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Legislative Advocacy 2008

Legislative Advocacy 2008. You are the Difference – Be Part of the Solution Presented by Joyce Dolcourt Kris Fawson Jan Ferr é Andrew Riggle. What is Public Policy?.

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Legislative Advocacy 2008

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  1. Legislative Advocacy 2008 You are the Difference – Be Part of the Solution Presented by Joyce Dolcourt Kris Fawson Jan Ferré Andrew Riggle The Arc of Utah Legislative Coalition for People with Disabilities Utah Statewide Independent Living Council

  2. What is Public Policy? Activities that are part of the decision-making process that leads to the development and implementation of laws, policies, rules, and procedures that impact the lives of people. The Arc of Utah, LCPD, USILC

  3. “No lasting achievement is possible without a vision, and no dream can become real without action and responsibility.” - William Butler Yeates The Arc of Utah, LCPD, USILC

  4. Advocacy Advocacy is just a matter of seeing a need and finding a way for you to address it. The Arc of Utah, LCPD, USILC

  5. Your only task is to be yourself: a citizen and voter who wants government policies to work for the most vulnerable as well as they do for the most powerful. --Nancy Amidei The Arc of Utah, LCPD, USILC

  6. 4 Basic Steps of Advocacy • 1) Choose your issue. • 2) What can I do? • 3) Who do I talk to? • 4) Communicate yourviews/follow up! The Arc of Utah, LCPD, USILC

  7. Step 1Choose Your Issues What concerns YOU about your neighborhood, community, state? The Arc of Utah, LCPD, USILC

  8. “Speaking up won’t guarantee that you will be successful, but not speaking up guarantees your wishes won’t be heard.” The Arc of Utah, LCPD, USILC

  9. Step 2What Can I Do? YOU Join Create Talk The Arc of Utah, LCPD, USILC

  10. Join • The Arc of Utah • www.arcutah.org • Legislative Coalition for People with Disabilities • www.lcpdut.org • National Alliance on Mental Illness • www.namiut.org The Arc of Utah, LCPD, USILC

  11. Create • Start small (neighbors, friends, school, church) • How to tools? www.grassroots-advocacy.com The Arc of Utah, LCPD, USILC

  12. Step 3: Who Do I Talk To? Who can help you? Find out…Who represents YOU 1) Call your local county clerk http://elections.utah.gov/countyclerks.html 2) Find your legislators www.votesmart.org The Arc of Utah, LCPD, USILC

  13. Step 4:Communicating Your Views • Senator and Representative • Committee members who will hear your issues The Arc of Utah, LCPD, USILC

  14. Communicating (cont…) • “I am a voter in your district.” • Phone • Email • Letters • Visit • Testify • Opinion pieces The Arc of Utah, LCPD, USILC

  15. Communicating (cont…) • Be brief and friendly. • Identify the issue, bill, or budget item. • Ask them to support yourposition. • Always thank them for their time. The Arc of Utah, LCPD, USILC

  16. Phone • House: (801) 538-1029 (800) 908-4261 • Senate: (801) 538-1035 (800) 613-0677 The Arc of Utah, LCPD, USILC

  17. Email • House Roster: http://www.le.utah.gov/house/members2005/membertable1add.asp • Senate Roster: http://www.utahsenate.org/perl/spage/ roster2007.pl The Arc of Utah, LCPD, USILC

  18. Letters • Senator ___________ Utah State Senate 350 North State Street, Suite #320 P.O. Box 145ll5 Salt Lake City, UT 84114 • Representative _____________ Utah House of Representatives 350 North State Street, Suite #350 P.O. Box 145030 Salt Lake City, UT 84114 • After the session write to their home addresses The Arc of Utah, LCPD, USILC

  19. Samples Letter and Email • Short • Simple • Succinct • See sample in handout The Arc of Utah, LCPD, USILC

  20. Fax • House Fax : Republicans: (801) 538-1908 Democrats: (801) 538-9505 • Senate Fax: Republicans (801) 538-1035 Democrats: (801) 538-1449 The Arc of Utah, LCPD, USILC

  21. Letters to the Editor/Op-Ed 21 The Arc of Utah, LCPD, USILC Salt Lake City • Salt Lake Tribune • letterstotheeditor@sltrib.com • Op-ed vanderson@sltrib.com • Deseret Morning News • letters@desnews.com • My View letters@desnews.com

  22. Letters to the Editor (con’t) 22 The Arc of Utah, LCPD, USILC Logan • The Herald Journal • hjletter@hjnews.com Provo • The Daily Herald • dhletters@heraldextra.com St. George • The Spectrum • opinions@thespectrum.com

  23. Golden Rules of Advocacy • Be fair and respectful • Avoid cynicism • Be understanding • Be friendly • Be reasonable • Be thoughtful The Arc of Utah, LCPD, USILC

  24. Golden Rules Continued… • Be charitable • Be constructive • Be realistic and persistent • Be practical • Be a good opponent • Be informed The Arc of Utah, LCPD, USILC

