Lecture 5 Communicating with Policymakers Andy Schneider, J.D. Former Chief Health Counsel House...
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Transcript of Lecture 5 Communicating with Policymakers Andy Schneider, J.D. Former Chief Health Counsel House...
Lecture 5Lecture 5
Communicating with Communicating with PolicymakersPolicymakers
Andy Schneider, J.D.Andy Schneider, J.D.
Former Chief Health CounselFormer Chief Health Counsel
House Committee on Energy House Committee on Energy and Commerceand Commerce
Why Should You Interact Why Should You Interact with Federal Policymakerswith Federal Policymakers
To establish a working To establish a working relationship in which the Member relationship in which the Member or staffer seeks your adviceor staffer seeks your advice
To understand what Members or To understand what Members or staffers are concerned aboutstaffers are concerned about
To educate Members or staff To educate Members or staff about your research and your about your research and your agendaagenda
Opportunities to Speak with Opportunities to Speak with Federal PolicymakersFederal Policymakers
Congress (Legislative Branch)Congress (Legislative Branch)– Capitol Hill visitsCapitol Hill visits– District Office visitsDistrict Office visits– Hearing TestimonyHearing Testimony
Department of HHS (Executive Department of HHS (Executive Branch)Branch)
Government Commissions (MedPAC, Government Commissions (MedPAC, MACPAC, Long-Term Care MACPAC, Long-Term Care Commission)Commission)
Legislative VisitsLegislative Visits
Typically initiated by you or an Typically initiated by you or an organization you work withorganization you work with
Specified appointment (30 minutes)Specified appointment (30 minutes) More likely with staff than MemberMore likely with staff than Member Small groups (2-3) can work wellSmall groups (2-3) can work well Large groups tend not to be effectiveLarge groups tend not to be effective
Whom Are You Whom Are You Representing?Representing?
Generally not yourself unless it is Generally not yourself unless it is a personal storya personal story
Your university?Your university? Your professional organization?Your professional organization? A community-based organization? A community-based organization? A coalition of groups?A coalition of groups? Get explicit authorizationGet explicit authorization
Anticipating Your AudienceAnticipating Your Audience
Jurisdictional – How does your issue relate Jurisdictional – How does your issue relate to the Member’s State, District and to the Member’s State, District and committees? committees?
Personal – WhatPersonal – What isis the Member the Member’’s or s or staffer’s understanding of or commitment staffer’s understanding of or commitment to your issue?to your issue?
Political – When is the Member’s next Political – When is the Member’s next election? What is his/her voting record on election? What is his/her voting record on your issue? your issue?
Experience – How much legislative Experience – How much legislative experience does the Member/staffer have?experience does the Member/staffer have?
ResourcesResources WebsitesWebsites
– Legal - Legal - www.thomas.loc.gov; www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/
– Foundations and other knowledge Foundations and other knowledge brokersbrokers RWJ Foundation, Commonwealth RWJ Foundation, Commonwealth
Fund, Kaiser Family FoundationFund, Kaiser Family Foundation– Members of Congress websitesMembers of Congress websites
Government relations experts Government relations experts (lobbyists) working for knowledge (lobbyists) working for knowledge brokers can quickly get you up to brokers can quickly get you up to speedspeed
Dress Formally and Be On Dress Formally and Be On TimeTime
Government is a formal placeGovernment is a formal place– Business suits are the normBusiness suits are the norm
The pace is briskThe pace is brisk– Members and staff will act casual Members and staff will act casual
about time but they are notabout time but they are not– Be on time but not too earlyBe on time but not too early– Stay on time (even though Members Stay on time (even though Members
and staff likely will not)and staff likely will not)
Setting the Stage to Deliver Setting the Stage to Deliver Your MessageYour Message
Briefly introduce yourself, what your Briefly introduce yourself, what your organization does, and whom it servesorganization does, and whom it serves
Acknowledge anything constructive the Acknowledge anything constructive the Member/staffer has done on your issueMember/staffer has done on your issue
To the degree possible, make a To the degree possible, make a connection between your issue and connection between your issue and how it affects the Member’s State or how it affects the Member’s State or DistrictDistrict
Boiling Down Your MessageBoiling Down Your Message
YouYou’’ve got somewhere between 30 ve got somewhere between 30 seconds and 3 minutes to introduce seconds and 3 minutes to introduce yourself, explain your issue, and make yourself, explain your issue, and make your askyour ask
Use one-pager to organize your Use one-pager to organize your presentationpresentation
Avoid jargon/technical termsAvoid jargon/technical terms Do a dry run before the visit Do a dry run before the visit If it’s a small group visit, choreograph If it’s a small group visit, choreograph
the presentations in advancethe presentations in advance
