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Effective Lobbying Handout
Effective Lobbying: Do’s orDon’ts?
Place a check in the boxes to indicate “Do’s” in Effective Lobbying.
Time is precious. Get to the point soon and focus on your issue.
Keep it simple. Explain in simple and straightforward terms the logic supporting your position.
It is okay to stretch the truth to get your point across.
If your lawmaker does not support your issue, let them know that they can be replaced.
Staff is an important as the lawmaker.
Strength in numbers. Many issues are decided on the volume of communications received.
Let the lawmaker know that your organization has asked you to contact him/her.
Never contact a lawmaker at home.
Know your issue.
Remember important information. Always include bill numbers, your name, address and phone numbers (home and office) on all communications.
Make one contact to the lawmaker then drop the issue.
Make a commitment to your cause. Follow-up with letters, phone calls, etc.
You win some. You lose some. Be a good winner and loser.
Be patient. Sometimes the outcomes take months.
Ask lawmakers to state their position.
Use form letters to convey a consistent message.
One letter or phone call is sometimes enough.
Use the media.
Thank your lawmaker, no matter what the outcome of your issue.
Cover multiple issues in one communication.
Effective Lobbying: Do’s and Don’ts
Do’s
Time is precious. Get to the point soon and focus on your issue.
Keep it simple. Explain in simple and straightforward terms the logic supporting your position.
Staff is an important as the lawmaker.
Strength in numbers. Many issues are decided on the volume of communications received.
Know your issue.
Remember important information. Always include bill numbers, your name, address and phone numbers (home and office) on all communications.
Make a commitment to your cause. Follow-up with letters, phone calls, etc.
You win some. You lose some. Be a good winner and loser.
Be patient. Sometimes the outcomes take months.
Ask lawmakers to state their position.
Use the media.
Thank your lawmaker, no matter what the outcome of your issue.
Don’ts
Cover multiple issues in one communication.
Use form letters to convey a consistent message.
Underestimate the weight given to letters and phone calls.
Make one contact to the lawmaker then drop the issue.
Let the lawmaker know that your organization has asked you to contact him/her.
Ignore opportunities to visit your lawmaker at home.
Don’t lie, ever.
Don’t forget that you and your lawmaker need each other.
Ten Golden Rules of Lobbying
- Politics is Consumer-Driven
Help your legislator understand why your position is important to his or her constituents. Fight where the legislator lives through grassroots organizations at home.
- Do Your Homework
Know your stuff. Understand your issue, the bill you support or oppose, and the legislative process before you approach your legislator. Know who the players are, who decides what, and which issues are hot at the moment.
- Information is Power
The secret is the distribution of information to legislators and their constituents. Be prepared to give the legislator information he or she can use, including what you are hearing from other legislators and from people back home
- A Little Professionalism Goes a Long Way
Be credible, honest, and trustworthy. Never threaten, lie, or conceal facts. Stay calm – if you lose your cool, you lose the case.
- Be Positive
Always make your case without being critical of others’ personalities or motives.
- There are no Permanent Friends and no Permanent Enemies
Don’t take your traditional friends for granted. Never write off a legislator just because of party affiliation. Don’t make enemies of legislators – you may need them as friends in the future.
- Build a Bond, Not a Gap
Research things you might have in common with the legislator. Use shared values to create easy, friendly, frequent communication with legislators.
- Be a Partner
Build coalitions and look for allies among other organizations. Be accessible to legislators and other lobbyists if they have questions or need follow-up information. Become known as a reliable resource.
- Rome Wasn’t Built in a Day
- Aim for consensus rather than for a “victory.” Be willing to settle for making progress toward your goal, getting the bill passed, and fine tuning it in future sessions.
- Stay Committed
Remember – you are the expert!! You have a compelling, energizing reason to keep fighting until you get what you need.
Meeting with Legislators
Personal contact with legislators helps build relationships and establish lines of communication that ensure the concerns of school employees are heard and addressed.
BEFORE THE MEETING
- Make an appointment -- Arranging an appointment in advance helps avoid long waits or disruptions in the legislator’s schedule and ensures that you will have a specific amount of time to meet with the legislator. Be sure to tell the scheduler how much time you will need and what topics you would like to discuss.
- Define your goals -- Clarifying what you want to accomplish in the meeting will help you make the most of your time. Make sure you know what key points you want to get across and what action you want the legislator to take (support or oppose a bill, introduce new legislation, make a speech or other statement in support of your issue, visit your school, etc.).
- Gather your facts -- Don’t assume a legislator will know the issue or be familiar with a particular bill. Providing just a few key facts can help paint a picture and build support for your issue. If you are asking for support of a specific bill, make sure you know how the bill will help address your issue and what impact it will have in the legislator’s district. You should also know the bill number and current status.
- Plan your group strategy -- Coordinate with other participants attending the meeting. Identify who will take the lead, who will raise particular issues, and who will serve as the primary contact for follow-up.
- Prepare your materials -- Prepare a short (no more than one-page) piece summarizing your issue or highlighting key facts to leave behind following your meeting. Your materials should always include your name and contact information.
- Know your opposition -- Be prepared to discuss and rebut potential arguments against your position.
Meeting with Legislators - #2
DURING THE MEETING
- Introduce yourself -- Identify yourself as an employee of a particular school district or school and as a representative of NEA or your state association. Introduce yourself each time you meet with a legislator, even if you have met before.
- Remain focused -- Tell the legislator why you are there and get quickly to your point. Be friendly and direct. Explain why you support or oppose a particular position and give the legislator your supporting facts.
- Tell your story -- Make the problem real by telling one or two anecdotes from your personal experience or the experience of other colleagues. Explain the impact of the problem in the legislator’s home district. Be specific about how the legislator can help address the situation.
- Get a commitment -- Make sure you get a clear answer from the legislator on any action you want taken. For those legislators who agree to study the issue further, or who will not tell you their position, offer to provide additional information to help them make a decision. For legislators who clearly state opposition to your position, use your judgment as to whether providing additional information will make a difference.
- Allow time for questions -- Be prepared to answer questions. Admit if you do not know an answer, but offer to look into the issue and follow-up after the meeting.
- Respect the schedule -- Keep in mind that legislators and their staff have busy schedules that often include back-to-back meetings. Make sure to wrap up your meeting on time. Also, remember that unexpected votes, committee meetings, or other unforeseen obligations may take the legislator’s time. Although you may have a meeting scheduled with the legislator, be prepared to meet with staff.
- Leave behind your supporting materials -- Give the legislator and staff any supporting materials. You can also leave more detailed information with the staff. Leave your contact information and offer to serve as a resource should the legislator or staff have any questions.
AFTER THE MEETING
- Debrief - Review the meeting. Did you make your key points? Do you know where the legislator stands on your issue? What do you need to do to follow-up?
- Write a thank you note --Send a brief note thanking the legislator for his or her time and reinforcing your key points. Make sure to include any information you agreed to send or answer any questions you were unable to answer during the meeting.
- Sustain the relationship -- Periodically send legislators and staff information that may be of interest. Invite legislators to visit your school or to attend an Association-sponsored event.