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THE WASHINGTON LOBBYIST. NEED FOR LOBBYIST. Government actions can dramatically impact Company’s success Company wants to ensure it has a voice in the policy debate and participate in the political process . LOBBYIST’S VALUE. Information Access Influence. LOBBYIST’S ROLE.
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NEED FOR LOBBYIST • Government actions can dramatically impact Company’s success • Company wants to ensure it has a voice in the policy debate and participate in the political process
LOBBYIST’S VALUE • Information • Access • Influence
LOBBYIST’S ROLE • Help Company leaders assess potential impact/need for legislation and develop legislative remedy • Develop and implement strategy for securing that remedy • Building coalition • Identifying champion/sponsor • Building support and advance the legislation • Attaching legislation to “Train”
LOBBYIST’S KEY CONSIDERATIONS • Politics (likelihood of action) • Budget impact (cost) • Policy (merit)
LOBBYIST’S OBJECTIVE Convince all the necessary key Legislators and the President to enact the legislative remedy Attach the Proposal to the “Train” Legislation going through the process headed to enactment.
Barack Obama President of the United States Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH) House Speaker Harry Reid (D-NV) Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) Senate Minority Leader KEY PLAYERS IN PASSING LEGISLATION
LOBBYIST’S BAR FOR SUCCESS • Minimum threshold for passage • House • Support of Speaker & Committee Chair • Majority Vote in the Full House • Senate • Support of Majority Leader & Committee Chair • 60 Vote Majority in the Senate • President • Signature
RESTRICTIONS ON LOBBYIST • Registration • Limits on gifts • Disclosure • PAC and honorary contributions • Legislation impacted • Amount spent on lobbying • Clients
True or False • Most lobbyists will break the law to advance client’s interest • Lobbyists convince politicians to support their positions primarily by giving money and granting favors • Only businesses and the rich have lobbyists • Only lobbyists can get legislation enacted • Politicians are controlled by lobbyists • Only lawyers can become lobbyists • Lobbyists improve the quality of legislation • Lobbyists ‘Rock’
HOW TO BECOME A LOBBYIST • Get to know the players and process • Build substantive and communications skills • Network