Citizen Lobbying PDA National Field Team. What is Lobbying Over 30,000 paid lobbyists in DC Paid...

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Citizen Lobbying PDA National Field Team

Transcript of Citizen Lobbying PDA National Field Team. What is Lobbying Over 30,000 paid lobbyists in DC Paid...

Page 1: Citizen Lobbying PDA National Field Team. What is Lobbying Over 30,000 paid lobbyists in DC Paid lobbying vs. Citizen lobbying Legislators need educating.

Citizen Lobbying

PDA National Field Team

Page 2: Citizen Lobbying PDA National Field Team. What is Lobbying Over 30,000 paid lobbyists in DC Paid lobbying vs. Citizen lobbying Legislators need educating.

What is Lobbying

Over 30,000 paid lobbyists in DCPaid lobbying vs. Citizen lobbyingLegislators need educating – they don’t

know everythingLobbying works!It is our responsibility to let our elected

officials understand our agenda

Page 3: Citizen Lobbying PDA National Field Team. What is Lobbying Over 30,000 paid lobbyists in DC Paid lobbying vs. Citizen lobbying Legislators need educating.

Why We LobbyWhy We Lobby

It’s our responsibility as citizensPowerful corporations understand this,

sending scores of lobbyists to Washington each year to influence Congress and help draft legislation.

Now it’s our turn! Our voices must be heard in the halls of Congress!

Page 4: Citizen Lobbying PDA National Field Team. What is Lobbying Over 30,000 paid lobbyists in DC Paid lobbying vs. Citizen lobbying Legislators need educating.

Effective Lobbying

Lobbying is an ongoing campaign with a series of planned actions coordinated to have a desired effectCarefully plannedCarefully researchedCarefully executed

Page 5: Citizen Lobbying PDA National Field Team. What is Lobbying Over 30,000 paid lobbyists in DC Paid lobbying vs. Citizen lobbying Legislators need educating.

Lobby in small, organized groupsLobby in small, organized groups

Show numbers in the field, not in the office

Visit Congressional offices with groups of three to five

Have one expert in the field or on the billTry to include at least one constituent of

the Congressional representative

Page 6: Citizen Lobbying PDA National Field Team. What is Lobbying Over 30,000 paid lobbyists in DC Paid lobbying vs. Citizen lobbying Legislators need educating.

Preparation and Planning

Make allies and build coalitionsShows the legislator that you are not the

only one with this beliefAre there national organizations so a few

people can represent multiple statesKnow your target – What can you

expect?Anticipate your opposition

Page 7: Citizen Lobbying PDA National Field Team. What is Lobbying Over 30,000 paid lobbyists in DC Paid lobbying vs. Citizen lobbying Legislators need educating.

Prepare handouts for your Prepare handouts for your meetingmeeting

Show how your recommendations can bring in votes and appeal to voters’ concerns

Give staffers actual talking points that can be used to persuade other Congress members

Page 8: Citizen Lobbying PDA National Field Team. What is Lobbying Over 30,000 paid lobbyists in DC Paid lobbying vs. Citizen lobbying Legislators need educating.

Be Prepared and Well OrganizedBe Prepared and Well Organized

Research your topic thoroughly.Know PDA’s stand on the issue:

http://pdamerica.org/iot/Current legislation that your Congressional

representative has submitted on the topicRelevant legislation/ amendments that

other Congressional representatives have submitted: http://www.opencongress.org/

Page 9: Citizen Lobbying PDA National Field Team. What is Lobbying Over 30,000 paid lobbyists in DC Paid lobbying vs. Citizen lobbying Legislators need educating.

Prepare 2 Sets of HandoutsPrepare 2 Sets of Handouts

A “skeleton outline” with your talking points, for the staffer to follow during your presentation

The same outline, with fleshed‐out talking points, and a list of resources at the end (links to pertinent articles, studies, etc.)‐Give this to the staffer at the end of your meeting.

Page 10: Citizen Lobbying PDA National Field Team. What is Lobbying Over 30,000 paid lobbyists in DC Paid lobbying vs. Citizen lobbying Legislators need educating.

Draft a Citizen Lobbying Campaign

Goal – What do you want to achieveTarget – Who can give you what you

want?Tactics – How can you influence this

person?Research – Are there upcoming

deadlines? Any personal stance or past legislation

Page 11: Citizen Lobbying PDA National Field Team. What is Lobbying Over 30,000 paid lobbyists in DC Paid lobbying vs. Citizen lobbying Legislators need educating.

