How does one lobby state government?

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reading an earlier post about getting involved with the changing of laws as the nra has, how does one become involved in the making of laws at the state government level? how does one get a band of citizens together to get laws changed? it must take money....lol

-- js (schlicker54@aol.com), April 04, 2002

Answers

time,, go to your state capital,, find whomever you wnat,, and BUG the crap out of him/her,, the more people the better

-- Stan (sopal@net-pert.com), April 04, 2002.

There are two ways to lobby, money or votes. Many voter based lobbies require small membership contributions to finance their efforts. Money based lobby efforts have funds and often voter backing also.

Go to your local library and research "how to introduce a bill into legislative process " and "political lobbies" and you should find adequate information

-- Jay Blair in N. AL (jayblair678@yahoo.com), April 04, 2002.


Most special interest groups hire professional lobbiest. These are people who already have connections and influence within the government. Unfortuantely, it takes a lot of money to lobby for or against a bill! You aren't going to get results unless you can convince your government officials it is in THIER best interest, as well as the best interest of your country, state, or city. Officials tend to go with the flow...however they will make out the best. It is the job of the lobbiest to convince them "your" way is the the best way. A lobbiest is expensive but worth the money. He/she can get to people you can't. They have private phone numbers, email addresses, etc. that the general public does not have access to; as well as the opportunity to meet face to face. I know a lot of negative has been against paid lobbiest (and some of that negative is well deserved) but there are also a lot of good lobbiest and ones that believe in your cause and work day and night to make it happen.

-- Karen (mountains_mama2@hotmail.com), April 04, 2002.

I have been surprised at how responsive my representatives are on the state level. I have gone down to the capitol a few times and have written letters and called and each has had good response. It helps to be articulate, brief and have comments related to a current proposal in committee- talk to those committee members first. If it is up for a vote, go shake hands and tell them what you hope they vote for/against. Keep it simple and clear, leave a concise letter or other written material, and a business card or such with your contact information.

-- Anne (HealthyTouch101@wildmail.com), April 04, 2002.

First thing is to find out who your state reps. are and talk to them. Talk to them like you would want someone, that you would help, to talk to you. Find out the how and whys about what you are wanting changed and then explain your ideas. This would be the first place to start and would give you a lot of insight on how the system works.

-- Emil in TN (eprisco@usit.net), April 04, 2002.


my father use to lobby all the time (state level)...still does some. i'll be in touch with him tomorrow evening, so then i can ask him for a few pointers and post them. :)

-- C (punk_chicadee@yahoo.com), April 04, 2002.

Wow, it's been a long time since I stopped by this board! Sometimes real life gets way too busy. Glad to see you're all still so active and helpful for each other.

Anyway, lobbying, js asks about. Quick outline. First, get to know your local and state representatives. That means your town councilor or county commissioner as well as legislative reps. It's as simple as a phone call or a visit to a commissioner's meeting. I mention local officials too because they can often introduce you to people higher up the political ladder, depending on your state. Here in Maine, our local representatives and state senators are regular folks, usually listed in the phone book like everyone else. Places like New York, where they actually have paid staffers and that sort of thing, might be more difficult, so a third-party introduction becomes more important.

Explain your cause in a friendly, open, informative manner. Do not be confrontational, even if the official is hostile to the idea. Your goal is to present information, not argument. Lobbyists gain influence by being information sources -- "this bill is good/bad because it will have such-and-such an impact on this state's 15,000 farmers/truck drivers/special-interest group of your choice." Make yourself the expert, the person everyone turns to for straight information.

Find allies. If it's a local cause -- a new highway cutting through the neighborhood, for example -- send out flyers to all the neighbors, contact the local bike club and local chapter of any group that you think might be interested, for a coffeeklatch in your livingroom. Contact state-level advocacy groups, such as Common Cause or the state visiting nurses association or state chamber of commerce (depending on your cause, of course). I recall one anti-development campaign here in Maine that ended up with everyone from the Sierra Club to the League of Women Voters lined up against it. Masterful strategy.

Be persistent. Back in the 1800s, the state owned hundreds of thousands of acres of timberland in northern Maine and sold the timber rights for pennies an acre to the lumber barons and large paper companies. Over the decades, the companies came to think of the land as theirs, and the state ownership became lost to public memory until ONE MAN in the 1960s found the old records. He started a campaign in the legislature to reclaim that land -- legislators used to hate to see him coming because they knew he would buttonhole them about their lack of backbone against the big landowners. One reporter for a daily newspaper took up his cause. The state finally took action, reclaiming thousands of acres of wildlands. Maine still has one of the lowest percentages of public land in the US, about 5 percent, but it would be a lot lower if one man hadn't taken action. Oddly enough, he never was widely recognized for his efforts. The reporter, on the other hand, won numerous awards for his articles. One person can make a difference. Just don't expect a lot of glory.

-- Cash (Cash@andcarry.com), April 06, 2002.


well dad was a paid lobbyist so he was able to actually speak to congres and be in on the committee meetings and such, but he said that for an average citizen they can send letters, make phone calls, and visits, which ar generally effective. and i think those suggestions have already been posted. :) heh heh. ok well have fun, adn good luck!

-- C (punk_chicadee@yahoo.com), April 09, 2002.

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