How to Engage the Political Process

1. How to Engage the Political Process Unleashing Your Inner Lobbyist

2. The Kansas Catholic Conference • The public policy arm of the Catholic Church in Kansas. • Statewide organization. • We are the Church’s lobbyist.

3. Why Does the Church Need a Lobbyist? • Many public policy issues have a moral dimension. • There are 400,000 Catholics in Kansas. • They need a voice in the political process.

4. Our Organization • Founded in 1967. • 5 employees. • Statewide organization. • We serve all four Catholic bishops in Kansas.

5. Our Mission • We operate at the intersection of public policy and moral principles. • Articulate moral principles from a Catholic perspective. • Ask public officials to apply those principles as they make public policy.

6. Nonpartisan • We do not play politics. • Do not endorse candidates. • Do not make or receive contributions.

7. Issue Oriented • Wide spectrum of issues are of interest to us: immigration, health care, the environment, poverty amelioration, etc. • We promote Catholic moral teaching as a guide for evaluating public policy… • While recognizing that Catholics will legitimately reach different conclusions about which policies best apply these principles.

8. Non-Negotiables • There are some issues where Catholics are morally obliged to be unified. • Abortion, stem cell research, assisted suicide, euthanasia, the definition of marriage. • Where matters of intrinsic evil directly intersect with public policy, the Church insists upon particular policy outcomes.

9. We Want to Help You Lobby • What issues are important to you? • Do you want help make a difference? • We want to help enable Catholics in the state. • Make your voice heard.

10. Who’s Gonna Listen to Me? • You’re a citizen. • You’re a taxpayer. • You’re a voter. • Your opinion counts!

11. 1st Amendment …the right of the people to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

12. It Is Your Right • The 1st Amendment guarantees all Americans the right to lobby their government. • That applies to the Kansas Catholic Conference as an organization. • That applies to you as an individual.

13. Separation of Church and State • Jefferson’s famous “Wall of Separation” is grossly misunderstood. • “Separation of Church and State” never appears in the Constitution. • It was designed to protect religion from the government, not vice versa.

14. Faith in the Public Square • Most political issues have a moral dimension. • Your faith informs your perspective on these issues. • The fight to end slavery, and the Civil Rights movement, were driven by people of faith, and promoted with the language of faith.

15. Faith Part of our History • The language of faith has been part of our politics from the Founding Fathers to Martin Luther King, Jr. • The banishment of religious expression from the public square is a new phenomenon.

16. We’re Not Pushing Religion • Not asking Congress to mandate Fish on Fridays or Mass attendance. • Our policy goals are shared by people of other faiths, or even no faith.

17. Time to Start Lobbying • First, figure out who you need to talk to. • What issue do you want to talk to a public official about? • Where will the decision be made? • Is it a federal or state issue? Or both?

18. Civics 101 ?

19. Lobbying Congress • Located in Washington, DC. • 2 Chambers: House of Representatives and Senate.

20. US Senate • 100 US senators. • Every American represented by 2 senators. • Each state has 2 senators, both represent entire state. • Kansas’s senators are Sam Brownback and Pat Roberts.

21. US House of Representatives • 435 US representatives. • Each American represented by 1 representative. • Each representative represents a “district.” • Representatives are also addressed as “Congressman” or “Congresswoman.”

22. House cont. • Number of representatives per state determined by population. • Kansas has four: Jerry Moran, Lynn Jenkins, Dennis Moore, Todd Tiahrt. • Wyoming only has 1. • California has 53.

23. How a Bill Become a Law • Drafted • Introduced • Subcommittee • Committee • Floor • Conference Committee • Final Passage • President

24. TYPES OF BILLS AUTHORIZATION Establishes or continues a federal agency or program. APPROPRIATIONS Funds federal agencies and programs.

25. Authorization Bills • Emerge from policymaking committees. • Each committee chairman has the power to determine if any bill will pass through his committee.

26. Appropriations Bills • These emerge from the all-powerful Appropriations Committee. • Appropriations Committee divided into subcommittees. • Each Appropriations subcommittee chair is immensely powerful, called “cardinals.”

27. Appropriations cont. • Appropriations bills spend money. • They are not supposed to make policy. • In reality, a lot of policy is determined in the Appropriations Committee. • Abortion battles are fought here.

28. House Leadership Speaker Majority Leader Minority Leader Majority Whip Minority Whip

29. Senate Leadership Majority Leader Minority Leader Majority Whip Minority Whip

30. Voting Numbers to Win Majority Vote (50% + 1) 50% + 1 of 435 House Members = 218 50% + 1 of 100 Senate Members = 51 Presidential Veto Override Override = 2/3 of Members voting House: 290 or sustain House: 146 Senate: 67 Senate: 34 Senate Filibuster/Cloture requires 3/5 of the votes = 60

31. Communicating with Congress • It’s time to make your voice heard! • There are various ways to communicate your views to your elected representatives.

32. Meeting with your Representatives • To arrange a meeting, call the office number and ask what their procedure is for meeting requests. • Most typically they will ask you to write a letter requesting a meeting and have you fax it to the scheduler. • Make clear you are a constituent.

33. Meeting with your Representatives • Dress appropriately. • Speak respectfully. • Request, don’t demand. • Know what you’re talking about. • Find out where he or she stands. • Say thank you for the meeting, and for his/her good votes.

34. Do Your Homework • Know as much as you can about your representative in advance of the meeting. • Know where he or she stands on your issues. • Visit his website, both official and campaign. • Visit advocacy websites that score votes.

35. Stuck with Staff • Do not feel cheated if you only meet with a staffer. • Votes often interfere with members’ schedules, and they are frequently overbooked already. • Staff do much of the work on your issues anyway.

36. Writing Your Representatives • Neatly handwritten and typed letters make it to the top of the pile. • Form letters are largely ignored unless they arrive in huge numbers. • Be concise. Who you are, where you live (always include your address), and what your concerns are. • Ask for a response. • Don’t waste time writing other people’s representatives. • Consider faxing in a copy.

37. Calling • Ask to speak with the aide who handles your issue. • Introduce yourself as a constituent. • Convey your message – be clear and brief. • Include bill number and title when possible. • Give complete name and address. • Ask for a written response that details the member’s position. • Always be polite.

38. E-Mail • Policies vary from office to office. • Least likely to garner a personalized response. • Not terribly effective, it is often unclear if e-mailers are constituents, and the volume is just too huge.

39. Kansas Legislature • Located in Topeka.

40. Legislative Session • In session January-May each year. • 125 representatives and 40 senators. • Both representatives and senators represent districts. • Each Kansan has one state representative and one state senator.

41. Accessibility • State legislators have fewer constituents. • Have other jobs rest of the year. • Do not have large, full time staffs. • More likely to read your e-mails.

42. Public Testimony • Testify at committee hearings on legislation important to Catholics. • Have your thoughts organized, not a good time to ramble off the cuff. • Brevity and concision are key.

43. Other Opportunities for Advocacy • Timely letters to the editors of local papers. • Writing for diocesan newspapers. • Assist with postcard campaigns. • Call in to radio talk shows. • Donate to advocacy groups you support. • Volunteer on campaign for candidate you support. • Run for local office.

44. Helpful Websites • http://www.kscathconf.org/ • http://thomas.loc.gov/ • http://www.kslegislature.org/ • http://www.votesmart.org/ • http://www.google.com/