Legislative & Hatch Act Training
Introduction
• Who I am: Adair Gregory, NAGE Federal
– Legislative & Communications Specialist
• Work History
– Campaigns & Federal Employee
• My job at NAGE
– What a lobbyist does
– Channels of communication
Purpose of this Webinar
• The Hatch Act
– A brief history
– Do’s and Don’ts
• The Legislative Process Refresh
– The many ways a bill becomes a law
• The Power of Communication (internal v. external)
• Effective lobbying ideas
– Using the Legislative process to your members’
advantage
The Hatch Act of 1939
• Implemented as a result of 1938 Congressional elections
– Most recently amended in 2012
– http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hatch_Act_of_1939
• “An Act to prevent pernicious political activities”
• Why is this legislation needed?
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Gives an unfair advantage to incumbents
Obama and Administration
Employees shouldn’t campaign in order to protect jobs
Creates incentives for politicians to reward government employees
• Hatch Act violations in the News:
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http://triblive.com/opinion/editorials/6537827-74/irs-lerneremails#axzz3AmRxlovohttp://www.trivalleycentral.com/casa_grande_dispatch/area_news/pi
nal-county-feds-close-probe-of-sheriff-deputy/article_b1784cec-1d80-11e4-83170019bb2963f4.html
Why is this relevant now?
• We are entering election season
• Cracking down on Federal employees who
benefit from elections
• Violations go against mission of agencies
• Can foster corruption
– Goes against reasons why many chose to work
Hatch Act Do’s & Don’ts
• My Experience
– Always know where the line is
– Better safe then sorry
• DO:
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Support local candidates
Make your voice heard
Stay involved and volunteer free time
Keep NAGE informed on candidates YOU support
Organize
Help and encourage people to register
Hatch Act Don’ts
• What can happen if I violate the Hatch Act?
– Lose your job
– Spend time in court
– Excessive fines
• DON’T:
– If you are on the clock simply do NOT engage in any political activity.
– Use any government issued equipment for political activity
– Send emails during work hours or use government issued email for
political purposes
– Advertize political affiliation while on the job
– Shirts, pins, lawn signs ect.
• http://www.archives.gov/legal/ethics/hatch-act.html
Legislative Process Refresh
• How a bill becomes a law run-through.
– Introduced in either House or Senate
• Referred to subcommittee, hearings
– Referred to Committee
» Voted on before the whole body, House or Senate
• Bill moves to other body
– Same process
• Bill moves to conference committee
– Signed by POTUS
Legislative Refresh Pt. 2
• There is more than one way to get something
changed in Congress
• Parliamentarian / Rules Committee
• Annually reoccurring legislation
– Appropriations
– The Budget
– Defense Authorization
• Amendments and Open/Closed rules
– Examples, Union Busting and funding levels
How does communication
help in our efforts?
• YOU ARE THE MOST INFORMED PERSON IN YOUR
WORKPLACE!
• What would you like to see changed through legislative
action?
• Talk to the employees you represent, see if they are
experiencing the same problems. What are their interests?
• Contact NAGE
– Identify the problem
– Potential solutions
– Use NAGE as a way to focus intensity & craft a unified message
Communication Blueprint
• Ideas come from the locals
– Locals identify big picture changes (not ULPs)
• Get an idea of how many members are
effected
– Bring up the issue on Presidents calls
– Request updates
– Set up meeting with Congressperson through
NAGE
Pending Legislation & Goals
• Elections this November, Congress votes until January 2015
– Short time for this Congress
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Lame duck session post elections
3.3% Raise for all Federal employees
National Defense Authorization
Appropriations
Bills that HELP Federal Employees
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Pay Raise for all Federal Employees
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Furlough Protection WCF Employees
•HR 4306
•HR 4435
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Public Employee Pension
Transparency
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Withdrawal from Thrift Savings
Plans in the Event of a Gov.
Shutdown
•HR 1643
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Military & Civilian Pay Protection
•HR 3187
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Social Security Fairness
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Security Clearance Oversight
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Law Enforcement Officers Equality
•S.779
•S.896
•S.1276
•HR 1362
Bills that HARM Federal Employees
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Restricts Funds for Official Time
•HR 122
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Restricts Tax Delinquent
Individuals from Becoming
Federal Employees
•HR 828
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Federal Employee
Accountability (Official Time)
•S. 1312
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Extend Pay Freezes
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1% Reduction in Discretionary
Spending
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Reduce the Size of Federal
Workforce
•HR 273
•HR 56
•HR 593
The Sequester
• Where are we now?
– http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/sequester
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No changes in 2014 or 2015
$2.5 Trillion in cuts
Could extend to 2021 and beyond
Defense and non-defense cuts
Likely pension reform for new Federal
employees
Army, Navy & AF
• Non-Appropriated Funds
• Pay parity issues on joint bases
• BRAC as early as 2017
IBPO & Firefighters
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Retirement benefits
Increased training
Parity
LEOSA
Department of Veterans Affairs
• VA reform legislation
– What’s included?
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$17B increase in funding
More positions available
27 new clinics
Faster firing of senior executives
• RTLS
– Defund?
– Amend Policy?
Contact your Congressperson
• How to / Best Practices
• Run the idea past NAGE, might have more support than you
think
• Insist on receiving a statement on their position
• Encourage others / strength in numbers
• Ask NAGE to track legislation or idea
Contact your Congressperson Pt. 2
• Look them up
– http://www.house.gov/representatives/find
• Call or write
– http://www.nagefederal.org/filelist/Connolly bill
support.doc
• Run by NAGE to get support
Review
• The Hatch Act
– What you can & can’t do
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The Legislative Process
Effective Communication
Pending Legislation
Contacting Congress
Questions?
• agregory@nage.org
• 703 519 0300