Top 10 Ways to Pass ParityThese States Already Have:Colorado MaineNew Hampshire OregonRhode Island VermontMassachusetts CaliforniaNew Jersey IndianaLouisiana ArkansasIowa TexasMaryland VirginiaMissouri IllinoisUtah
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Organize
• Work with partners: ACA,AOPA• Lobbyist • Identify coalitions• Friends & foes• Grassroots
Find Champions• Bicameral except for Nebraska
• Only legislator can officially introduce the bill by becoming the bill's sponsor
• Legislators usually sponsor bills that are important to them and their constituents
• Sponsors will try to gain support for their bills but you have to do leg work too
• Co-sponsors—Dem and Rep ideal
• Strong sponsors to keep language on track
Put Bill in the Hopper
• Template language • Work with lead authors• Get bill number • Bill referred to
committee• Communicate
Map The Path
• Health/Commerce• Committee hearing• Subcommittees• Must pass
both houses• Amendments from
friends and foes
Focus on Committees
• Know the chairs• Find constituents• Death by committee
Face & Name
• Get involved with campaigns– Lit drops– Door knocking
• Visit in their district
• Visit on the Hill
• Write letters/emails
Use Compelling Messages
• Key messages & talking points
• Hard data
• Patient stories
Use the Media as a Tool
• Know the reporters on the health beats
• Work with ACA to pitch people stories
• Letters to the editor• Editorial meeting• Advertisements
Be Sneaky
• Amendment– Moving bill– Something that has
to be funded– Relative– Process
Be Persistent
• Long haul
•Set expectations
•Be consistent
•Build on successes
•Remember friends
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