The One PagerThe One Pager
• A brief synopsis of your issue, your A brief synopsis of your issue, your solution and your asksolution and your ask
• Simply phrased bullet points with lots Simply phrased bullet points with lots of white space on paperof white space on paper
• Include pointed examples that make it Include pointed examples that make it relevant for the particular Memberrelevant for the particular Member
• Include contact information or cardInclude contact information or card
Telling a Story to Explain Telling a Story to Explain Your IssueYour Issue
A highly effective way to build a bond A highly effective way to build a bond with a Member or staffer around your with a Member or staffer around your issueissue
Focus on a person or a family and Focus on a person or a family and include a few special details to help include a few special details to help make it real to the Member or staffermake it real to the Member or staffer
Bonus points if the affected party is Bonus points if the affected party is from Memberfrom Member’’s State or Districts State or District
The AskThe Ask
DonDon’’t just describe your issue, ask for t just describe your issue, ask for specific help in resolving itspecific help in resolving it
Members like to help and want to say Members like to help and want to say yes - tell them what you want them to yes - tell them what you want them to dodo
Your “ask” should be reasonable in Your “ask” should be reasonable in relation to the Member/staffer’s power relation to the Member/staffer’s power and jurisdictionand jurisdiction
Some Things You Can Ask of Some Things You Can Ask of a Member or Staffera Member or Staffer
Provide a letter of supportProvide a letter of support Attend a community meeting Attend a community meeting Speak at a conference Speak at a conference Hold (or request) a hearingHold (or request) a hearing Request an investigationRequest an investigation Support pending legislationSupport pending legislation Introduce legislationIntroduce legislation
The Follow Up PlanThe Follow Up Plan
Figure out who is doing what nextFigure out who is doing what next
Make it clear how you think you Make it clear how you think you can help move your issue forwardcan help move your issue forward
Plan for the next interactionPlan for the next interaction
What to Leave BehindWhat to Leave Behind
A business cardA business card
A one-pagerA one-pager
Possibly a research summaryPossibly a research summary
No giftsNo gifts
Executive Branch VisitsExecutive Branch Visits
Similar objectives and techniques Similar objectives and techniques apply for meetingsapply for meetings
Less need to emphasize State or Less need to emphasize State or District-specific detailsDistrict-specific details
Ask relates to flexibility agency has in Ask relates to flexibility agency has in issuing regulations within limits of lawissuing regulations within limits of law
Note ethical limits on Member/staff Note ethical limits on Member/staff assistanceassistance
HearingsHearings
Congressional hearings can be on proposed Congressional hearings can be on proposed legislation or to conduct oversight of legislation or to conduct oversight of Executive Branch or the private sectorExecutive Branch or the private sector
Testifying at a hearing is more formal than a Testifying at a hearing is more formal than a visit and is a public event open to the press visit and is a public event open to the press with live webcastswith live webcasts
Witnesses usually testify as a part of a panel Witnesses usually testify as a part of a panel and legislators will often ask questionsand legislators will often ask questions
You are either a majority or minority witnessYou are either a majority or minority witness
Government CommissionsGovernment Commissions
Intended to formalize expert advice of Intended to formalize expert advice of stakeholdersstakeholders
Often include representation of key Often include representation of key stakeholdersstakeholders
Generally bipartisanGenerally bipartisan Researchers often prepare background Researchers often prepare background
or summary papers and testify or summary papers and testify Commission staff will provide guidance Commission staff will provide guidance
on protocol for visits or open meetingson protocol for visits or open meetings
Be StrategicBe Strategic
In every interaction think about how In every interaction think about how you can use it to further your agendayou can use it to further your agenda
All talk is for a purpose; use it wisely to All talk is for a purpose; use it wisely to try to make a differencetry to make a difference
In interacting with Membes and their In interacting with Membes and their staffs you are always “live”. Watch the staffs you are always “live”. Watch the jokes and jokes and ““off the recordoff the record”” comments. comments.
One-Pager Homework One-Pager Homework AssignmentAssignment
Your chance to practice boiling down Your chance to practice boiling down your message to 1 pageyour message to 1 page
Use bullet pointsUse bullet points What is your policy issueWhat is your policy issue How does your research support a How does your research support a
particular policy approachparticular policy approach What is your ask of the policymakerWhat is your ask of the policymaker Be prepared to share it in class next Be prepared to share it in class next
weekweek