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Lee Hughes

Lee Hughes. Overview and Introduction Georgia Government and Politics By The Numbers. 2013 -Year One of a New Two-Year Session Between 2000 and 3000 bills and resolutions introduced over two years

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Lee Hughes

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  1. Lee Hughes

  2. Overview and IntroductionGeorgia Government and Politics By The Numbers • 2013 -Year One of a New Two-Year Session • Between 2000 and 3000 bills and resolutions introduced over two years • Legislation passes House of Representatives and the Senate and then goes to the Governor to be vetoed or signed into law

  3. Partisan Politics • Republicans control the House and the Senate • Constitutional Majorities • Margins are significant • Democrats struggling for relevance • Governor is a Republican and is strongly supported by the legislature

  4. In Georgia: Who is a Lobbyist? • any person who is paid specifically to take any action intended to promote or oppose the passage of any legislation/ regulation/ordinance by the State legislature and Governor, any State Agency, any City or County government and who spends more than 10% of his/her working hours doing this, including time spent in planning, researching, or preparing for such activities • any person who spends $1000 or more per calendar year in taking any actions intended to promote or oppose the passage of any legislation/ regulation/ordinance by the State legislature and Governor, any State Agency, any City or County government • any person who is paid specifically to influence the selection of a vendor to supply any goods or services to any state agency (includes any county or municipal government agency) and who spends more than 10% of his/her working hours doing this, including time spent in planning, researching, or preparing for such activities (but a lobbyist is not a bona fide salesperson)

  5. In Reality: Who is a Lobbyist? • Anybody that wears a lobbyist badge • Many people that don’t • Anyone that has ever tried to influence others

  6. The Role of Lobbyists • Lobbying as a whole serves as a checks-and-balances safeguard on the legislative process. • A lobbyist’s job is to convince legislators to affect laws or regulations consistent with the lobbyist’s cause, including those that benefit their clients as well as those that may harm them. • Individuals and interest groups alike can lobby governments, and governments can even lobby each other.

  7. The founding fathers recognized that the practice of lobbying is essential to the proper functioning of the government… so much so that it is specifically protected by the U.S. Constitution:

  8. Your Constitutional Right Amendment 1 of the United States Constitution: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

  9. Providing a Service Citizen legislature • Pursue their own professions • Part-time job for most • Limited resources • Required to act on widely disparate list of issues They NEED expert input on issues. By educating them on your issue you are providing a service for them.

  10. How To Start Determine your objective Develop your message and focus on it Research your issue develop accurate, up-to-date information Use respected sources (publications, studies, statistics, case studies & anecdotes from constituents) Refine a short spoken presentation… …polish it and practice it Determine who the biggest players are seek opportunities to educate them on your issue

  11. Techniques • Campaign for a candidate • advise the campaign • generate campaign contributions • host fundraisers • make calls • write speeches • Work closely with and for a legislator • provide information • draft legislation • help generate support • count votes • monitor activity

  12. . Framing the Debate • Determine who is with you • Determine who is against you • Create perception of support • Kickstart the process • Keep it moving • Monitor • News media, social media, talk in the halls, lobbyist registrations

  13. Knowledge = Power • The lobbyist must know the process, know who to contact, and have credibility in the legislative community. Like in any other endeavor, knowledge is necessary for success. • If you have a question at the Capitol, asking a lobbyist is often the best way to get the answer.

  14. True or False: All lobbyists are created equal Lobbyists vary in their degree of influence. Factors affecting their effectiveness include: • Resources • Experience • Network • Credibility

  15. Rules to Live By #1 Never misrepresent the facts. Never, … Ever,… Ever… under any circumstances! #2 Ignorance is no excuse for breaking rule #1 #3 When they Say Yes,… Stop Talking #4 Don’t shrink your world (partisanship, grudges, etc.) #5 Learn how to count votes

  16. CRITICAL SKILL FOR ADVOCATES? RESILIENCY

  17. Mike Tyson Quote “Everybody has a plan…

  18. Mike Tyson Quote “Everybody has a plan… --Then they get hit.”

  19. Ethics and ethical dilemmas • Just as with lawyers, 99% of lobbyists give the rest a bad name • If a Lobbyist and a Lawyer were both drowning, and you could only save one of them, would you go to lunch or read the paper? • But seriously,…

  20. Review • Santa Claus, the tooth fairy, an honest lobbyist, and an old drunk were walking along when they simultaneously spotted a hundred-dollar bill laying in the street. Who gets it? • What do you call 25 skydiving lobbyists? • How does a lobbyist sleep? • What do you call a Senator that gets a promotion?

  21. 141 Senate Bills • 211 Senate Resolutions • 285 House Bills • 271 House Resolutions (33) • 908 total • 15th legislative day, 37.5% through, projected sine die is March 28

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