Lobbying 101 How To Become Effective Advocates Tom Bulger Government Relations Inc. (202) 775-0079.

Lobbying 101Lobbying 101How To Become Effective Advocates How To Become Effective Advocates

Tom BulgerTom BulgerGovernment Relations Inc. Government Relations Inc. (202) 775-0079(202) 775-0079

AgendaAgenda

Why It Is Important to be involvedWhy It Is Important to be involved How a Bill Becomes a LawHow a Bill Becomes a Law Keys to A Successful Lobby Keys to A Successful Lobby Authorizer vs. AppropriatorAuthorizer vs. Appropriator Meeting Requests/MeetingsMeeting Requests/Meetings Effective CorrespondenceEffective Correspondence

Stay informed, active and Stay informed, active and engagedengaged

WHY???WHY???

$2.5 Billion of ITS $$2.5 Billion of ITS $$$

Depends on itDepends on it


Staying active in policy issues at both the Staying active in policy issues at both the federal level and local level yields opportunity federal level and local level yields opportunity and defends attacks on program funding and defends attacks on program funding

Use ITSA to stay informed regarding issues in Use ITSA to stay informed regarding issues in the State and Federal Governmentthe State and Federal Government

The Transportation planning process is an The Transportation planning process is an open process, utilize it to secure funds for your open process, utilize it to secure funds for your programs and to shed light on issues that programs and to shed light on issues that concern your agency/businessconcern your agency/business


Keep your local elected officials at all Keep your local elected officials at all levels aware of your progress and resultslevels aware of your progress and results

Let them know how they can help you Let them know how they can help you Inundate them with informationInundate them with information Without you telling them, they will Without you telling them, they will

never know how they can help you!!!!!never know how they can help you!!!!!

How a Bill Becomes LawHow a Bill Becomes Law

Completed Bill

House Bill Senate Bill

Presidential Proposal* Presidential Proposal*

Conference Committee

The Process & The PlayersThe Process & The Players

Transportation Reauthorization in the Transportation Reauthorization in the HouseHouse

House Passed Bill

Budget

Rules

Transportation & Infrastructure

Science

Ways & Means

Energy and Commerce


Transportation Reauthorization in the Transportation Reauthorization in the SenateSenate

Senate Passed Bill

Budget

Finance Environment & Public Works Banking

Commerce


Be mindful of what committee the Be mindful of what committee the Congressman you are working with is onCongressman you are working with is on

Committee structure is key Committee structure is key Work with the Congressman that Work with the Congressman that

represent you district as well as those in represent you district as well as those in your area that sit on committees that your area that sit on committees that effect your issueeffect your issue


Committee StaffCommittee Staff Committee Staff are responsible for Committee Staff are responsible for

drafting legislation proposed by a drafting legislation proposed by a committeecommittee

95% of all major legislation is drafted 95% of all major legislation is drafted by committee staffby committee staff

Committee staff are referred to as key Committee staff are referred to as key holders or gate keepersholders or gate keepers

Authorizer vs. Authorizer vs. AppropriatorAppropriator

AuthorizerAuthorizer Committee/Legislation that Committee/Legislation that

sets policysets policy Generally Programs are Generally Programs are

authorized every 2-6 yearsauthorized every 2-6 years TEA-21 is an authorizing TEA-21 is an authorizing

billbill Sometimes earmarkedSometimes earmarked

AppropriatorAppropriator 10 House Appropriation 10 House Appropriation

CommitteesCommittees 12 Senate Appropriation 12 Senate Appropriation

CommitteesCommittees Funds programs set up by Funds programs set up by

authorizing legislationauthorizing legislation Must be completed every Must be completed every

yearyear Almost always earmarkedAlmost always earmarked

Appropriation Project Appropriation Project RequestsRequests

All but one appropriation committees All but one appropriation committees include member projects called include member projects called ‘earmarks’‘earmarks’

Chairmen of the appropriation Chairmen of the appropriation committees are known as cardinalscommittees are known as cardinals

ITS projects are eligible for a number of ITS projects are eligible for a number of earmarksearmarks

Appropriation TimelineAppropriation TimelineSample for FY 2007 RequestSample for FY 2007 Request