Setting Up a Meeting

Make an official request in writing and follow-up with a phone call

Ask to meet with the Representative or the appropriate Staffer

Where to Meet Capital Office District Office

Demonstrate broad base of support Petitions, Letters, etc.

Quick Links

www.congress.org

www.senate.gov

www.house.gov

Page 12: Citizen Lobbying PDA National Field Team. What is Lobbying Over 30,000 paid lobbyists in DC Paid lobbying vs. Citizen lobbying Legislators need educating.

Who Should Attend

3-5 people is idealPresent a diverse constituency

Be respectfulBe earlyLook presentable

Practice – role play

Page 13: Citizen Lobbying PDA National Field Team. What is Lobbying Over 30,000 paid lobbyists in DC Paid lobbying vs. Citizen lobbying Legislators need educating.

Lobbying Team Roles

Facilitator – runs meetingStorytellers (1-2) should be constituentsAsker – makes the direct askEducator – presents facts and infoSecretary – collect cards, write it all

down and plan follow-up

Page 14: Citizen Lobbying PDA National Field Team. What is Lobbying Over 30,000 paid lobbyists in DC Paid lobbying vs. Citizen lobbying Legislators need educating.

Meeting Agenda

Introductions (5 minutes) Names and addresses

Review the agenda (5 minutes) Why we are here (10 minutes)

Present petitions Present facts/history

Story time (10 minutes) The Ask (5 minutes) Ask/Answer questions (5 minutes) Wrap Up/Thank You (5 minutes)

Page 15: Citizen Lobbying PDA National Field Team. What is Lobbying Over 30,000 paid lobbyists in DC Paid lobbying vs. Citizen lobbying Legislators need educating.

During the MeetingDuring the Meeting

Engage the stafferPause after each main pointAsk the staffer if they have any questionsClarify or restate any complex/ controversial

points

Page 16: Citizen Lobbying PDA National Field Team. What is Lobbying Over 30,000 paid lobbyists in DC Paid lobbying vs. Citizen lobbying Legislators need educating.

Making an Effective Ask

Straight to the PointAsk the questionBe silent and wait for the answer

Follow-up questions – If YesWho else can you bring on board?What is the opposition?

Follow-up questions – If NoWhat will it take for you to support for this?What is holding you back?

Page 17: Citizen Lobbying PDA National Field Team. What is Lobbying Over 30,000 paid lobbyists in DC Paid lobbying vs. Citizen lobbying Legislators need educating.

Following-up

Thank the legislatorSend a written note to their officeBuild support and research before the

next meetingStay in touch – keep the relationship

aliveTry to find common ground

Page 18: Citizen Lobbying PDA National Field Team. What is Lobbying Over 30,000 paid lobbyists in DC Paid lobbying vs. Citizen lobbying Legislators need educating.

Thank You LetterThank You Letter

Send a thank you letter to the staffer (hard copy) ASAPBriefly summarize your key talking pointsReview how your recommendations can

help garner support from voters and other members of Congress

Page 19: Citizen Lobbying PDA National Field Team. What is Lobbying Over 30,000 paid lobbyists in DC Paid lobbying vs. Citizen lobbying Legislators need educating.

Turning up the Pressure

Direct PressureLetters, petitions, calls, Meetings, in Capital

lobby daysIndirect Pressure

Letters to the editor, op-eds, paid media, press conferences, visibility, protests, picketing, literature drops, coalition building

Page 20: Citizen Lobbying PDA National Field Team. What is Lobbying Over 30,000 paid lobbyists in DC Paid lobbying vs. Citizen lobbying Legislators need educating.

DC Mass Lobby

Have building and office number of all Congress members you plan to visitFor Droid and iPhone users download the

free app “Congress”Office location, phone, District mapLegislation sponsored

Page 21: Citizen Lobbying PDA National Field Team. What is Lobbying Over 30,000 paid lobbyists in DC Paid lobbying vs. Citizen lobbying Legislators need educating.

Street Call Your Congress Person

Best with Droid or iPhone with unlimited minutesHave short script that people can readHave person call Rep and/or Senator

directly from your phone