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

ObamaRomney

270 votes needed to win

332Obama

206Romney

ObamaRomneyBarack Obama (D)Mitt Romney (R)Unknown

12

7

556

6

4

10 5

9

3

3

3

3

3

5

7

6

HI 4

38 8

6

10

6

1010

20 11

16

18

8

9

NH 4MA 11

CT 7RI 4

NJ 14

DE 3MD 10

DC 3

VT 3

29

16

4

6

15

29

20

911

135

ID

AZ

UT

MT

WY

NM

CO

AL

FL

SC

TN

KY

INOH

NC

SD

KS

NE

MN

WI

IA

IL

MO

AR

MS

OK

ND

OR

CA NV

WA

AK

PA

ME

VA

NY

CT

WV

MDNJ

VT

NHMA

DE

RI

LEGEND

GOP 2012

DEM 2012

GOP

DEM

Party Control of State LegislaturesGOP:26 DEM: 19 SPLIT: 4

HI

LA

MI

GA

TX

ID

AZ

UT

MT

WY

NM

CO

AL

FL

SC

TN

KY

INOH

NC

SD

KS

NE

MN

WI

IA

IL

MO

AR

MS

OK

ND

OR

CA NV

WA

AK

PA

ME

VA

NY

CT

WV

MDNJ

VT

NHMA

DE

RI

LEGEND

GOP

DEM

SPLIT

Party Control of State GovernmentGOP:24 DEM: 14 SPLIT: 12

HI

LA

MI

GA

TX

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

ID

AZ

UT

MT

WY

NM

CO

AL

FL

SC

TN

KY

INOH

NC

SD

KS

NE

MN

WI

IA

IL

MO

AR

MS

OK

ND

OR

CA NV

WA

AK

PA

ME

VA

NY

CT

WV

MDNJ

VT

NHMA

DE

RI

LEGEND

Adopted Statute

Platform;Resolution & GOPControlPlatform;Resolution & SplitControlPlatform;Resolution & DEMControl

Agenda 21 State Legislative Attacks2013 Preliminary Risk Map

HI

LA

MI

GA

TX

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 HouseShort SessionsFew StaffPowerful Committee & Leadership StructuresStrong Executive RoleEntrenched Lobbies

Recent Trends

Electoral volatilityIncreased partisanshipEconomic challenges and focusPlanning and local gov’t 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 don’t need to convince everyoneGeography mattersKnow …

what you want what you can live withwho’s with you and who’s not

Coordinated Campaign

CAMPAIGN KEYS: INFORMATION, RELATIONSHIPS & LEVERAGE

Preparing Your 2013 State Legislative Strategy

Information: WHAT?Target Issue … The Ask ReportsContext & Environment CommissionsCommittee ChampionsHistory of Last Session Coalitions Pre-Filed Bills Budget ImpactGovernor’s Agenda Past VotesTimetable EventsHearings Related Issues

Information: WHO?Your LegislatorLocal DelegationCommittee AssignmentsTargeted ChampionLocal Electeds & InfluentialsAlliesIssue LeadersOpponents

Information: WHERE?

Legislative vs. ExecutiveWhich ChamberWhich CommitteeAuthorization vs. AppropriationPublic IssueLocal … Regional … Statewide

Information: HOW?Legislative ProcessAccess TargetsInfluence TargetsRegular OutreachCoordinate w/ Messaging and GrassrootsSpread the Word

RelationshipsLocal Representative & DelegationIssue ChampionKey Committee & LeadershipAdministration OfficialsAlliesLocal InfluentialsConstituents

Relationships with LegislatorsConstituency is ParamountRegular ContactInvolve Them in PlanningSpecific RequestsUnderstand the DistrictUse 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 ChampionsFinding CreatingHistory Build RelationshipIssue Interest Show District ImpactDistrict Connection Involve ‘Influencers’Key Constituent ID Opportunity Connection Show ValueCommittee RoleExpertise & Past Experience

Relationship Building Activities

Meetings District DataBriefings Trend AnalysisSite Visits ‘Low Impact’ AsksPlanning EventsAgency RequestsVisibility Opportunities

Leveraging: Data & ImpactUse 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 LeadersEvaluate 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 BrokersID 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 ProcessSometimes 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)

GRASSROOTSPreparing Your 2013 State Legislative Strategy

Keys to GrassrootsMember Data … Build the ListLayer the Political GeographyID and Engage “GrassTops”InformTrainEngageCelebrateCultivate On-going Relationships

MESSAGING & COMMUNICATIONS

Preparing Your 2013 State Legislative Strategy

Messages that Move Legislators

What’s the impact in the district?What’s 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’ LegislatorsConsider the district and legislator’s primary interests in crafting a message

Recruit new messengers

Find legislative champions or supporters who can influence a hostile target

Use your region’s 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 APA’s 2012 Polling

Tell Positive Local StoriesConsider State-Level GPinA model

APA Messages and New Messengers

A CAMPAIGN TEMPLATEPreparing Your 2013 State Legislative Strategy

Basic Questions

Campaign Objective ____________Key Session “ASK” _____________Environmental Scan

History ____________________________Election Impact _____________________Budget, Agenda Cues _________________Timing ____________________________

Basic Questions Con’t.Jurisdiction ___________________Key Champions _______________Key Opponents ________________Role of Administration __________Initial Strategic Considerations

Offense or Defense _________________Inside, Outside or Both ______________Lead, Follow or Facilitate _____________

Basic Questions Con’t.

Top Legislative TargetsPower Mapping _____________________Who, How, Timeline _________________

Outreach TargetsWho, How, Timeline _________________

Key Advocacy Tactics & Timing ___Budget ______________________

Basic Questions Con’t.Data Needs ___________________Response Plan

Who tracks ________________________How to inform and update ____________Who makes decisions ________________What’s the bottom line _______________

Grassroots PlanCommunications Plan

How do we engage key participants?

So, we have a lobbyist …

What a lobbyist can’t 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 LiaisonsAPA Policy Blog:http://blogs.planning.org/policyOnline Action Center

http://capwiz.com/amplan Twitter

@APA_Planning @jasonljordan

Questions & More Information

Jason Jordanjjordan@planning.org @jasonljordan