LOBBYING 101: A Guide to Lobbying

1
LOBBYING 101A Guide to Lobbying

• How to Effectively Communicate Legislative
  Priorities
• SEIA
• Washington, DC
• June 3, 2008

2

• All politics is local.

3

• According to Websters Dictionary
• lobby
• Function verbInflected Form(s) lobbied
  lobbying
• intransitive verb to conduct activities aimed
  at influencing public officials and especially
  members of a legislative body on legislation
• transitive verb1 to promote (as a project) or
  secure the passage of (as legislation) by
  influencing public officials2 to attempt to
  influence or sway (as a public official) toward a
  desired action

4

• The most effective lobbyists are constituents
  and committed believers.
• These include
• Farmers/Small Business Owners
• Parents
• Realtors

5

• LOBBYING IS ALL ABOUT EDUCATION
• Educate Members of Congress
• Give them the tools to make your case
• Make them PASSIONATE about your issue
• Keep them updated on your issues especially
  when you arent asking for something

6
CONSTITUENTS MATTER

• It is important to emphasize a connection to the
  Member of Congress.
• Utilize local contacts, lots of work can be done
  outside of Washington, D.C.

7

• WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT
• MEMBERS STAFFERS
• They are extremely busy
• Dependent upon outside sources of information
• Unable to co-sponsor / support everything
  always prioritizing
• Most responsive to people with long term
  relationships keep in touch when you have no
  particular agenda

8

• MEMBER INFORMATION WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW AND
  PREPARE
• Committees they serve on
• Are they in leadership positions?
• Issues they have supported in the past
• Legislation they have introduced
• Whats their reputation?

9
YOUR PRESENTATION

• KEEP IT SHORT
• A concise presentation is most effective.
• Members and their staff have 15 to 30 minutes per
  visit.
• You may be interrupted at anytime by votes,
  schedules, etc.

10
YOUR PRESENTATION

• BE FOCUSED
• Talk about your goals in numbers where possible
• Jobs
• Dollars
• Constituents that benefit

11
YOUR PRESENTATION

• HAVE A SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE
• Have a one-pager
• Know how the issue effects you
• Be knowledgeable about the details
• Be persuasiveuse your personal stories
• Ask for your legislators support

12

• TURN LEMONS INTO LEMONADE
• If they say NO
• Find out what exactly the concerns are
• Try to obtain conditions that will bring them to
  support

13
SIMPLE RULES PART 1

• Always
• Arrive on time
• Identify yourself and your affiliation clearly
• Be friendly, organized and well prepared
• Thank them for their time
• Keep non-germane chit-chat to the minimum

14
SIMPLE RULES PART 2

• Get the ask out ASAP
• Identify the national and local benefits you
  think this action will provide
• Be prepared for tough questions and RED HERRINGS

15
SIMPLE RULES PART 3

• Always
• Be a good listener. Take notes.
• Ask for firm commitments What will they do?
  When?
• Follow-Up is essential.

16
NEVER..

• Say anything you are not confident is true
• Unilaterally signal a willingness to compromise
• Air dirty laundry or confidential business
  information
• Threaten or take a negative tone
• Discuss political fundraising

17
YOUR NATIONAL ORGANIZATION

• RESPONSIBILITIES
• Maintain contact with the district offices of
  congressional representatives through local
  events.
• Understand the legislative and regulatory issues
  of interest to SEIA.
• Understand the big picture know all the issues
  in the current political environment that
  legislators are considering, and how they may
  impact you the federal budget, for example.

18
YOUR NATIONAL ORGANIZATION

• ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES
• Invite your representative to visit your
  organization.
• Keep in touch with the appropriate staff in
  Washington and locally.
• Provide feedback to your Government Affairs team.