APA Legislative

Advocacy Briefing

Preparing Your 2013 State
Legislative Strategy

December 13, 2012




www.planning.org/policy
Source: National Journal, 2012.
2012 Electoral College Results
Obama
Romney
270 votes
needed to
win
332
Obama
206
Romney
Obama
Romney Barack Obama (D)
Mitt Romney
(R)
Unknown
12
7
55
6
6
4
10
5
9
3
3
3
3
3
5
7
6
HI 4
38
8
6
10
6
10
10
20 11
16
18
8
9
NH 4
MA 11
CT 7
RI 4
NJ 14
DE 3
MD 10
DC 3
VT 3
29
16
4
6
15
29
20
9
11
13
5
Agenda 21 Attacks Continue
Legislation, Resolutions Introduced in 2012; Bill
Passes in Alabama
At least 15 State GOP Platforms Include Agenda
21 Language
Heightened Partisan Polarization in States
High Potential for Template Legislation in 2013;
Potential for Critics Targeting Planning Enabling
Statutes, Key Programs
But, There is Push Back and New Tools



The Alabama Language
The State of Alabama and all political subdivisions may not
adopt or implement policy recommendations that deliberately
or inadvertently infringe or restrict private property rights
without due process, as may be required by policy
recommendations originating in, or traceable to "Agenda 21,"
adopted by the United Nations in 1992 at its Conference on
Environment and Development or any other international law
or ancillary plan of action that contravenes the Constitution
of the United States or the Constitution of the State of
Alabama. - AL SB 477
LEGISLATIVE CAMPAIGN
OVERVIEW
Preparing Your 2013 State Legislative Strategy
You may be out gunned, but you
have to bring a gun.

- Maine State Legislator to Public Health Advocates
Realties of the State House
Short Sessions
Few Staff
Powerful Committee & Leadership
Structures
Strong Executive Role
Entrenched Lobbies
Recent Trends
Electoral volatility
Increased partisanship
Economic challenges and focus
Planning and local govt on the
defensive
Your Campaign Plan
Situation Analysis
Specific Goals & Objectives
Targeting
Strategies to Reach Target Audiences
Timeline and Tactics
Structure & Operations
Resource Needs
Measurement, Evaluation & Course Corrections



Early Strategic Decisions
Offense or Defense?
Inside Game or Outside Game (or both)?
Lead or Follow or Facilitate?
Agency? Chapter? Allies?




Keep in Mind
You dont need to convince everyone
Geography matters
Know
what you want
what you can live with
whos with you and whos not

Coordinated Campaign
Legislative
Strategy
Ground Game
Communications
Plan
CAMPAIGN KEYS: INFORMATION,
RELATIONSHIPS & LEVERAGE
Preparing Your 2013 State Legislative Strategy
Information: WHAT?
Target Issue The Ask Reports
Context & Environment Commissions
Committee Champions
History of Last Session Coalitions
Pre-Filed Bills Budget Impact
Governors Agenda Past Votes
Timetable Events
Hearings Related Issues

Information: WHO?
Your Legislator
Local Delegation
Committee Assignments
Targeted Champion
Local Electeds & Influentials
Allies
Issue Leaders
Opponents
Information: WHERE?
Legislative vs. Executive
Which Chamber
Which Committee
Authorization vs. Appropriation
Public Issue
Local Regional Statewide
Information: HOW?
Legislative Process
Access Targets
Influence Targets
Regular Outreach
Coordinate w/ Messaging and Grassroots
Spread the Word

Relationships
Local Representative & Delegation
Issue Champion
Key Committee & Leadership
Administration Officials
Allies
Local Influentials
Constituents
Relationships with Legislators
Constituency is Paramount
Regular Contact
Involve Them in Planning
Specific Requests
Understand the District
Use Local Electeds
& Civic Leaders
Cultivating Influentials &
Linking to Electeds
Find partners who
can reach decision
makers

