Lobbyist Lobbyist Why Georgia Has One Why Georgia Has One

Bob DeLormeBob DeLorme

GeorgiaGeorgia

Lawyer Mice TypeLawyer Mice Type

This presentation deals with This presentation deals with Georgia and why we use a Georgia and why we use a lobbyist.lobbyist.

Georgia’s political environment Georgia’s political environment

may or may not apply to your may or may not apply to your state. Each state has a unique state. Each state has a unique environment.environment. May the Force be with you if May the Force be with you if it is anything like GA’sit is anything like GA’s

General InformationGeneral Information

Therapists fall under the Composite State Therapists fall under the Composite State Board of Medical Examiners. Board of Medical Examiners.

There is a Respiratory Care Advisory There is a Respiratory Care Advisory Board made up of physicians and Board made up of physicians and therapists who report to the Composite therapists who report to the Composite State Board of Medical Examiners.State Board of Medical Examiners.

40 Days of Controlled Mayhem40 Days of Controlled Mayhem

Georgia’s legislature only meets for Georgia’s legislature only meets for 40 legislative days a year. Starts in 40 legislative days a year. Starts in January and runs through March. January and runs through March.

Yea, I know this adds up to more than Yea, I know this adds up to more than

40 days for they have recesses which 40 days for they have recesses which extend the time into March.extend the time into March.

40 Days of Controlled Mayhem40 Days of Controlled Mayhem

VSVS

During the 40 Days this is how we During the 40 Days this is how we feel. Pure Frustration or Screaming feel. Pure Frustration or Screaming

at the Political Antics!at the Political Antics!

40 Days of Controlled Mayhem!40 Days of Controlled Mayhem!

Anything can happen and often does.Anything can happen and often does. You want to act fast and react fast to You want to act fast and react fast to

the changing dynamics. Remember the changing dynamics. Remember only 40 days or you wait till next year.only 40 days or you wait till next year.

Have to have a plan and everyone on Have to have a plan and everyone on board to act accordingly. board to act accordingly.

Lobbyist – GA’s ExperienceLobbyist – GA’s Experience

Mid to late 80’s GA saw the need to go for Mid to late 80’s GA saw the need to go for a licensure act. a licensure act.

Needed the expertise to help navigate the Needed the expertise to help navigate the political waters for we were all novice. political waters for we were all novice.

With the help of our Lobbyist an unpopular With the help of our Lobbyist an unpopular Licensure bill was passed as a Title Licensure bill was passed as a Title Protection act that defined our scope of Protection act that defined our scope of practice. practice.

Lobbyist – GA’s ExperienceLobbyist – GA’s Experience

Fast forward several years. Federal Fast forward several years. Federal Courts ruled title protection acts were Courts ruled title protection acts were illegal.illegal.

Our lobbyist steps in to negotiate the move Our lobbyist steps in to negotiate the move from a title protection act to a full from a title protection act to a full licensure law. Our lobbyist, Lasa Joiner, licensure law. Our lobbyist, Lasa Joiner, helped select the right legislator to helped select the right legislator to introduce our bill. introduce our bill.

Lobbyist – GA’s ExperienceLobbyist – GA’s Experience

Even though there was opposition Even though there was opposition our lobbyist helped us to present our lobbyist helped us to present the pros and cons of our bill to the pros and cons of our bill to the various committees and we the various committees and we succeeded in passing a true succeeded in passing a true licensure law. Lasa worked licensure law. Lasa worked behind the scene with other behind the scene with other lobbyists.lobbyists.

Back to the Screaming!Back to the Screaming!

Lobbyist – GA’s ExperienceLobbyist – GA’s Experience

Our lobbyist helps make sense of the Our lobbyist helps make sense of the whole process. whole process.

Lasa’s task is to KEEP US FOCUSED on Lasa’s task is to KEEP US FOCUSED on the job and not go down rabbit trails. the job and not go down rabbit trails.

She can be objective while looking out for She can be objective while looking out for our patients’ and the GSRC’s interest. our patients’ and the GSRC’s interest. She keeps our focus on the patients!!! Not She keeps our focus on the patients!!! Not Turf battles- no win situation in GA. Seen Turf battles- no win situation in GA. Seen as petty and they don’t like it. as petty and they don’t like it.

Lobbyist – GA’s ExperienceLobbyist – GA’s Experience

Lobbyist – GA’s ExperienceLobbyist – GA’s Experience

When we are all scratching our heads she When we are all scratching our heads she is able to point us in the direction to is able to point us in the direction to proceed. proceed.

She knows the right people to contact and She knows the right people to contact and which committee folks to focus our which committee folks to focus our attention. attention.

She does most of the work behind the She does most of the work behind the scene.scene.

Bob is GA’s Cheryl West when Bob is GA’s Cheryl West when she discusses Polysomshe discusses Polysom

Bob is GA’s equivalent of Cheryl West when taking

Cheryl not Bob!!

Lobbyist – GA’s ExperienceLobbyist – GA’s Experience

Lasa’s Job - Keep Bob and Cheryl in Lasa’s Job - Keep Bob and Cheryl in Check!Check!

Seriously – Sometimes we are too CLOSE Seriously – Sometimes we are too CLOSE to the issue and need someone to keep us to the issue and need someone to keep us in check. Remember FOCUS on the taskin check. Remember FOCUS on the task

Any lobbyist has to know the group Any lobbyist has to know the group represented and know them well or there represented and know them well or there can be miscues. can be miscues.

