1. Strategies for Engaging Federal Policymakers & How a Bill Becomes a Law
Moderator: Treasurer David Damschen
Presented by:
Matthew Hoekstra
Principal
Williams & Jensen
March 30, 2017

2. Communicating With Members & Staff
Members Often Most Accessible at Events in Home State/District
Staff Drives Policy
Congress and the Administration are Staff-Driven Institutions
Members of Congress rely on recommendations from staff on vast majority of issues
Staffers Are Gatekeepers
Decide which issues rise to the top
Make recommendations on co-sponsorships, letters, etc.
Draft statements, speeches, and op-eds for Members
1 – Why? Lawmakers spend around 4 days a week in DC – mornings and afternoons taken up by official legislative business (hearings, markups, etc) – breakfast, lunch and evenings focused on raising money, and the rest of the time spent doing media appearances for those that are inclined
DON’T NEGLECT THE STAFF

3. Who are the Key Staffers?
Chief of Staff, State/District Director, or Legislative Director can often
help you get connected to the right staff on the issue you are advocating
Self –
actualisation
Usually DC-based; manages staff; often political role
Chief
of Staff
State/District
Director
Esteem
State/District based; lead on local issues
Lead Policy
Staffer
Legislative
Director
Love/Belonging
Legislative Assistants/
Policy Advisors
Safety
Issue-specific
experts
Legislative Correspondents/
Staff Assistants/District Staff
Physiological
Respond to mail, assist in
“casework,” answer
phones, etc.

4. How to Make “The Ask” Email
The preferred method of communication: staff has a record of the request
Personalize the information to the Member’s office and outline why it’s important to your State
Formal letters in format
Draft should be concise, include an attachment with additional information, and should clearly define “the ask”
Examples: Co-sponsor legislation; send letter to an Agency; contact the Committee Chair or Leadership
Phone Call
-Have script/talking points prepared in advance
-Personalize the information/explain importance to state
-Clearly define “the ask”
Meeting in District
-Bring copies of materials
Example – Writing your Member of Congress to ask them to join the Congressional Municipal Finance Caucus – tell them what Caucus advocates for, who leads the caucus, and how they can sign up

5. Stay In Touch/Be a Resource
Look for opportunities to follow-up with staff
Send topical local stories that they might have missed
Keep them updated on legislative developments
Offer to connect them to other stakeholders/experts
Provide them helpful data and information on the topic
Be friendly and personable; develop relationship with staff over by establishing yourself as a trusted resource

6. Traditional & Social Media
Op-eds: Highly effective in getting Members’ attention on issue
Tip: An op-ed placed in well known local or state publication can be just as impactful as op-ed in a large national paper
Press Releases: Send copy of press releases to Members/Staff
Blogs: Identify the key policy blogs in your state and get message out through a blog posting
Social Media: Tweet about key policy; NAST is a resource for content and how to use Twitter effectively

7. Examples of Effective Communication
MUNI BONDS

8. How a Bill Becomes a Law

9. Classroom Version
Quite literally the classroom version – or what people in DC call “Regular Order”
Conference Committee – resolving differences between a bill passed by the House and Senate – that’s becoming obsolete
Polarization – Leadership fears changes to bills will make carefully negotiated agreements fall apart
Source: NYLearns

10. 2017 Version
“I’m Just a Bill” is now “I’m just an appropriations rider” or
“I’m just a tiny provision tucked into a 1,000 page proposal”
114th Congress: 329 bills signed into law – 75 named buildings
This included Public Law , which combined 37 separate
bills into a single law
Major policy made via “must-pass” legislation
Significant bills passed through controlled process
9 bills were vetoed; Congress only overrode 1 veto
Appropriations bills do a lot more than spend money
Proliferation of Executive Orders
Effects of legislating through major must-pass bills – top-down, closed off process – no real ability to substantively amend through regular order
Bills that could pass both Chambers overwhelmingly don’t get voted on because they are held back to be included in a larger deal that may or may not happen (IE TAX REFORM)
Even if you didn’t care about healthcare reform, or tax reform, or infrastructure – you are paying close attention because these may offer the only chances to enact major policy changes in 2017 – and that’s a big IF in all three cases

11. Questions & Discussion

12. Contact Information
Matthew Hoekstra
(202)