Lobbying
How to lobby your legislator
with …
Bill Hanlon
The Basics
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Be respectful
Be knowledgeable
Be personal, appeal to the heart
Don’t assume a legislator’s position
Say thanks
Lobby year round
Targeting Legislators
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Champions
Allies
Fence Sitters
Mellow Opponents
Hard Core Opponents
Champions
• Inside strategy, have them
– Make the case for you
– Visible public spokespeople
Allies
• Inside strategy
– Encourage them to speak up in party caucuses
or on the floor to support your cause
Fence Sitters
• Key Targets
– Inside persuasion
– Outside pressure
Mellow Opponents
• Clear votes against you, but not inclined to
be active.
– Lobby enough to give pause without making
them angry
Hard Core Opponents
• Leading the Opposition
– Isolate them
– Highlight extremes of their positions, rhetoric,
and alliances to give other lawmakers pause
about joining them
The Message
• Present a clear message
– Cite the bill name or number with a brief
description
– Know your subject
– Don’t overload with issues
– Goal; vote, leadership, or informational
– Leave a fact sheet or informational material
Inside Lobbying
• Meetings with lawmakers
• Providing analysis and information
• Testifying
• Negotiating with policymakers and other lobby
groups
Outside Lobbying
• Media
• Local lobbying by constituents
• Building broad and diverse coalitions
• Letter writing
• Grassroots
Media
• News conferences
• Editorial boards
• Assisting reporters
Telephone
• Identify yourself by name and address
• Identify the bill and number
• Briefly state your position
– Speak to staff
• Thank-you note for time
Letter Writing
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Do not use form letters
Short, concise and polite
Identify the issue and include bill number
If you live in district, say so
Ask for a response
Send a thank-you note
Include name, address, and phone number
Type, check spelling and grammar
Sample Letter Template
• Indicate training relevant to your teaching:
– Introduce yourself
– Thank them for funding RPDP program
– You have learned content, instructional strategies, and
about assessing student work
– You are applying that knowledge in your classroom
– You are seeing changes (gains) in student
understanding
– You expect gains in student achievement
– You would like to see the RPDPs funded again
Mailing List
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Governor Guinn
Senate Majority Leader Raggio
Speaker Perkins
State Superintendent Rheault
President, State Board of Education
Members Legislative Cmte on Education
Members Assembly Education Cmte
Local superintendent(s)/Board of Trustees
Your own legislative contacts
Coordination
• Inside and outside lobbying activities
should be coordinated to assure the make
strategic sense in terms of timing, targeting,
and message.
Make Connections
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Legislators
Other lobbyists
Media
Legislative staff
Influential citizens
Build a Relationship
• No permanent friends – No permanent enemies.
– Acknowledge past help
– Turn down heat on other side
The Staff
Follow-up
• Be sure to send a thank-you note.
– Restate your understanding of any
commitments
Some Don’ts
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Don’t ever lie or mislead
Don’t threaten or antagonize
Don’t overwhelm
Don’t be inflexible
Don’t negatively talk about others
Appeal to Reason
• Common sense more often than not will win
out in political discussions. This approach
will solidify your position and reinforce
your credibility.
Additional Information
• Be prepared to provide additional documentation