Lobbyist – GA’s ExperienceLobbyist – GA’s Experience

Lasa has represented the GSRC for over Lasa has represented the GSRC for over 20 years. While not a therapist she knows 20 years. While not a therapist she knows most if not all of our issues. She heads off most if not all of our issues. She heads off potential issues before we even know they potential issues before we even know they are coming. are coming.

Ex. Polysom. Feb 09 She knew the Ex. Polysom. Feb 09 She knew the Polysom Physicians were approaching the Polysom Physicians were approaching the Composite Board even before many of the Composite Board even before many of the Respiratory Care Advisory Board!Respiratory Care Advisory Board!

Lobbyist – GA’s ExperienceLobbyist – GA’s Experience

Allows us time to PLAN and get Allows us time to PLAN and get folks to attend the meeting. folks to attend the meeting.

She is our spokesperson. 1 She is our spokesperson. 1 person delivering a consistent person delivering a consistent message in the language the message in the language the politicians and physicians politicians and physicians understand. understand.

We are very confident she will We are very confident she will represent us well in GA politics. represent us well in GA politics.

Attends the Committee and Board Attends the Committee and Board meetings to represent us.meetings to represent us.

Lobbyist – GA’s ExperienceLobbyist – GA’s Experience

KEEPS US FROM SPEAKING OUT WHEN KEEPS US FROM SPEAKING OUT WHEN WE SHOULDN’T!!!!! Sometimes you have WE SHOULDN’T!!!!! Sometimes you have to be quietto be quiet

Knows when to speak up Knows when to speak up

but even more importantly – but even more importantly –

KNOWS WHEN TOKNOWS WHEN TO

STAY QUIET. ie gag BobSTAY QUIET. ie gag Bob

Lobbyist – GA’s ExperienceLobbyist – GA’s Experience

While Lasa is paid to represent our While Lasa is paid to represent our interest more importantly she is a friend. interest more importantly she is a friend.

This past year at the request of the GSRC This past year at the request of the GSRC she helped the polysom folks craft a bill she helped the polysom folks craft a bill that met most of our needs as respiratory that met most of our needs as respiratory therapist. SHE DIDN’T HAVE TO HELP!therapist. SHE DIDN’T HAVE TO HELP!

The bill did not protect the patient as much The bill did not protect the patient as much as we would have wanted but Lasa as we would have wanted but Lasa advised we were starting to “meddle”.advised we were starting to “meddle”.

Lobbyist – GA’s ExperienceLobbyist – GA’s Experience

She felt we were now trying to dictate to She felt we were now trying to dictate to another group and politicians would not another group and politicians would not see this in a positive light. Remember she see this in a positive light. Remember she is there to advise us to back off when she is there to advise us to back off when she thinks we are going to far. thinks we are going to far.

We got a good bill crafted. One that gave We got a good bill crafted. One that gave therapists the exemption we wanted. therapists the exemption we wanted.

All was well in GA. YEA RIGHT!!! All was well in GA. YEA RIGHT!!!

Remember 40 Days of Mayhem Remember 40 Days of Mayhem

The Governor stepped in at the veryThe Governor stepped in at the verylast minute to say last minute to say he would not he would not sign a new sign a new licensure law. licensure law. Back to Back to Screaming about Screaming about @#$%&^(*& @#$%&^(*& Politics! Politics!

Lobbyist – GA’s ExperienceLobbyist – GA’s Experience The medical practice act had been open for significant The medical practice act had been open for significant

changes. changes. You guessed it. They just added the changes for the You guessed it. They just added the changes for the

polysom folks into the new medical practice act. polysom folks into the new medical practice act. Lasa had to use her contacts with the politicians and Lasa had to use her contacts with the politicians and

Composite Board of Medical Examiners once again to Composite Board of Medical Examiners once again to make sure Therapists were protected and exempt from make sure Therapists were protected and exempt from the new changes. This all happened in less that 48 hrs. the new changes. This all happened in less that 48 hrs.

How many of us have time to spend at How many of us have time to spend at the state house trying to lobby and stay the state house trying to lobby and stay on top of a dynamic situation such as on top of a dynamic situation such as this. this.

Take Home MessageTake Home Message

The GSRC feels is it well worth the moneyThe GSRC feels is it well worth the moneyto have an experienced lobbyist who canto have an experienced lobbyist who canconstantly monitor the political landscape forconstantly monitor the political landscape forchanges. When there are bumps in thechanges. When there are bumps in theroad, she is well worth her weight in goldroad, she is well worth her weight in goldbecause of her years of experience, politicalbecause of her years of experience, politicalcontacts and just plain old common horsecontacts and just plain old common horsesense as we say back home. sense as we say back home.

Take Home MessageTake Home Message1.1. Experience with the right contacts.Experience with the right contacts.2.2. Understands and talks the political Understands and talks the political

language.language.3.3. Is willing to tell you NO! You are on the Is willing to tell you NO! You are on the

wrong path. Honey is a lot better than wrong path. Honey is a lot better than Vinegar! Knows which battles can be Vinegar! Knows which battles can be won by fighting and which ones you win won by fighting and which ones you win by seeming to watch from the sidelines.by seeming to watch from the sidelines.

4.4. Knows our profession and the type of Knows our profession and the type of issues that are hot buttons for us and our issues that are hot buttons for us and our patients.patients.

5.5. TRUST! You have to trust your lobbyist.TRUST! You have to trust your lobbyist.

Questions??Questions??