Working with state legislatures: SSTI Conference preview

This week we wrap up our four-part series focused on navigating innovation priorities in a variety of settings.  Following the November elections, many new faces will be a part of your state legislature. Communicating effectively with these lawmakers can help ensure the success of your programs. This week we hear from Leslee Gilbert, vice president, and Tom Quinn, associate vice president, both from Van Scoyoc Associates (jointly responding as VSA below), as well as Angela Andrews, director of the legislative staff service program at the National Conference of State Legislatures on the do’s and don’ts of working with your legislature.

Those attending the Dec. 5 conference session with our featured speakers will begin to develop a list of action items you can implement when you return home.

Q: Why is it important to communicate with your state legislature?

A: Angela Andrews — State legislatures have influence and make decisions about everyday issues that impact your personal and business life — from taxes to economic development to schools and public health (and many other state issues).

VSA — Your legislature cannot support the technology-based economic development programs that are important to you if they do not hear from you and learn first-hand about the successful programs you want them to support. There are many demands on state budgets and many are seeking spending reductions each year. It is important for state officials to know what is working in their states and districts, so they know where to allocate their support and resources.

Q:  What do you think is key for innovation organizations to keep in mind when communicating with their state legislature?

A: VSA — They want to hear from you. Your elected officials are in office to serve you and your community and are often very interested to hear about programs, both state and federal, that are working for you and your industry. Sharing success stories is a great way to get an elected official engaged. Helping them become part of that success will also pique their interest.

If it is a new relationship, do not assume that your representatives in the state legislature know about your organization or the successful programs that you are supporting. Many have term limits, fulltime jobs and their staff change often. There are a lot of issues for elected officials to keep up with, so establishing a relationship, providing them information and sharing your success stories helps position you and your organization as leaders in this area.

Be sure to offer yourself as a resource to your state officials and their staffs. Elected officials at the local, state, and federal levels all meet with many different constituent organizations, so it is important that you stand out as much as you can.   

Angela Andrews — Simply put, think about the 4 P’s:

• Power — what party is in the majority in each chamber and who are the leaders, committee chairs and other key members that have power and influence over the process.
• Politics — what are the current politics and how does that impact the process and inner-workings of the legislature.
• People — legislatures are a people business. It’s all about relationships.
• Process — know how the process works and how the legislature functions.

Q: Is there a best method in communicating with a state legislature?

A: Angela Andrews — The key is to make sure your message is authentic and personal. Why does the bill impact you and your organization? How does the bill impact you personally? How does the bill impact the member’s district (i.e. – employment)?

Also, legislatures are a relationship business, and building and maintaining relationships with legislators is extremely important. Don’t focus on the relationship only when you need something or only when the legislature is in session, focus on it all the time.

Finally, legislators are approachable! Some legislators have personal staff and some don’t. For those with personal staff, get to know the staff (aka – the gatekeepers) and find out what they recommend for communicating with the member.

VSA — There are many ways to communicate with your state representatives. While nothing beats a face-to-face meeting or a legislator touring your facility, in my experience, email is always the quickest and easiest way to maintain contact. It is not hard to find the contact information for your state officials and their staff online. You should make it a habit of sending them press releases and good news related to programs that you would like them to support. Find reasons to invite them and their staff to tour your facility or attend an event for your organization.

Q: What is the biggest mistake you see organizations make when dealing with lawmakers?

A: Angela Andrews — Not taking time to understand, or get to know, a legislator (personal and professional background, committee assignments, vote history). Or, failing to understand the dynamics of a legislature (think of the 4 P’s mentioned above) or failing to understand the legislative process and the workings on the legislature (staff relationships, session length, term limits, floor and committee rules committee and bill processing). 

VSA — You cannot assume that your elected officials know everything that is going on in your state. There are many issues they must cover, and their bandwidth can be limited. That is why it is important to maintain communications. One talk or visit is not always enough, find reasons to stay in touch with not just the politicians but also their staffs who are intimately engaged in the office’s decision-making process.

Before meeting with a lawmaker, take some time to do some research. What have they done in the past on your issue? Have they taken a position or are they new and open to learning? It is easier than ever to research a politician’s legislative record and formulate your discussion based on what you learn. Going into a meeting without knowing more about your subject than the person you are meeting with is a pitfall that many fall into.