Cardinal Rules for Conservatives to Work Effectively with State Legislators

Posted on August 27th, 2009

[ Adapted from notes taken at a seminar presented by William Wells at a NSPE meeting circa 2000 ]

I understand that conservatives often loath being constantly involved in the minutia of the legislative process. We see things in black and white and expect the legislature to behave accordingly. However, even if all 135 members of legislature viewed each and every issue as perfectly black or perfectly white (no human actually does this), when you mix them you will always get a shade of gray. Liberal activist know this and they do the things necessary to bring that shade of gray closer to their desired end of the spectrum. Conservative grassroot activists are getting their butts kicked not because they do not have the majority opinion, but because they are dismally unprepared for and lack the knowledge of the process by which legislation is created and passed. Hopefully this will help.

When working with legislators or on desired legislation:

• Convey that you understand something about the Arkansas Legislature.
  
• Demonstrate your grasp of the fundamentals of the Legislative decision-making system, especially the need for compromises and trade-offs.
  
• Don’t seek support of your issue as an entitlement.
  
• Don’t convey negative attitudes about politics and politicians.
  
• Perform good intelligence-gathering in advance.
  
• Always use a systematic checklist technique.
  
• Keep the Legislative calendar in mind.
  
• Understand the limitations of the STATE legislature.
  
• Make it easier for those in the Legislature to help you by focusing your problem or issue clearly and making apparent what decision is needed or what action the Legislature should take. Having a model law prepared in advance is usually the best way to convey your wishes for a particular issue.
  
• Ask your legislator if he/she will have your model law drafted into a bill specific to Arkansas law far in advance of the General Session.
  
• Review the bill with your legislator to make sure it accomplishes what you seek, ask for and accept the friendly advice he/she may give concerning the chances of success, discuss sections that may be too ambitious, and share with the legislator the pieces (and to what extent) you are willing compromise to get the bill passed.
  
• Build a coalition that will work to support the bill or package of bills when introduced. Make sure the grassroots coalition leaders understand these cardinal rules and are aware of the fact that compromise may be necessary.
  
• Have a grassroots strategy of calling, emailing, and meeting with the appropriate legislators at the appropriate times in the process.
  
• Concentrate efforts at the appropriate stage in the legislative process by contacting only the members who will be considering the bill next. For example, there is no need to expend the effort to contact 100 members of the House when you only need to contact the twenty in committee.
  
• The committees are the most overlooked, but the are the point where the greatest effort should be expended. Very few bills in the Arkansas Legislature that make it out committee fail on the floors of the chambers.
  
• Get commitments from legislators and publicly announce those commitments via blogs, newsletters, and your email list. Once you have those commitments and are confident a particular legislator will “stick” to that commitment, “call off the dogs” and concentrate your efforts on those members who have not yet made a commitment.
  
• Publish a policy manual in ADVANCE of the session and let it be known that a “scorecard” will be kept to determine support for future elections. Picking and scoring a legislator on issues AFTER the fact is unfair and damages your organization’s credibility with them.
  
• Follow up with promised support based upon issue scoring either by making PAC contributions or mobilizing volunteers during the campaign season.
  
• Remember that timing is vital.
  
• Remember that legislators and staff are mostly generalists.
  
• Keep the “bottom line” in mind.
  
• Use time, yours and theirs, effectively.
  
• Don’t patronize either legislators or staff.
  
• Don’t underestimate the role of legislative staff or agency staff in the Legislature.
  
• Remember your friends and publicly thank them often. Prepare an award to be presented to the legislator that most supports your organizations positions. Issue a press release praising the top legislators on your scorecard.
  
• Finally, remember that the great majority of members and staff are intelligent, hard working, and dedicated to public service. Most believe that they are doing what is best for their constituents and Arkansas.

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