Washington State Department of Agriculture 1 Talking to Legislators: A Legislative Liaison’s Perspective Mary Beth Lang Assistant to the Director Washington State Department of Agriculture

2 Context for Washington WSDA is a cabinet agency, director appointed by Governor State legislature convenes each January –Meets 105 days in odd numbered years –Meets 60 days in even-numbered years

Washington State Department of Agriculture 3 Legislative Liaison role Mission Statement: WSDA Legislative Affairs works in partnership with agency programs to develop, advocate, implement and respond to legislative initiatives to support the agency mission.

Washington State Department of Agriculture 4 Where we work together Agency-request legislation Non-agency request legislation Budget requests Reports to the legislature Hot topics Legislative contacts

Washington State Department of Agriculture 5 What you bring to partnership Knowledge –Your program –What’s going on in other states –What’s going on at the federal level –Your stakeholders and those regulated / affected by your program

Washington State Department of Agriculture 6 What liaison brings to partnership Expertise –Working with legislators and legislative staff –Working with Governor’s Office –Working with Director and agency attorneys –Working with programs throughout agency –Working with stakeholder lobbyists –The legislative process

Washington State Department of Agriculture 7 Talking to Legislators Providing accurate, timely information is essential to helping legislators make reasoned decisions about issues that affect your program. The most important “talking to legislators” occurs around legislation

Washington State Department of Agriculture 8 Strategies for Success Understand and appreciate everyone’s role –Legislators –Agency –Stakeholders & Constituents

Washington State Department of Agriculture 9 Strategies for Success Develop and maintain legislative relationships, especially with key legislators –Get to know legislators a little (Who’s licensed? Backgrounds and interests? Constituents?) –Be responsive, helpful –Talk to legislators regularly – keep them in the loop on topics of interest, work with your key committee members, don’t be partisan

Washington State Department of Agriculture 10 Strategies for Success Know… The issue The questions and answer them up front –Cost –Impact –What if nothing happens –How have others addressed issue –Straight-face test How legislation affects the full range of stakeholders in various situations

Washington State Department of Agriculture 11 Strategies for Success Explain things –Short and simple –In meaningful terms -- impact –With context –Use charts and graphs, color and formatting, well

Washington State Department of Agriculture 12 Strategies for Success Start early At WSDA, if you haven’t done significant work for agency-request legislation by May, you’re not going to be ready for next January Or be in the game early Have good relationships with committee and caucus staff and stakeholder groups Or be very quick on your feet Sometimes things can happen unexpectedly

Washington State Department of Agriculture 13 Strategies for Success Work collaboratively Sort out the conflicts before the legislative session or behind the scenes – don’t wait for legislators to do it

Washington State Department of Agriculture 14 Strategies for Success Listen – what are legislators and stakeholders trying to accomplish vs. agency/university goal Remember: Constituents and stakeholders often have more influence than your agency or institution.

Washington State Department of Agriculture 15 Strategies for Success In all communications, be prompt, polite and to the point. Maintain the highest standards of credibility and integrity

Washington State Department of Agriculture 16 Talking to Legislators Providing accurate, timely information is essential to helping legislators make reasoned decisions about issues that affect your program.