Impacting Real Change

ImpactingRealChange

Renell WeathersOutreach Director

Michigan League for Public Policyrweathers@mlpp.org

The Michigan League for Public Policy educates and advocates for policies that support economic security so all Michigan citizens can have economic opportunities. We do this through research and analysis and recently celebrated our 100th year of research and advocacy. 

The League was formerly known as the MLHS and changed its name to more accurately reflect our work and end confusion with the similarly named DHS.

What is advocacy?

Advocacy is the tool citizens use In our democracy to bring about improvements.

Advocacy Toolkit

www.mlpp.org

• What do we want and who can give it to us?• Who should deliver the message?• What are your assets and what resources are missing?

Where to Begin

What You Need to Know• Learn the process• Federal bills and the budget

process: http://thomas.loc.gov

• State bills and budgets: www.legislature.mi.gov http://house.michigan.gov/hfa/ http://senate.michigan.gov/sfa/

• Voting record: http://votesmart.org/

• The Clock is Ticking – Session• Always Looking for a Majority• Two-party System – Majority in Power• Bi-Cameral Legislature

The Senate – 38/20The House of Representatives – 110/56

• The Governor

Civics 101

• 2500: Different piece of legislation to be considered EACH YEAR

• 10-20%: Voters who contact elected officials

• 12: Phone calls needed to get attention

• 5-20: Enough to start or stop a discussion

Four Critical Numbers

• Introduced in House or Senate

• Bill referred to committee

• Budget bills automatically referred to appropriations

• Hearings/Public Comment

• Committee - Vote/Passes• 1st Chamber –

Vote/Passes• Referred back to

committee in 2nd Chamber

• 2nd Chamber – Vote/Passes

• Sent to Governor

How a Bill Begins Law

Advocacy Tools

• Write – Call – Visit• Building a relationshipo Legislative recess

• Michigan League

“When you need a friend, it’s too late to make one.”

Mark Twain

Voices Leadership Training Michigan's Children

Cat Frame

Cat

FurAffection

Costliness

Sneezing

Shedding

Kitty LitterCleanliness

Cat Food

Vets

Policy

Value

Barrier

Ask

Vision

Reflect the values of your audience. Make them nod back a you in agreement

Message Box

Your response when your audience says, “Yeah, but…”

(a.k.a. Overcome the barrier)

What one, specific thing do you want them to do?

So what? What the world will look like if your audience does what you want them to do. Reflects their values.

Revenue Crisis

Message BoxValue

Vision Barrier

Ask

We all want to live in a Michigan we can be proud

of, and that means one that invests in our future.

If we don’t make the choice to re-invest in schools, roads, etc. for our future, they

will crumble

By putting people first, we can ensure our state remains a great place to live, work and play for generations to come.

Make budget decisions that keep Michigan’s promise by investing in the things that have made our state great.

Be pr

epare

d

Relationsh

ips

are cr

itical

Work with

partners

Media:

Importance of

Stories

Tips

Testimonials

Letter to the Editor

Personal Letter

Social Media

Visits Legislator

Press Conference

Phone Call

EmailContacts

Advocates

Champions

Champions…• Are highly

committed to your issue

• Have a compelling personal story

• Are willing and eager to get more involved

How to have the most impact

Form emails

Form letters

Phone calls

Individualized emails

Individualized letters

In-person meetings

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

A lot of in-fluence

Some in-fluence

No influence at all

Influence of Advocacy Communications on Legisla-tors

Source: Congressional Management Foundation

• Learn if you need to be a registered lobbyist, and if you do, register to be a lobbyist and become an active participant in impacting policy decisions.

• Registration handled by the Michigan Secretary of State’s office - http://www.michigan.gov/sos/.

Know the Rules

No Nos• Nonprofits classified 501(c)(3) cannot endorse. contribute to, coordinate with, or align in any way with candidates or political parties• Nonprofits may not lobby using government funds.

When in doubt…• As an individual, you are entitled to engage in unlimited lobbying and political activity, provided you do so on your own time without using nonprofit corporate.

You have the power!… Conscience asks the question "Is it right?" And there comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular, but he must do it because Conscience tells him it is right.”

-- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has”

-- Margaret Mead

Thank You!rweathers@mlpp.org

Website: www.mlpp.orgSign up for “Email Alerts”

Become a member

Michigan League for Public Policy1223 Turner Street, Suite G-1

Lansing, Michigan 48906-4369Phone: (517) 487-5436