Camp Prosperity: Influencing Your State’s Budget in Times of Crisis

July 28, 2020

Welcome

Tupa HovekaProgram Associate, Field EngagementProsperity Now

Housekeeping

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Getting the Most Out of Today’s Call

▪Join from a quiet space

▪Grab a coffee or snack and settle in

▪Engage! Send us your questions and comments as you listen

▪Tweet with us on Twitter—use #CampProsperity

▪Reflect on ways to apply what you learn today to your own work

Prosperity

Now’s mission

is to ensure

everyone in our

country has a

clear path to

financial stability,

wealth and

prosperity.

Welcome to Camp Prosperity!

Vanna CureLead Camp CounselorSenior Advocacy ManagerProsperity Now

▪ 4-week virtual learning program for new and experienced advocates

▪ Weekly newsletters and webinars; opportunities to connect with other advocates

Camp Prosperity Webinar Series

#CampProsperity

Alison McIntoshPolicy and Communications Director

Neighborhood Partnerships

@alisoncmcintosh

Today’s Speakers

Louisa WarrenDirector, State Strategies &

Engagement

Center on Budget and Policy Priorities

@louisabwarren

#CampProsperity

Today’s Agenda

✓ “Fireside Chats” – From Issue to Action: Influencing

Your State’s Budget in Times of Crisis

✓ A Big Picture Perspective

✓ A State Advocate’s Perspective

✓ Group Discussion and Q&A

✓ Next Steps & Close

#CampProsperity

Poll Question

Have you engaged in state budgetary

advocacy before?

1. Yes, I have several cycles of experience

2. Yes, I have 1-2 cycles of experience

3. No

#CampProsperity

Key Insights:A Big Picture Perspective

Louisa WarrenDirector, State Strategies & Engagement

Center on Budget and Policy Priorities

Q1: For starters, talk a little about the budget shortfall states are facing.

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Q2: What’s currently happening with federal recovery relief legislation and state funding?

#CampProsperity

Q3: Where are cuts likely to happen?

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Q4: What can advocates be doing now to prepare to defend vulnerable programs in the

next legislative session?

Preparing for 2021 Legislative Session

▪Document need and harm now

▪Track budget cuts going into effect already

▪Share the need, harm, and cuts impacts with state policymakers

▪With new lawmakers/candidates, plan to spring into action post-election to develop relationships

▪Broaden your tent—engage with partners to avoid fighting over the same slice of pie and contribute to a larger vision for what’s needed

▪Shape the narrative—through media, digital—on impacts of cuts and feature impacts (stories, data) now through Fall

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Q5: Walk us through the budget process. Which state agencies and committees need to be influenced and how can advocates do

that?

Budget Process!

▪Governor starts with budget proposal—timeline depends on state but in many places, starts being put together post-election

▪One chamber then puts together their budget proposal, followed by the other

▪State appropriations committees and sub-committees typically develop specific area state budgets (i.e. Health & Human Services, Education, etc) but often given “targets”/direction by senior leadership

▪State agency staff weigh in at each level and are a constituency to consider

▪Conference committees often ceremonial to resolve differences between chambers

#CampProsperity

Q6: What data could be helpful in making the case for program funding?

Data to Make Your Case

▪Stories of impacts on people are data too

▪Census weekly survey that tracks hardship (with state data)

▪Research on economic multipliers of programs

▪Data on need vs funding (i.e. number of people eligible for child care assistance vs. number of slots)

▪Project state budget shortfalls, revenue forecast data (from state)

#CampProsperity

Use the Comment Box to let us know!

Discussion

What programs or services are you most concerned about heading into the next legislative session?

#CampProsperity

Key Insights:A State Advocate’s Perspective

Alison McIntoshPolicy and Communications

Director

Neighborhood Partnerships

Q1: Can you share more about what type of budget advocacy your organization works

on, and why it’s so important?

#CampProsperity

Q2: What are the tips you have for someone who is just beginning their budget

advocacy?

Budgetary Advocacy: Getting Started

#CampProsperity

Q3: Can you share what you’ve learned about communicating effectively with legislators

about budgets, particularly in a time of recession and likely budget cuts?

Communicating with Legislators

#CampProsperity

Q4: Are there resources you think people should know about or look to in particular?

How does your state coalition work on different types of funding, and why?

#CampProsperity

Q5: Who do you look to as allies in this work? What other organizations can help

support budget advocacy?

#CampProsperity

Q6: What advice do you have if Legislators ask you what budget they should cut in order

to fund your program?

#CampProsperity

Q7: As a state level advocate, do you look to other states to see what they’re funding or

how they’re doing their work?

Examples from Other States

#CampProsperity

Audience Q & A

What questions do you have?

Share them in theQuestions box!

Alison McIntosh | Policy and Communications Director

Neighborhood Partnerships

amcintosh@neighborhoodpartnerships.org

Louisa Warren | Director, State Strategies and Engagement

Center on Budget and Policy Priorities

warren@cbpp.org

Vanna Cure | Senior Advocacy Manager

Prosperity Now

vcure@prosperitynow.org

Stay in Touch!

Next Steps

▪ Complete the follow-up survey

▪ Attend our final webinar in the Camp Prosperity series

on August 4th!

▪ Register for the 2020 Prosperity Summit (formerly

Assets Learning Conference), September 30- October 2

▪ Explore the Prosperity Now website for resources,

events, and more

#CampProsperity

Visit the Summit website at summit.prosperitynow.org

to learn more and to register!

Dive Deeper with Prosperity Now Community Networks

◼ Affordable Homeownership Network

◼ Racial Wealth Equity Network

◼ Financial Coaching Network

◼ Savings Network

◼ Taxpayer Opportunity Network (VITA/Community Tax Prep)

◼ Campaign for Every Kids Future — Children’s Savings Accounts

◼ Medical Financial Partnerships (Health/Wealth)

◼ Innovations in Manufactured Housing (I’M HOME) Network

Visit any of the networks above at prosperitynow.org/getinvolved to get started.

Sign up for listservs and working groups, volunteer to facilitate

peer discussions, serve in a leadership role and more!

Take Action with Prosperity Now Campaigns!

Homeownership is

key to building

wealth. Together, we

will advocate for

products and policies

that provide more

affordable homes to

more people.

HOMEOWNERSHIP

Consumer

protections create

fairer, more

transparent financial

markets. Together,

we will ensure

consumers keep the

safeguards they

deserve.

CONSUMER

PROTECTIONS

Safety net programs

help protect

vulnerable individuals

and families from

falling deep into

poverty. Together, we

will protect programs

like SNAP, IDAs and

more to help those in

need when they need

it most.

SAFETY NET

The vast majority of

tax incentives go to

those at the top, not

to those who need it

most. Together, we

will turn our upside-

down tax code right-

side up.

TURN IT

RIGHT-SIDE UP

Visit any of the Campaigns above at https://prosperitynow.org/take-action to learn more and join.

Sign up to stay informed about the latest developments and opportunities to take

action by joining one of our four federal policy campaigns.

Prosperity Now Advocacy CenterTake action today at https://prosperitynow.org/take-action

Here you can:

▪ Email a MOC

▪ Call a MOC

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▪ Schedule a Meeting

▪ Sign a petition

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