BUILDING COALITIONS WITH REPUBLICANS

IAFF DISTRICT 2 | LEADERSHIP SYMPOSIUM

JEFF ROE | AXIOM STRATEGIES

CURRENT FIREFIGHTER POLITICAL ENGAGEMENTMy Perspective• Iowa

• Very engaged with Democrat campaigns: grassroots & direct work• Firefighter in Senate leadership• Democrats are hanging on in the Senate

• Nebraska• Very engaged at state and local levels• Actively participate in state government

• Kansas• Presence in the Capitol• Fighting the ‘Brownback wave’

• Missouri• Actively engaged in St. Louis and Kansas City• Republican Labor darlings• Potential for Democrat backlash

State Governments

KANSAS• Capitol: Topeka, Kansas

• Governor: Sam Brownback, (R)• Lieutenant Governor: Jeff Colyer, (R)

• Senate• 40 members

• Republican Party: 32• Democratic Party: 8

• House of Representatives• 125 Members

• Republican Party: 92• Democratic Party: 33

IOWA• Capitol: Des Moines, Iowa

• Governor: Terry Branstad, (R)• Lieutenant Governor: Kim Reynolds, (R)

• Senate• 50 members

• Democratic Party: 26• Republican Party: 24

• House of Representatives • 100 members

• Republican Party: 60• Democratic Party: 40

MISSOURI• Capitol: Jefferson City, Missouri

• Governor: Jay Nixon, (D)• Lieutenant Governor: Peter Kinder (R)

• Senate• 34 members

• Republican Party: 26• Democratic Party: 8

• House of Representatives • 163 members

• Republican Party: 106• Democratic Party: 56

NEBRASKA• Capitol: Lincoln, Nebraska

• Governor: Dave Heineman, (R)• Lieutenant Governor: Rick Sheehy, (R)

• Nebraska Legislature• Unicameral• 49 members• Nonpartisan

STATE BREAKDOWNParty Kansas Iowa Missour

i Nebraska

House

Dem 25% 40% 34%

Unicameral &

non-partisan

Rep 75% 60% 66%

Senate

Dem 20% 52% 76%

Rep 80% 48% 24%

Governor Sam Brownback

Terry Branstad

Jay Nixon

Dave Heineman

WHAT ARE THE TRENDS?

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Kansas Senate

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Iowa Senate

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Missouri Senate

State Senate Composition• KS – historically Republican• IA – trending Republican• MO – trending Republican• NE – Unicameral & nonpartisan

WHAT ARE THE TRENDS?

2010200820062004200220000%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%100%

Kansas House

2010200820062004200220000%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%100%

Iowa House

2010200820062004200220000%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%100%

Missouri House

State House Composition• KS – historically Republican• IA – trending Republican• MO – trending Republican• NE – Unicameral & nonpartisan

IMPLICATIONS OF REPUBLICAN TRENDS• November 2012

• Even if Obama wins…• US Senate & US House are BOTH in play• Likely to have 4 solidly Republican state legislatures• Likely 3 of 4 states to have Republican Governors

• Nature of the two-party system• There are states where a single-party strategy works; there

are states where it doesn’t work…• Establish relationships on both sides of the aisle

• Find common ground• Approach Republicans • Protect interests of the group

WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO FIREFIGHTERS?

FIREFIGHTERS HAVE UNIQUE NEEDS AND LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES

• Collective bargaining • Communication technology

and applications• Death benefits• Emergency Medical Services• Equipment funding• Federal workers• Hazardous Materials• Hatch Act Reform• Infectious disease protections• Paycheck protection• Pension protection

• Public Safety Officers’ Benefits • Right to work• SAFER and FIRE Grants• State and local government

taxation issues • Tax exclusion for employer-

provided health benefits

The differences between Republicans and Democrats…

WHAT DEMOCRATS THINK IS IMPORTANT TO REPUBLICANS• Special Interests• 1%• Country Clubs• Wall Street

WHAT REPUBLICANS THINK IS IMPORTANT TO DEMOCRATS• Granola• Trees• Redistribution of wealth• Abortions for everyone

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS

FreedomJustice

WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO DEMOCRATS• Social equality• Education funding• Social program funding• Public safety

WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO REPUBLICANS?• Social values• Personal freedoms• Lower taxes and responsible budgets• Strategic, effective government spending• Public safety

GOAL: BUILDING CONSERVATIVE COALITIONS• Who is your person in the House and/or Senate?

• Kansas?• Iowa?• Missouri?• Nebraska?

• …Put the person before the party• Don’t just play defense, play offense…

• Reach out to Republicans• Prevent misguided attacks on first responders• Ensure public safety agencies are properly resourced

through good and bad financial times

DEFINE GOALS, DEFEND MEMBERS• What are your goals? • You are different that other members

• Separate goals, but don’t abandon Labor• Be a liaison

• Present yourself as open to dealing with Republicans• Initiate relationships with Republicans on behalf of Labor• Firefighters, Police provide invaluable community service

• Public safety – military

PERSON BEFORE PARTY• Republicans are interested in compromise that is:

• Reasonable• Meaningful, and…• Beneficial to the community and voters

“I do favor pay and benefit levels that will attract and keep highly motivated men and women in our volunteer forces and an active reserve trained and ready for an instant call in case of an emergency.”

- President Ronald Reagan, Detroit, Michigan, 1980

It’s all about tone.

IAFF FIGHT BACK• Tone matters!• Connotation of the name ‘Fight Back’

• Collateral damage• Invites resources from opponents

• What could you do differently?• Imply unity• “Stand together?”• “Stand strong?”

RECENT NEWSNational

• Wisconsin • Act 10 and Act 32, June 2011• Recall of Gov. Scott Walker, June 2012• September 2012 Ruling

• Ohio • Senate Bill 5 (SB5), March 2011• Referendum to Overturn SB5, November 2011

LABOR RESPONSE: OHIO EXAMPLE• Labor protests• Repeal of SB5• Overall message?

REPUBLICAN RESPONSE• Outside groups spend resources against Labor• Unions demonized

WHAT DO WE DO WITH MITT?• New IAFF Attack Ad• Mitt’s side

IT STARTS WITH CAMPAIGNS…• Use membership effectively

• Be a reliable group in that candidates can count on to raise money and become active in grassroots efforts

• Seek out candidates that appeal to you personally• Visit websites, or their call their campaigns directly

• Develop relationships with key staff and members• Contribute wisely – don’t use the standard Labor model

• Why?• Predominately Republican Executive & Legislative Branches

• Advantageous to establish relationships with both Republicans AND Democrats

• Make Republican friends for now AND the future• Be an effective advocate for firefighters

…IT CONTINUES IN THE STATE LEGISLATURESBipartisan Legislative Accomplishments - Missouri• SB 711 Fix• Paycheck protection • Survivor death benefits• Infectious disease legislation

…And goes all the way to Washington, D.C.

SUMMARY• Keep an open mind• Change tone• Reach out • Make some Republican friends• Fight only when necessary

QUESTIONS?

Jeff Roe, Principal(816) 407-1222