listen – Get to know the local media reporters for each ‘beat’ – crime and justice, education, health, public policy, government

49. Working with the Media Cultivate the local media – you can make their job easier News Advisory – announcing an upcoming event or announcement News Release – Provides more detailed information about an issue

50. Working with the Media Plan activities – meetings, forums, announcements, reports with media in mind IF media responds, inform policy officials, legislators and key leaders aware Create opportunity to highlight policy makers in front of media