Lobbying 101:Delivering Your Message

To Elected Officials

Margie Metzler(916) 248-6148;

margiemetz@hotmail.comAugust 14, 2013

Advocacy vs Lobbying• Both = influencing public officials to take a specific

position on a piece of legislation or take a desired action

• Advocacy is intended to improve the social, economic, political environment

• Advocacy is intended to affect improvement of the community – or some subset within the community

• Advocacy is typically done by citizens or 501(c)(3)s

• 501(c)(3)s can spend up to 20 percent of budget on lobbying*

• Nonprofit organizations can and should lobby

*According to the Internal Revenue Code.

Advocacy vs Lobbying

• Lobbyists are generally paid and represent specific industries or companies

• Lobbyists must comply with various ethical and lobbying disclosure laws governing their activities

What is Advocacy?• Education of legislators

• Strategic influence

• Getting information/ establishing relationship with legislators and their staffs

• Creating awareness on both sides

• Suggesting Improvements to people who have power

• Getting a legislator to take on legislation you want

• Offering help and support

5

What is Lobbying Activity?

• Spending money

• Attempting to influence

• Legislative or administrative advocacy

• What we have beendoing is bird-dogging,not lobbying

What can you offer elected officials?

• Compelling stories

• Expert knowledge

• Community perspective

• Raising awareness in the community

• Thanks when they are doing the “right thing”

6

Studies: Is advocacy really effective?

7

• Staffers surveyed said that constituents’ visits to the Washington office (97%) and to the district/state office (94%) have some or a lot of influence on an undecided member

• When asked about strategies directed to their offices back home, staffers said questions at town hall meetings (88%) and letters to the editor (80%) have some or a lot of influence

http://www.independentsector.org/governance_ethics_resource_center

Studies: Is advocacy really effective?

8

• Constituents who make the effort to personally communicate with their Senators and Representative--except via fax—are more influential than lobbyists and news editors

• Nearly identical percentages of staffers said postal mail (90%) and email (88%) would have influence on an undecided Member of Congress

SUCCESSFUL ADVOCACY :Consider the motivations of public officials

• Build relationships with decision makers

• Conduct “power analysis” – identify which decision makers to target

• Make allocation of resources based on “What activity is most likely to motivate this particular public official?”

9

10

Levels

StateState Legislators/Agencies

FederalMembers of President/Congress

LocalCity Council, County Board of Supervisors

11

How to Set up a Meeting

• Call to find out whom to contact

• Include the date, time, and topic

• Be flexible

• Call back in a week

Meeting with Your Legislator

• Try to meet face to face

• Research committee assignments and specialties

• Establish rapport with legislator AND STAFF

• Leave informational one page

• Leave your business card and take one from staff

• Thank your Assembly member, Senator, City Council Member or County Supervisor

13

Meeting Tips

• Identify yourself as a constituent

• Have a clear "ask”

• Explain why it’s needed

• Give local examples

• Ask their position and why they hold it

14

Meeting Tips (continued)

• Don’t neglect legislators on the opposite side

• Ask your legislator about specific votes

• Take materials with you

15

Lobbying Don’ts

1. Don’t cover too many issues in a visit

2. Don’t be argumentative

3. Don’t expect them to be specialists

4. Don’t do all the talking

16

After Your Visit

• Always follow up with a Thank You

• Volunteer to be a resource contact

17

Information on Lobbying Regulations

• Alliance for Justice– advocacy@afj.org– 866-675-6229– www.afj.org– For fact sheets and publications

• Independent Sector:http://www.independentsector.org/governance_ethics_resource_center

Resources

• Detailed info: how a federal bill becomes a law: http://thomas.loc.gov/home/lawsmade.toc.html

• Federal legislation: http://thomas.loc.gov/home/thomas.php

• State legislation:http://www.legislature.ca.gov/port-bilinfo.html or http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/

18

Contacting the White House

• Contact online: http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/submit-questions-and-comments

• Call:– Comments: 202-456-1111– Switchboard: 202-456-1414– TTY/TTD Comments: 202-456-6213– Visitor's Office: 202-456-2121

• Write a letter to the President– The White House

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NWWashington, DC 20500

19

Contact Senators• All Senators:

http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

• Dianne Feinstein: http://www.feinstein.senate.gov/public/

• Barbara Boxer: http://www.boxer.senate.gov/501 I Street, Suite 7-600, Sacramento, CA 95814(916) 448-2787; 501 I Street, Suite 7-600Sacramento, CA 95814; (916) 448-2787; (202) 228-3865 fax

20

Washington, DC Office:331 Hart Senate Office Bldg.Washington, D.C. 20510Phone: (202) 224-3841Fax: (202) 228-3954TTY/TDD: (202) 224-2501

San Francisco Office:One Post StreetSuite 2450 San Francisco, CA 94104 Phone: (415) 393-0707 Fax: (415) 393-0710

Contact Congress Members• Find all Members of Congress:  (202)225-3121

http://www.house.gov/representatives/find/• Doris Matsui (http://matsui.house.gov)

• Ami Bera (as of Jan. 1, 2013)Craig Belden, Director of Operations916-517-5881Box 582496, Elk Grove 95758craig@beraforcongress.com

• Tom McClintock: http://mcclintock.house.gov/contact/index.shtml

21

428 Cannon HOBWashington, DC 20515Phone: (202) 225-2511

8700 Auburn-Folsom Road, Suite 100Granite Bay, CA 95746Phone: (916) 786-5560 

 

Washington, D.C. OfficePhone: (202) 225-7163 Fax: (202) 225-0566222 Cannon Building

Washington, DC, 20515-0505

Sacramento OfficeRobert T. Matsui U.S. Courthouse

501 I Street, Suite 12-600Phone: (916) 498-5600 

Sacramento, CA, 95814-7305

Contact State Legislators• Find Senators or assembly members;

contact info; maps:http://www.legislature.ca.gov/legislators_and_districts/legislators/your_legislator.html

• Bill info: http://www.legislature.ca.gov/port-bilinfo.html or http://www.leginfo.ca

• Pocket Directory of the California Legislature: Capitol gift shop or app at www.govbuddy.com

22

23

Have

fun!