follow the money a webinar for the american public transportation association
TRANSCRIPT
Follow the MoneyA Webinar for the American Public
Transportation Association
Topics
• About the Webinar• Clarifying Terms (Appropriations versus
Authorization)• The NORMAL Process• What’s Happening with Current Appropriations and
Budget Items• Advocacy Approaches for Each Stage
Who’s Speaking?
Stephanie Vance, Advocacy Guru• Former Capitol Hill Staff• Lobbyist• Author of 5 books on advocacy
including the recently released “The Influence Game: 50 Insider Tactics from the Washington D.C. Lobbying World That Will Get You to Yes”
About the Webinar
• What’s happening?• Muting• Q&A• Recording and Follow-Up Materials
First, a Round of Applause…
Success in CR Highway Transit / MAP-21 Efforts
… And a Recognition of Challenges
High-Speed Rail, New Starts, Reserves – and more!
Clarifying General Legislative Terms
• A fiscal blueprint
Budget
• Allow programs to exist & make changes
Authorizations
• The actual dollars going out
Appropriations
• Revenues coming in to the government
Tax Legislation
Drilling Down: Clarifying Budget Process Terms
Budget
Budget Reconciliation
Appropriations
AuthorizationTax Legislation
Continuing Resolution
Omnibus / Minibus
The Normal Process: Key Steps for the US Budget Process
Source: National Priorities Project
Current Status: FY 2013 – Start of FY 2014
Sequestration (FY13 and ongoing)
CR (FY13) FY2014
Impact on FTA's New Starts/Small Starts, Amtrak Operations and Capital, among others
Final numbers through 9/30/2013
Fixed some sequestration issues: MAP-21 implementation and highway safety
• House Budget passed
• Senate Budget passed
• President’s Budget Expected April 8
• Appropriations pending
APTA Resources
FY 2014 BUDGET Details (Note: Budgets are not line-item specific)
House Republicans Senate Democrats President
• No change to MAP-21
• Cut high-speed rail• Possible cuts to New
Starts• HTF tied to actual
receipts• Additional funding
options left to House Ways and Means
• No general reserve fund to counter HTF shortfalls
• No change to MAP-21
• Highway safety funds included
• Reserve fund funded• No specifics on high-
speed rail or new starts
?? – To be released 4/8/2013
The Connection of the Overall Budget to Transportation
What the Budgets Portend (Word of the Day!) for Transportation
The Future of the HTF – Unless Changes are Made
Why Does This Matter?: Advocacy Approaches
Success
Advocacy Approaches
• In the budget / appropriations process, you need to be clear on four things:• What you want• Who’s in charge• Who should ask• How to ask
(especially in tough economic times)
What Do You Want?
Who’s in Charge?
• Budget Blueprint• House Budget• Senate Budget• OMB
Who’s in Charge?
• Authorization / Reconciliation• House T&I, Ways and Means• Senate Banking, Finance, CST• Important for MAP-21, HTF and related
non-appropriations funds• Appropriations
• Important for high-speed rail, new starts and related appropriations funds
• More information on the Library of Congress’ Thomas appropriation chart
Who Should Ask?
• Politics is not a spectator sport!
• Grassroots advocacy (i.e., communications from citizens to their legislators) has the most impact of any form of communication
• Think broadly about what “citizen communication” means• You• Employees• Customers• Riders• Local opinion leaders• Supporters• Volunteers
Your Role: The LOCAL Story
You are the ONLY way to stress the local story
Examples
Key things to know:
How many employees?
Economic impact?
Opinion leader connections
Noteworthy events
Messages That Work: Ridership
Messages That Work: Local Support
ID
AZ
UT
MT
WY
NM
CO
AL
FL
SC
TN
KY
INOH
NC
SD
KS
NE
MN
WI
IA
IL
MO
AR
MS
OK
ND
OR
CA NV
WA
PA
ME
VA
NY
CT
WV
MDNJ
VT
NH
MA
DE
RI
LA
MI
GA
TX
LEGEND
2012 Transit Measures
December Measures
Total Measures: 62States: 18Approval Rate: 78.3%
Messages That Work: Budget Savings (Personal and National)
Most Important?
The Message is NOT One Size Fits All!
In other words – understand THEIR interests
Wrapping it Up: A Checklist for Budget Planning
• What do you want?• Background research
What economic benefits do you bring to the community? What will you / can you do with funds? What have you spend funds on? What projects could you not complete without funds?
• Who can you approach? Who are your legislators? Are they on key committees?
• How can you approach them?• Grassroots?• Direct Lobbying?• Don’t forget APTA resources
• Where are you on the timeline?• What are your other options?