Summer of CY 2005—Formulate and prepare requestSummer of CY 2005—Formulate and prepare request Fall of CY 2005 introduce concept and project to Fall of CY 2005 introduce concept and project to

potential supporters on and off the Hillpotential supporters on and off the Hill Winter of CY 2005 Finalize request & support lettersWinter of CY 2005 Finalize request & support letters January CY 2006 Visit Cap. Hill and meet with Staff to January CY 2006 Visit Cap. Hill and meet with Staff to

request projectrequest project Late Feb/early March CY 2006 Visit Cap. Hill and meet Late Feb/early March CY 2006 Visit Cap. Hill and meet

with Members of Congresswith Members of Congress Spring/Summer CY 2006 Continue to lobbying effortSpring/Summer CY 2006 Continue to lobbying effort

Appropriation TimelineAppropriation TimelineSample for FY 2007 RequestSample for FY 2007 Request

Important DatesImportant Dates Internal Office Request Deadlines Internal Office Request Deadlines

Generally March 1Generally March 1stst Subcommittee DeadlinesSubcommittee Deadlines

Generally between March 15Generally between March 15thth—April 15—April 15thth Subcommittee MarkupsSubcommittee Markups

Generally between June-SeptemberGenerally between June-September Pill passes into lawPill passes into law

Anytime September-JanuaryAnytime September-January

Meeting RequestsMeeting Requests

Fax RequestsFax Requests Make Sure Congress is in SessionMake Sure Congress is in Session Tuesday-Thursdays are best days to Tuesday-Thursdays are best days to

meetmeet Make sure the meeting requires the Make sure the meeting requires the

Congressman’s attendanceCongressman’s attendance CC: request to staff you are working withCC: request to staff you are working with

MeetingsMeetings

Be prepared and on time for all meetings Be prepared and on time for all meetings Have handouts readily available for staff and Have handouts readily available for staff and

members. members. Make sure the information is concise as Make sure the information is concise as

Congressman receive an abundant amount of Congressman receive an abundant amount of informationinformation

Offer a brief introduction of who you are, who Offer a brief introduction of who you are, who you represent, and any common connectionsyou represent, and any common connections

MeetingsMeetings

Always have a specific requestAlways have a specific request Ask how the Congressman wants to Ask how the Congressman wants to

follow up/next stepsfollow up/next steps Be Gracious/RelaxedBe Gracious/Relaxed

Effectively communicate Effectively communicate your messageyour message

The BasicsThe Basics Always address all written communication to Always address all written communication to

the Member of Congress and put it to the the Member of Congress and put it to the attention of the appropriate staffattention of the appropriate staff

Never use Snail Mail/FED-EX/or UPS to Never use Snail Mail/FED-EX/or UPS to send urgent informationsend urgent information

Fax/Email/Phone Calls/Personal Meetings Fax/Email/Phone Calls/Personal Meetings are best techniquesare best techniques


Who should I be talking with?Who should I be talking with? For policy issues you should be in constant contact For policy issues you should be in constant contact

with the LA or LD that handles transportationwith the LA or LD that handles transportation When you need definite action schedule a meeting When you need definite action schedule a meeting

with the Member of Congresswith the Member of Congress District office managers should be invited/included District office managers should be invited/included

in all local eventsin all local events Keep your member informed at all times, as well as Keep your member informed at all times, as well as

those members in your area sitting on committees those members in your area sitting on committees involved with reauthorizationinvolved with reauthorization


What should I communicate?What should I communicate? Send all updates/newsletters/reports to the Send all updates/newsletters/reports to the

district staff and LA via emaildistrict staff and LA via email Make it a point to touch base with your Make it a point to touch base with your

member of Congress in some way once or member of Congress in some way once or twice a month via email/phone call/personal twice a month via email/phone call/personal meeting meeting


Other tricks of the tradeOther tricks of the trade Present your Member(s) of Congress with Present your Member(s) of Congress with

an award for dedication*an award for dedication* Find out what issues your member is Find out what issues your member is

working on and see if there is a way that you working on and see if there is a way that you can help him achieve one of his goalscan help him achieve one of his goals

Focus your message to your member’s Focus your message to your member’s goalsgoals

DO NOT BECOME PARTISANDO NOT BECOME PARTISAN

Never take ‘No’ for an Never take ‘No’ for an answeranswer

Only those who ask Only those who ask will receivewill receive

If you follow these If you follow these simple rules you and simple rules you and your agency will grow your agency will grow as a political force at as a political force at both the local and both the local and federal levelfederal level

Lobbying 101 How To Become Effective Advocates Tom Bulger Government Relations Inc. (202) 775-0079.

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Transcript of Lobbying 101 How To Become Effective Advocates Tom Bulger Government Relations Inc. (202) 775-0079.