Involve champions
who can move
public opinion

Finding & Creating Champions
Finding Creating
History Build Relationship
Issue Interest Show District Impact
District Connection Involve Influencers
Key Constituent ID Opportunity
Connection Show Value
Committee Role
Expertise & Past Experience
Relationship Building Activities
Meetings District Data
Briefings Trend Analysis
Site Visits Low Impact Asks
Planning Events
Agency Requests
Visibility Opportunities

Leveraging: Data & Impact
Use Planning Data to Highlight Trends, Show Impacts and
Tell a Story

Relate Information Specifically to the District

Show the Economics

Use Data Tools to Paint a Picture

Document Uncertainty, Unintended Consequence

Find Local Stories to Make it Real
Leveraging: Local Leaders
Evaluate the relationships and connections and
networks of influence

Keep leaders, esp Electeds, briefed and engaged

Involve diverse (but targeted) messengers

Make it about the district, not the government and
not just planning
Leveraging: Allies & Existing Power
Brokers
ID the most influential groups involved in the issue

ID groups or individuals likely to influence a
targeted legislator

Lobby the lobbies, not just the legislators

Look for opportunities to use partners as
messengers


Leveraging: Legislative Process
Sometimes inertia (or dysfunction) can be your
friend

If playing defense consider delaying tactics,
poison pills, bad committee referrals, weak
vehicles, study / review for future
consideration, design an acceptable loss

If playing offense look for large, must pass
opportunities to insert language; report
language; budget bills; referral to executive (if
friendly)
GRASSROOTS
Preparing Your 2013 State Legislative Strategy
Keys to Grassroots
Member Data Build the List
Layer the Political Geography
ID and Engage GrassTops
Inform
Train
Engage
Celebrate
Cultivate On-going Relationships
MESSAGING &
COMMUNICATIONS
Preparing Your 2013 State Legislative Strategy
Messages that Move Legislators
Whats the impact in the district?
Whats happening in the district?
How can economic conditions be improved for
constituents?
How does a policy / program affect key
constituents?
Real world stories highlighting policies
Working with Hostile Legislators
Consider the district and legislators primary interests in crafting a
message

Recruit new messengers

Find legislative champions or supporters who can influence a
hostile target

Use your regions delegation

Look for potential trade-offs

Build working relationship over time and appeal beyond ideology

Not necessary to convince if you can neutralize

Reframing Planning
Use APAs 2012 Polling

Tell Positive Local Stories
Consider State-Level GPinA model

APA Messages and New Messengers
A CAMPAIGN TEMPLATE
Preparing Your 2013 State Legislative Strategy
Basic Questions
Campaign Objective ____________
Key Session ASK _____________
Environmental Scan
History ____________________________
Election Impact _____________________
Budget, Agenda Cues _________________
Timing ____________________________
Basic Questions Cont.
Jurisdiction ___________________
Key Champions _______________
Key Opponents ________________
Role of Administration __________
Initial Strategic Considerations
Offense or Defense _________________
Inside, Outside or Both ______________
Lead, Follow or Facilitate _____________
Basic Questions Cont.
Top Legislative Targets
Power Mapping _____________________
Who, How, Timeline _________________
Outreach Targets
Who, How, Timeline _________________
Key Advocacy Tactics & Timing ___
Budget ______________________
Basic Questions Cont.
Data Needs ___________________
Response Plan
Who tracks ________________________
How to inform and update ____________
Who makes decisions ________________
Whats the bottom line _______________
Grassroots Plan
Communications Plan

How do we engage
key participants?
So, we have a lobbyist
What a lobbyist cant
do for you
Define Success

Engage Members,
Partners

Get Data & Stories
Getting the most from
your lobbyist
Issue Focus

Have Goals and a Plan

Add Supportive
Grassroots, Outreach &
Communications
Campaign Elements
Stay Connected
New Online Forum for Legislative
Liaisons
APA Policy Blog:
http://blogs.planning.org/policy
Online Action Center
http://capwiz.com/amplan
Twitter
@APA_Planning @jasonljordan
Questions & More Information
Jason Jordan
jjordan@planning.org
@jasonljordan