1. AMSA Advocacy Legislative Visit Workshop 2016

2. Your Voice Makes a Difference!

3. Session GOAL Gather a crew Schedule a visit
Accomplish visit and report back 3/3/16

4. Goals of a Lobby Visit
To educate a legislator about a particular topic and why it is important
To YOU the future healthcare professional
To encourage a legislator to take (or oppose) a specific action
You are building a relationship

5. During: Agenda setting After: Follow-up
Steps of a Lobby Visit
Before: Preparation
During: Agenda setting
After: Follow-up

6. Before Your Visit: Prepare
Gather a crew
Schedule your visit
Call the office--ask to schedule a meeting
Often you will have to follow-up by

7. Before Your Visit: Prepare
Do some background research
Issue
Legislator

8. Preparation Cont. Issue Background Prepare a 2-3 sentence overview
Know main arguments and anticipate objections
Gather a couple good documents that outline or are relevant to your topic for “leave-behinds”
Know the status of the bill.
Give your one-pager a the end, Otherwise, they will read the document instead of listening to you. Make sure it has good references. Include the one-pager in your electronic thank-you note so that they can easily share with other staffers.
Great that you included the second point! They need to know both sides.

9. Preparation Cont. Issue Background Most importantly--KNOW YOUR STORY
Why is this important to you? To patients? To Doctors?

10. Preparation Cont.
CAVEAT--Nearly 100% of the time YOU WILL KNOW MORE THAN THE STAFFER about the topic.
So if you are not an expert, that is ok. It is most important that it is coming from you as a future healthcare professional who knows first hand about “a” and has seen “b” and knows that “c” would be better, etc.
If you don’t know, don’t b.s. Admit your ignorance, say you will get an answer. And then be sure to f/u with an answer.
Most staffers are in their 20’s. Even if they know policy better, they don’t see the community impact the way that health care providers do. No one is more expert in this than you! It’s ok to bring photos “This is a photo of my stepfather. Were it not for ASAP, he wouldn’t be alive today.” “Here I am working at a clinic in Malawi.”
both sides.

11. Preparation Cont. Legislator Background Committee assignments?
Main issues on their website?
Have they voted on similar legislation?

12. Preparation Cont. Legislator Background
Most importantly--KNOW THEIR STORY
Why is this important to them? To their constituents?

13. Preparation Cont. Legislation Background
Has the bill been introduced on both sides of Congress?
Has the member co-signed?
Is the member on the relevant committee/subcommittee?
Is the bill in committee or on the floor?

14. Split up the agenda and assign roles Meet before-hand and practice!
Preparation Cont.
Split up the agenda and assign roles
Meet before-hand and practice!

15. Agenda Setting General Outline Introductions
Background--WHY is this important to us
Core: Personal, sentimental, stories
Essentials: Facts, stats
Elected official’s record on this issue
Make the ASK
Close/Follow Up

16. During Your Visit--tips
Thank them for their time.
Let the legislator know who you are, where you are from if you are a constituent
Let them know who you represent
I am a member of AMSA at Coolkids COM and we have 50 members from all over the state.
Let them introduce themselves

17. During Your Visit--tips
Facts are great--but don’t overwhelm--your personal story and connection is most important!
Don’t worry if you can’t recall a fact or if you don’t know the answer to a question
You can always get back to them by !
It is ok to ask the staffer what they think you can do to help move something along

18. the ASK Streamlined and direct Have the answer in the question
Difficult to say “no” to
Ex a) Will you help end AIDS?
Ex b) Will you commit to restoring $300 million to the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief so that up to one million people won’t go without treatment next year?

19. Framing Based on Support
Prepare message for supporters and opponents:
Vocal supporters:
How can you help them to further this issue?
Non-vocal supporters:
Encourage them to take action.

20. Framing Based on Support
Prepare message for supporters and opponents (con’t):
Middle of the road:
Present information on why they should support issue.
Opponents:
Acknowledge opposition and focus on benefits of action. Offer new perspective.

21. Potential Obstacles “You’re talking to the wrong person”
“I’ve heard a lot of different stats”
“There are a lot of competing interests and limited funding”
“This is not a priority”
1-You’re talking to the wrong person (i.e. Senator is not on this committee, etc), could be helpful, could be a cop-out--always remind that you are a constituent
2)”stats”--ask to see those stats, offer what you have and say you can pass along the exact reference (if you know it/have it)
3)”competing interests” another cop-out--focus on cost-effectiveness of your intervention, you don’t know about others but here is what you can share about your own
4)”not a priority”--another cop-out. Remind that you are a constituent, again, and that you expect that your rep should represent your interests

22. Follow up--very important!
Send thank you note and follow up resources (answer any pending questions)
Follow up on your ask (via )--try to get a concrete answer or proof if necessary (signature on a letter, contact with colleagues)
Plan long-term follow up (future visit and communication)
We usually do electronic and hard copy follow-up
Also mention LTE, local press coverage if possible (get a pic and get it published in school or local paper!)

23. Last thoughts Remember it is your personal connection that counts!
Assign roles and practice--leave enough time for this (45 min to an hour)
Ask the staff about parking, leave plenty of time
Bring government issued id (particularly if in larger city)

24. Let’s Go Make Change!
**Special thanks to Jackie Britz, MS3, and NPA Copello Fellows for use of some of their slides and to Mary Beth Levin for her input for this presentation**