Nuts

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Nuts Bolts of Lobbying Tips for Effective
Meetings with Lawmakers and Staffers
Academic Freedom Is Not Free

• Summer Institute 2008

July 25, 2008
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Contents

• Effective meetings before, during, and after
• Reciprocity
• Coalitions
• Media
• Practice
• Golden rules

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Tips for lobbying effectively Preparing for
your meeting(s)

• Always make an appointment
• Send your topics in advance when confirming your
  meeting. Staffers love the organization, and it
  helps maximize everyones time
• Know ALL sides of the issue(s). Theyve been
  hearing from all sides, so be prepared to answer
  questions persuasively
• Know the legislator Look at sponsored
  legislation and the policymakers website
  (including affiliations)
• Know the power of your institution within your
  district employment created by the university,
  economic impact, etc.
• Dont insist on seeing the representative
  staffers are there for a reason!

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Tips for lobbying effectively During your
meeting(s)
Academic Freedom Is Not Free
Whatever your medium, keep it short.

• Paper Master the one-page memo
• Telephone Focus on a single topic and be
  specific about the points you are trying to make
• In person Practice your presentation before the
  meeting and limit it to ten minutes
• Always leave contact information Leave contact
  information for you and the AAUP Government
  Relations staff

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Tips for lobbying effectively During your
meeting(s)

• Always be specific refer to the bill number and
  official title
• On average, 10,000 bills introduced at the
  federal level (each 2-year) session. So -
  referring to the education bill wont cut it!
• STAY ON MESSAGE

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Tips for lobbying effectively During your
meeting(s)

• Always bring it back to the constituents. How
  does your cause benefit the district or the
  state? Framing issues in right/ wrong, or
  good/bad, will only get you so far
• Be as specific as possible about the benefits
  for the greater good, and youre actually helping
  the congressperson sell your ideas back home

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Tips for lobbying effectively During your
meeting(s)

• There are many things you can ask your
  representative to do besides vote yes or no
• - an entry in the congressional record
• - a visit to your institution
• - a meeting or event in the home district
• - an op-ed piece

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Reciprocity

• What can you do for your representative?
• - as a well-informed, civically engaged citizen,
  you are a great asset
• - consider drafting questions for upcoming
  hearings or suggesting a knowledgeable colleague
  as a witness
• - ask how you can help publicize or organize
  events in the home district

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Tips for lobbying effectively follow-up

• Always say thank you! Sending a thank-you note
  or email is also a good time to pass along an
  article or other small bit of follow-up
  information
• Establish yourself as a resource make yourself
  available to provide further information in the
  future
• Maintain the relationship the time to
  visit/call is not simply when you want something.
  Reciprocity helps build true partnerships
• If the first response you receive is generic,
  write back again with specific questions. Dont
  be afraid to engage

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Tips for lobbying effectively Get your message
out

• How can the media be involved?
• - Op-eds
• Pitch factual news stories to raise awareness
• Press conferences
• Hold events where media can be invited
• Speak THEIR language

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Tips for lobbying effectively Build coalitions

• Think bigger who shares your goals/interests on
  a particular bill or topic?
• How can you reach out to them?
• Can resources be shared for maximum impact?
• Who has ties to which policymakers?

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Fine print

• Lobbying Disclosure Act requirements- unless you
  are a registered lobbyist (i.e. you receive
  compensation for lobbying), you do not have to
  disclose contacts
• The new ethics rules are stricter about gifts
  and meals when in doubt, dont do it!

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Faculty-specific points of caution

• Differences between your job and theirs
• knowledge for knowledge vs knowledge as means to
  an end (pragmatism)
• Avoid lecturing or educating
• The Hill is largely run by 20-somethings, please
  speak to them as peers, not students
• Make sure you address government, not governance
  a common newbie mistake

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Practice! Practice! Practice!

• Brainstorming on coalition partners
• Condensing complex issues into talking points
• Speed-lobbying

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Nicoles rules to live by

• 1 Bypass the interns - get the name of the
  staffer working on your issue(s) and address your
  letter, email or meeting request directly to
  them. Request a response. If you get a generic
  response the first time, write again with
  specific questions ENGAGE
• 2 Always make an appointment in advance.
• It is not likely that the person you seek will
  be available if you come by unannounced. Once
  youve made an appointment, remember to send
  topic information in advance of the meeting
  staffers appreciate the preparation immensely

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Nicoles rules to live by

• 3 Be aware of political context whats
  happening politically? What is the timing of
  bills on other major issues? Is this issue part
  of a larger issue?
• Broad Attention, Focused Action
• 4 Bigger is better. The more outreach you do,
  and the bigger the coalition you can put
  together, the louder your voice is. Dont be
  afraid of strange bedfellows unless you think
  they could undermine your credibility do your
  homework!

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Nicoles rules to live by

• 5 Offer assistance. Youre an expert on higher
  ed. and faculty issues, so offer yourself as a
  resource to staffers. This is especially useful
  if you can anticipate upcoming needs e.g.
  submitting questions for scheduled hearings, etc.
  
• BUT remember to be careful about how you frame
  the offer Educating vs. Partnering

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Nicoles rules to live by

• 6 Offer a business card whenever possible to get
  one in return. It makes follow-up much easier.
  And when a staffer wants to solicit opinions on a
  higher ed. bill, your number is right at their
  fingertips
• 7 Dont just sell your position TO the
  legislator, sell it FOR the legislator. If you
  make a solid case for how it directly benefits
  constituents, youve done the hard part of their
  job for them

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Thank You!
Academic Freedom Is Not Free
Well be glad to answer any questions.
Contact Nicole Byrd Government Relations
Associate
202-737-5900, ext. 142
nbyrd_at_aaup.org