  25. Golden Rules Continued… • Be loyal and trustworthy • Be discreet • Be generous • Be visionary The Arc of Utah, LCPD, USILC

  26. Visit the Capitol To meet with a Senator or Representative: • Set up an appointment if possible • Send in a note to the legislator or intern The Arc of Utah, LCPD, USILC

  27. Testify • Prepare your statement • type a copy • practice • keep it short (2 minutes maximum) • Make copies • Arrive early!!! • Sign-up to speak The Arc of Utah, LCPD, USILC

  28. Testify (cont…) • Be objective/speak from your experience • Be prepared to answer questions. • Coordinate testimony before the hearing/avoid duplication The Arc of Utah, LCPD, USILC

  29. Beyond The Basics • Legislative Process • Congressional Contacts • Advocacy in an election year The Arc of Utah, LCPD, USILC

  30. The Legislature • Sets the state budget • Makes and changes state laws The Arc of Utah, LCPD, USILC

  31. Learn the Lingo • Appropriation • The budget for existing state programs • Bill • A proposed law The Arc of Utah, LCPD, USILC

  32. Committees • Rules Decides if and where a bill is heard • Standing Hears testimony, votes on bills • Appropriations Subcommittees Hears testimony, prioritizes funding requests • Executive Appropriations Leadership, determines state budget • Interim Meets between sessions to study issues The Arc of Utah, LCPD, USILC

  33. The Appropriations Process… June: Advisory committee discussions & recommendations July/August: Departmental hearings & recommendations September: Depts. forward budget requests to Governor December: Gov’s budget recommendations released The Arc of Utah, LCPD, USILC

  34. Getting $$$ Appropriations Division Legislature Fiscal Analyst Advisory Committee Appropriations Committee Department Exec Appropriations Governor’s Budget State Budget The Arc of Utah, LCPD, USILC

  35. The Bill Process • Someone recognizes the need to create or change a state statute • Example: Supported Employment Program The Arc of Utah, LCPD, USILC

  36. Passing a Bill • Find a…. **Sponsor • Introduced in… House or Senate • Sent to… **Rules Committee • Assigned to… Standing Committee The Arc of Utah, LCPD, USILC

  37. Passing a Bill Continued… **Standing Committee Passes (P) Fails(try again next year) **Floor 1st Vote Fails (P) Fails ** Floor Final Vote Veto (P) **Governor Sign The Arc of Utah, LCPD, USILC

  38. Track What’s Happening Find • Bills • Scheduled hearings • Rosters www.le.utah.gov The Arc of Utah, LCPD, USILC

  39. Congressional Contacts • Washington, DC Offices: Senator Orrin Hatch: (202) 224-5251 Senator Robert Bennett: (202) 224-5244 Representative Rob Bishop: (202) 225-0453 Representative Chris Cannon: (202) 225-7751 Representative Jim Matheson: (202) 225-3011 • US Capitol Switchboard: (202) 224-3121 The Arc of Utah, LCPD, USILC

  40. Month to Month Legislative Advocacy in an Election Year The Arc of Utah, LCPD, USILC r

  41. March-April-May • Attend your local caucus meeting • Become a county/state delegate • Attend a county/state convention • Meet the candidates from all parties The Arc of Utah, LCPD, USILC

  42. June-July • Vote in the primary election • Invite candidates to your home to meet your family • Get involved in a candidate’s campaign (optional) • Contact other elected officials • Attend agency budget hearings • Talk to family, friends, neighbors The Arc of Utah, LCPD, USILC

  43. August-September-October • Make sure you are registered to vote • Attend town meetings • Attend/host a cottage meeting • Talk, Talk, Talk, Talk (briefly!) • Continue your involvement in a candidate’s campaign • Walk the district • Make phone calls • Have a yard sign The Arc of Utah, LCPD, USILC

  44. September - October (con’t) • Find out what issues will be discussed during the next legislative session • Get on an email alert list • Vote early • By mail • Early polling places The Arc of Utah, LCPD, USILC

  45. November • Vote!!!! • Congratulate the winner • Offer to be a resource • Find out how your legislator prefers to be contacted The Arc of Utah, LCPD, USILC

  46. December • Send your legislators holiday cards • Include a picture ofyour family member with disabilities The Arc of Utah, LCPD, USILC

  47. January-February • Come to the Capitol • Contact your legislators and key committee members on important issues • Attend the Legislative Coalition for People with Disabilities’ Reception Feb 3rd 2009 The Arc of Utah, LCPD, USILC

  48. Government Policies Affect YOU • YOU can influence policy • YOU can improve services • YOU can help increase funding for needed programs • YOUcan educate policymakers If policymakers don’t hear from YOU, they assume everything is OK The Arc of Utah, LCPD, USILC

  49. Comments/Questions The Arc of Utah, LCPD, USILC

  50. “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed it is the only thing that ever has.” - Margaret Mead The Arc of Utah, LCPD, USILC

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