Lobbying

1. Lobbying How to lobby your legislator with … Bill Hanlon

2. The Basics • Be respectful • Be knowledgeable • Be personal, appeal to the heart • Don’t assume a legislator’s position • Say thanks • Lobby year round

3. Targeting Legislators • Champions • Allies • Fence Sitters • Mellow Opponents • Hard Core Opponents

4. Champions • Inside strategy, have them • Make the case for you • Visible public spokespeople

5. Allies • Inside strategy • Encourage them to speak up in party caucuses or on the floor to support your cause

6. Fence Sitters • Key Targets • Inside persuasion • Outside pressure

7. Mellow Opponents • Clear votes against you, but not inclined to be active. • Lobby enough to give pause without making them angry

8. Hard Core Opponents • Leading the Opposition • Isolate them • Highlight extremes of their positions, rhetoric, and alliances to give other lawmakers pause about joining them

9. The Message • Present a clear message • Cite the bill name or number with a brief description • Know your subject • Don’t overload with issues • Goal; vote, leadership, or informational • Leave a fact sheet or informational material

10. Inside Lobbying • Meetings with lawmakers • Providing analysis and information • Testifying • Negotiating with policymakers and other lobby groups

11. Outside Lobbying • Media • Local lobbying by constituents • Building broad and diverse coalitions • Letter writing • Grassroots

12. Media • News conferences • Editorial boards • Assisting reporters

13. Telephone • Identify yourself by name and address • Identify the bill and number • Briefly state your position • Speak to staff • Thank-you note for time

14. Letter Writing • Do not use form letters • Short, concise and polite • Identify the issue and include bill number • If you live in district, say so • Ask for a response • Send a thank-you note • Include name, address, and phone number • Type, check spelling and grammar

15. Sample Letter Template • Indicate training relevant to your teaching: • Introduce yourself • Thank them for funding RPDP program • You have learned content, instructional strategies, and about assessing student work • You are applying that knowledge in your classroom • You are seeing changes (gains) in student understanding • You expect gains in student achievement • You would like to see the RPDPs funded again

16. Mailing List • Governor Guinn • Senate Majority Leader Raggio • Speaker Perkins • State Superintendent Rheault • President, State Board of Education • Members Legislative Cmte on Education • Members Assembly Education Cmte • Local superintendent(s)/Board of Trustees • Your own legislative contacts

17. Coordination • Inside and outside lobbying activities should be coordinated to assure the make strategic sense in terms of timing, targeting, and message.

18. Make Connections • Legislators • Other lobbyists • Media • Legislative staff • Influential citizens

19. Build a Relationship • No permanent friends – No permanent enemies. • Acknowledge past help • Turn down heat on other side

20. The Staff

21. Follow-up • Be sure to send a thank-you note. • Restate your understanding of any commitments

22. Some Don’ts • Don’t ever lie or mislead • Don’t threaten or antagonize • Don’t overwhelm • Don’t be inflexible • Don’t negatively talk about others

23. Appeal to Reason • Common sense more often than not will win out in political discussions. This approach will solidify your position and reinforce your credibility.

24. Additional Information • Be prepared to provide additional documentation