1. Do you agree? Is this equally true everywhere?
TODAY: Business plans for influencing legislative and regulatory choices
p. 199: “In the long run, a firm has influence on nonmarket issues to the extent that its interests are aligned with those of the people.”
Do you agree? Is this equally true everywhere?

2. Detection  what policy changes are imminent
Evaluation  should we try to influence new policy choices?

3. Detection  what policy changes are imminent
Evaluation  should we try to influence new policy choices?
Players 
Governmental
Nongovernmental
What are their wants? Their needs?
How much influence/leverage do they have over the decision, in the near term? In the long term?

4. Interest Group Politics:
Do legislators respond to organized interest group pressure? General public opinion?
What interests tend to be represented by organized groups?
What makes interest group lobbying more or less effective?
How do these factors change your analysis?
Distribution of costs and benefits of each decision outcome
Issue salience  awareness + importance

5. Detection  what policy changes are imminent
Evaluation  should we try to influence new policy choices?
Plan:
Direct strategies
Indirect strategies
Alliances / surrogates
Public strategies
How do you decide whether to build alliances?
Information
Resources
Money
Pressure

6. Problem 1 – Electric Deregulation: Policymakers in the U. S. and the U
Problem 1 – Electric Deregulation: Policymakers in the U.S. and the U.K. are considering legislation designed to eliminate regulatory impediments to the existence of a free market in electricity sales. (E.g., US Congress, UK Parliament, regulatory commissions.)
Who favors this change?
How does National Energy, owner of 34 large coal-fired power plants in the U.S. and 11 in UK, support this legislation?

7. Electric Deregulation:
Information
Resources
Money
“Pressure”
Electric Deregulation:
National Energy
Employees (union)?
Local government?
EEI/trade groups
Members of Energy Committees (Ministries)
Members from high priced regions  party focus vs. member focus
Remainder of legislature
Industrial consumers
Other big consumers
Ratepayer groups + environmental groups
Voting Public?

8. Agency Implementation: FERC UK Energy Agency State PUC
Rules specifying conditions under which market-based rates will be permitted
Rulings on cases of alleged abuse of market power or unfair competition
Should National Energy try to influence these decisions? If so, how?

9. Problem 2 – Mountaintop Mining: Congress is considering legislation to amend the Clean Water Act, which prohibits discharges of pollutants to waterways without a permit, to make it clear that so-called coal mining operations that place excavated dirt/rock into nearby streams do not need a Clean Water Act permit. How does National Coal, which practices mountaintop mining in 5 midwestern states, support this legislation?

10. Mountaintop Mining: National Mining Co.
Information
Resources
Money
“Pressure”
Mountaintop Mining:
National Mining Co.
UMWA
Employees
Local government
AMC/NMA
State government officials
Members of Environment Committees
Members from WV, KY, OH, IN, IL
Remainder of legislature
Local and national environmental groups
Voting Public

11. Agency Implementation:
Corps of Engineers (mountaintop mining/valley fills)
Rules specifying what constitutes exempt filling
Issuance of rulings on whether individual actions come within the exemption