Protecting the Public’s Health: Tips for Advocates

1. Protecting the Public’s Health:Tips for Advocates Presentation to the New York State Public Health Association Blair Horner May 30, 2014 NYPIRG

2. Agenda • Defining advocacy • Background on government • Lobbying in New York • Components of successful advocacy • Basics on lobbying • Do’s and Don’ts NYPIRG

3. What Is Advocacy? • Informing decision makers about risks/benefits of policy change. • Building a persuasive case for a particular change. • Engaging the community to advance or promote social, environmental or public policy issues. NYPIRG

4. Example: NYC Smoking Rate Down Nearly 30% NYPIRG

5. The Powers of the Executive • Governor is one of most powerful executives in nation. • Controls budget process. • Governor Andrew Cuomo • Attorney General Eric Schneiderman • Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli • Elected to four year terms NYPIRG

6. The Legislature • Senate controlled by Republicans/Independent Democratic coalition with 35 members (29 – R; IDC – 5; D/R -1) of 63 seats (two open). • Assembly controlled by Democrats: 100 D members of 150 seats (ten open). • 2 year terms, elections are in even numbered years • Extremely powerful leadership. • Chooses: chairs, staffing, office and parking locations. • Also controls leadership PACs. NYPIRG

7. What is NYS’s definition of lobbying? • New York State law applies to lobbyists and public corporations, and to clients or employers of lobbyists, who in any year either reasonably anticipate expending, incurring, or receiving, or who actually expend, incur, or receive, more than $5,000 of combined reportable compensation and expenses for lobbying activities at either the state and/or local government level. NYPIRG

8. What is not lobbying? • Educating students or others about issues, how state government works and politics. • Training folks on how to lobby or providing information on lobby-day activities. • Asking a public official to speak at an event on an issue they have a position on. • Planning or discussing strategy and tactics among those who already have a position on the issue. NYPIRG

9. New York State Commission on Public Ethicswww.jcope.ny.govNew York City Clerk’s officehttp://www.cityclerk.nyc.gov/html/lobbying/law.shtml NYPIRG

10. Lobbying Spending Over Time NYPIRG

11. Top Lobby Groups, 2013 NYPIRG

12. Additional lobbying facts • 6,742 individual lobbyists • 4,202 clients • New York State leads the nation in its ratio of lobbyists to lawmakers – 31 to 1. NYPIRG

13. “But the public is with us!” NYPIRG

14. Political scientist Jonathan Bernstein has observed: One of the big mistakes of the latest gun control debate was equating public support for reform with public demand for reform: “Those people who have been pushing for marriage equality? They were calling for change. And marching for it, demanding it, donating money to get it, running for office to achieve it, and supporting candidates who would vote for it, filing lawsuits to make it legal. In many cases, they based their entire political identity around it. Action works. "Public opinion" is barely real; most of the time, on most issues, change the wording of the question and you'll get entirely different answers. At best, "public opinion" as such is passive. And in politics, passive doesn't get results.” NYPIRG

15. Ingredients of Success • Strategy • Lobbying • Coalitions • Media • Grassroots, constituent pressure NYPIRG

16. Advocating/Lobbying • The practice of influencing votes of elected officials • Whatever the issue, we can “lobby” our elected officials so that beneficial action can be taken. NYPIRG

17. Lobbying • What do you want? • Why can it be done? • Who has lobbyists that can help? • Who are the relevant committees/leadership? • Systematically and consistently advocate. • Who are your champions? • Materials needed. • Know the law: New York State, New York City and the IRS. NYPIRG

18. When To Lobby • When recruiting prime sponsors • When recruiting co-sponsors • When asking for support for a specific bill • When new developments give rise to media coverage. • Before the issue gets to the Legislature (state) or Congress (federal) and a policy decision is made. NYPIRG

19. Who To Contact • To schedule a meeting: scheduler, often based in the district office, call Albany office first. • To contact your state legislators, use email, letters and/or leave phone messages. • Albany switchboards: Assembly 518 455-4100, Senate: 518 455-2800. Ask for your member’s office. NYPIRG

20. Know your legislator • Research his/her record on related legislation and/or voting record • General predisposition • Constituent pressures he/she faces NYPIRG

21. Know your issue • Research issue thoroughly before meeting with your legislator • If you are asked about something you are not sure of or do not know the answer, admit to it and let him/her know that you will get back to his legislative aide as soon as possible (try to provide answer within 24 hours). NYPIRG

22. The Personal Visit • The most effective way of transmitting your message • If the legislator is not available, ask to meet with a legislative aide NYPIRG

23. Know your opposition • Inform legislators of opponents and their positions • Identify other groups that support your position (coalition members) NYPIRG

24. How to Lobby Your Legislator • Be a credible representative • Be fully aware of your organization’s position/s • State your name & town where you reside • Be as specific as possible & keep it brief • Give name and bill number • Be reasonable, be clear about the “ask” (vote for bill, sponsor bill, etc.) • Ask legislator to state his/her position on the issue NYPIRG

25. Do’s and Don’ts: DO: • Address Senator, Representative or Assembly member properly • Identify yourself (by name and town) • Be brief and explicit, courteous and reasonable • Know the status of the legislation (refer to a bill by number) • Establish your own credentials or expertise on the subject • Respect legislator’s time • When presenting several “ASKS” keep all information to one page (materials matter!) • Pay attention to staff • Ask for specific action • Win/lose graciously • Keep door open for further discussion • Follow up NYPIRG

26. Don’t: • Assume the legislator is familiar with your issue • Underestimate your opponent • Flood the office with paper • Mislead or lie • Be arrogant, condescending or threatening • Apologize for taking his/her time • Argue or back legislators into a corner • Make notes of a conversation while talking to a legislator • Underestimate the influence of a chief of staff or legislative aide NYPIRG

27. Post Visit • Send a thank you note (not an email) • Send follow up email to legislative chief of staff or legislative aide with additional information • Make follow up call to inquire about legislator’s position (will he/she support legislation?) NYPIRG