ASSE Government Affairs

ASSE Government Affairs Dave Heidorn Manager of Government Affairs and Policy dheidorn@asse.org 847/768-3406

This will be about two things… One For better or for worse, ASSE’s state government affairs is a volunteer system If YOU don’t do it, it won’t get done

Two Government affairs is all about influence And you may be surprised at how much you can have…if YOU want it

Question of the day…

How does a safety pro do government affairs?

How does it look like a safety pro does government affairs? Just the facts, ma’am

But doing safety and doing government affairs are really not that different

How does a safety pro do safety? • Find out what the problem is • Figure out the facts • Apply the facts if possible • If the facts aren’t applicable, figure out something that works • Communicate • Walk the job

How does a government affairs pro do government affairs? • Find out what the problem is or, better, create a problem • Figure out the facts • Apply the facts if possible • If the facts aren’t applicable, say something anyway • Communicate • Walk the halls

Safety Pro Find out the problem Figure out the facts Apply the facts if possible If the facts aren’t applicable, figure out something that works Communicate Walk the job GA Pro Find/create a problem Figure out the facts Apply the facts if possible If the facts aren’t applicable, say something anyway Communicate Walk the halls Pretty much the same

As in your job, if you don’t do it, nobody will.

Now, how does ASSE’s GA work?

ASSE has a system It’s called YOU

ASSE’s system of volunteers Board of Directors including Regional Vice Presidents * Council on Professional Affairs * Government Affairs Committee

ASSE Government Affairs Committee • Chair, Emory Knowles, Maryland • John Clark, New Jersey • Don Garman, New York • Ed Granberry, Florida • Dianna Pressmann, Pennsylvania • Jon Turnipseed, California

…and more • Keith Vidal, Missouri – CoPS Liaison • President-Elect – Gene Barfield, Louisiana

GA on the staff side Manager of Gov’t Affairs and Policy Me * part-time Federal Representative Adele Abrams, Esq. who reports to me

…reporting to Director of Professional Affairs Bob DeSiervo * who reports to the Executive Director Fred Fortman

ASSE Volunteer GA is based on a regional organization Regional Vice President * (Regional GA Chair) * Regional Operating Committee * Chapters in a state

…and at the chapter level Chapter President * Chapter Government Affairs Chair * Members

So how does the system work?

By the current ASSE rules… If you want to take a position on a bill or reg, working with the RVP… • Get the agreement of all the chapters in a state • Get the agreement of the Regional Operation Committee • Get the agreement of the national GAC

Problems you have to deal with… • Getting consensus from all the chapters…not a problem in Minnesota but a problem in California • Timeliness • Members and chapters spread out over long distances and away from state capitols • Who’s in charge?

How to anticipate those problems • Communications • Organization • Meetings • Activity

A couple things to think about

For whom do you speak? • You cannot speak for ASSE without going through that approval process • You can always speak for yourself

Who do you represent? • The safety professional • The safety profession • The Society

Don’t hire a lobbyist

Now that you know the system…

…how do you do government affairs?

Remember what a safety GA pro does… • Find/create a problem • Figure out the facts • Apply the facts if possible • If the facts aren’t applicable, say something anyway • Communicate • Walk the halls

1. Find/create a problem • Newspapers, TV and radio • The grapevine • ASSE State Legislative and Regulatory Activities Report • ASSE GA Update • Other organizations and associations

Best, your own gut level passion

2. Figure out the facts • ASSE State Legislative and Regulatory Activities Report • ASSE GA Update • State government web sites • The grapevine • The newspaper • Call your legislator or regulator

3. Apply the facts if possible • Put something in writing. Make a statement. • The rule of three • The better rule of one • Less is always more • Never lie

4. If the facts aren’t applicable, say something anyway • Facts rarely win in the realm of public affairs • It’s about the gray matter, not the black and white • Get something on the record

5. Communicate! Once you have a statement, you can send it to anyone. • By e-mail • By hand • By telephone • To media outlets

Figure out who you want to see your message • Other ASSE members • The legislator or regulator • Other legislators or regulators • Their bosses • Other associations and related professionals

Legislators’ underlings • Legislators’ spouses and friends • Newspapers • The public • Your company

6. Walk the halls • Say or write something nice to a legislator or regulator. They’re human. They want to hear supportive things. • Figure out a day and go to the capitol and walk the halls • Call ahead to the sponsor and the key committee members • Leave something behind -- rule of three

Be really nice to the secretary • Say something nice to the legislator, even if you don’t agree • Leave your own politics at the door • Talk only about this issue, talk quickly and stay on point

The guy who talks about black helicopters or his mom’s problem with the DMV? Tell him the wrong date • Most important – be yourself • You don’t need to wear a suit if you don’t wear one at work • Organize the visit. Make a list.

Other important ways to “walk the halls” • Vote • Volunteer to stuff envelopes • Volunteer to have a coffee during a campaign • Invite a candidate to a chapter meeting • Volunteer to walk a candidate around the neighborhood

Donate money • Get others to donate money • Help run the campaign • Get a friend to run for office • Run for office yourself

What’s it really all about?

Influence Think of all those things you can do to “walk the halls.” The farther you walk your way up that list, the more influence you will have.

The Hierarchy of Influence – where do you want to be? • Run for office yourself • Get a friend to run for office • Help run the campaign • Get others to donate money • Volunteer to walk a candidate around the neighborhood

…more • Invite candidate to a chapter meeting – forget partisanship, invite! • Volunteer to have a coffee • Donate money • Volunteer to stuff envelopes • Vote • Don’t even vote

Who’s a government decision maker going to listen to? • The person who simply voted? • Or the person who ran the campaign?

You can do it.

ASSE Government Affairs