citizen advocates: learning the ropes for effective capitol hill visits american bar association
TRANSCRIPT
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Citizen Advocates: Learning the Ropes for Effective Capitol Hill Visits
American Bar Association
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Presenters
Thomas Susman
Director Governmental Affairs Office, ABA
Julie Strandlie Grassroots Director/Legislative Counsel, ABA
Brad Fitch
Vice President, Client Services, CQ-Roll Call Group
Angela RyeSenior Advisor & Counsel, U.S. House of Representatives,
Committee on Homeland Security
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How to Lobby Webinar
Agenda
1. Capitol Hill Environment – Post Internet
2. Challenges to Interacting with Congress
3. Tips for Effective Lobbying
4. Follow-up and Reports
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Dear Congressman Bartlett:
I voted for you three times, and I think you are wonderful. Please send me $900 at once, so I can buy an icebox and repaint my car.
-John J.__________
P.S. The three times I voted for you were in the election of 1946.
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Letter: Investigate Elvis sightings 2,523 unread
e-mails
Faxes from group promising mass protest at next town hall meeting
Is it $1 Bud night at the Hawk & Dove
Pub?
Report: “National Intelligence Estimate of Osama bin Laden Location”
Letter: Local mayor asking for earmark project
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Mail & E-mail to Congress(source: Congressional Management Foundation)
25
100
200
150
125
175
50
75
1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004
Postal Mail
182 million
18 million
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"If your Member/Senator has not already arrived at a firm decision on an issue, how much influence might the following advocacy strategies directed to the Washington office have on his/her decision?"
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9070 8020 50 6030 40 100
Constituent Visits
Form Faxes
Form E-mail
Individualized E-mail
Lobbyist Visit
Individualized Faxes
Phone Calls
Form Letters
Rep. for Constituents
Individualized Letters
A lot of Influence
Some Influence
99%
96%
96%
94%
93%
91%
88%
65%
63%
57%
Source: Congressional Management Foundation
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“The best groups find influential citizens to singularly focus on one issue. The heavy lifting is not done by paid lobbyists -- it's done by citizens.”
- US Senator
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Members of Congress Research
• Biography, committee positions
• Local connection to our issues
• Recent legislative/press activity
• Use ABA’s “Suggestions for Congressional Hill Visits”
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TIPS FOR SUCCESSFUL LEGISLATIVE VISITS
There is no one "correct" way of calling upon a Member of Congress. But there are some things that you can do that will greatly increase the effectiveness of your visit. Here, are a few guiding principles to remember:
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11 Steps to a Successful Visit
1. Make an Appointment
2. Do your Homework
3. Select a Spokesperson
4. Be Brief and Focused
5. Be Positive but Respond Honestly
6. Localize the Issue
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11 Steps to a Successful Visit
7. Do Not Ignore Staff
8. Leave a “One-Pager”
9. “Close the Deal”
10. Write a Thank You
11. Report Results to GAO
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Make an Appointment
• E-mail a letter to the scheduler in the office of each Member, advising of your trip to Washington and requesting a meeting. Include the issues you would like to discuss.
• Contact the ABA Governmental Affairs Office staff for the most current scheduler names and e-mail addresses.
• Follow up with a call if you do not hear back in a week.
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Appointment Tip
Leave plenty of time between appointments—at least 30 minutes, more
if going between House and Senate appointments to account for delays.
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Be Prepared!
• Know the issues that are of primary concern to the Member—address those first.
• Use the ABA Constituent Visit Checklist to learn the issues, the personalities, the legislative process and the Member's voting record.
• Know the key points you would like to make and anticipate likely questions or reactions.
• Know and be able to respond to alternate arguments.• Recognize the roles played by the parties, House and Senate
leadership, committee chairs, etc. and what each can and cannot do.
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Be Prompt!
Be on time!—even though you should plan to wait for Members to finish previous
meetings, return from committee meetings or the House or Senate floor, etc.
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Select a Spokesperson
Select a person who is:
Known to the Member, preferably a close friend, business colleague, etc.;
Known by a participating staffer;
Most knowledgeable on the issues; or
Otherwise best able to state your case.
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Select a Spokesperson
• If each group member is going to speak, decide in advance who is going to say what.
• Be prepared to adjust this plan in the event the Member has to cut the meeting short.
TIP: if you have a large group, ask the scheduler in advance how many people can attend the meeting – there may not be room for everyone!
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Be Brief! • Don't try to cover more than three issues.• Decide in advance which is the most
important to cover for each particular Member. (talk to a relevant staff person ahead of time, review
committee membership, leadership roles, etc.)
• Meetings typically last no more than 15-20 minutes, but can be cut short by a floor vote, etc. Make your point and move on.
• Don’t overstay your welcome – keep your eye on the clock.
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Be Positive!
• Thank the Member for his/her past support on key issues.
• Look for common ground – don’t retreat from your position, but respect the Member’s point of view even if it differs from yours.
• If a question arises for which you do not know the answer, say so and make a note to follow up with the answer.
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Localize the Issue
• As Tip O’Neil said, “All politics is local.”• Most important, explain how the
legislation/issue affects the Member’s district or state.
• Be specific – e.g. use local stories regarding legal aid.
• Make it easy for the Member to vote your way!
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Do Not Ignore Staff!
• Find out which staff person handles your issues and develop a working relationship with him or her.
• Many staff members are very influential with their bosses and can be of great help in relaying inside information, influencing a Member, etc.
• Do not be disappointed if you wind up meeting staff only because the member could not make the meeting; proceed as if that was the plan.
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Do Not Ignore Staff!
• Build a Relationship with Staff – DC Staff handle substantive issues; local
staff generally handle casework and Members’ participation in local events.
Exchange e-mail addresses with staff who handle your issues—doing so will allow you to build a long term, reciprocal relationship.
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Leave a “One-Pager”
• Leave behind “One-Pagers” setting forth your position on each issue so that the Member or staff can refer to it after you've gone.
• Make sure your name, address and telephone number is imprinted on your business card and securely attached.
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“Close the Deal”
• Tell the Member exactly what you would like them to do – sponsor legislation, write a letter to a committee, etc. Members hear from many different constituencies on
most issues, and are careful to avoid making too many commitments.
• Don’t take generalized statements of interest or support to be true commitments on your issue.
• Be sure to “Close the Deal!” or, at least determine a solid plan of action for next steps.
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Write a Thank You Letter
• Write a letter thanking the Member and/or staff for their time and attention.
• Briefly summarize your position and any understandings that might have been reached.
• E-mail this letter (in PDF format) to the relevant staffer and stay in contact with her/him throughout the year.
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Report Results to GAO
• Complete Hill Visit Report Forms ASAP –drop off or complete during breaks spent at the ABA Headquarters on the Hill.
• Talk to ABA GAO legislative counsels if explanation is needed.
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Conclusion
• Don’t wait for a crisis!• Make sure your Members are reminded of
your priorities well in advance of committee markups or floor votes!
• Develop and maintain working relationships with Members and staff:
• Offer to serve as an information resource; • Invite Members and staff to bar/pro bono/legal aid
events/community activities; • Participate in campaigns.
• What is one great way to do this?
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Participate in
The ABA Grassroots Advocacy Program &
ABA Day in Washington!
You will achieve your goals and have fun doing it!