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Lobby & Issue Training
NATIONAL PEOPLE’S ACTION
CONFERENCE 2013
Introduction NPA’s People Power NPA Conference 2013 Why talk to our representatives
Keys to a Good Meeting Before the meeting During the meeting After the meeting Questions
National Issues Immigration Reform Fair Share Housing & Banking
AGENDA
Direct Action and target meetings
Working on elections, GOTV
Using the media
Holding elected offi cials accountable and educating them
NPA’S PEOPLE POWER
Introduction Keys to a Good Meeting National Issues
Saturday, April 20 th & Sunday, April 21st
Meetings, workshops, and trainings with NPA affiliates
Taking action!
Monday, April 22nd: Actions & Lobby Day
Meetings with our legislators and their staff
In DC and at home!
NPA NATIONAL CONFERENCE APRIL 20-22
Introduction Keys to a Good Meeting National Issues
Congresspeople and Senators have 3 main responsibilities
Introduce, vote on and pass laws
Call hearings, demand information and request studies
Use their position to advocate – the “bully pulpit”
WHAT IS IT THESE PEOPLE DO, ANYWAY?
Introduction Keys to a Good Meeting National Issues
It’s a face of our people power
It’s our constitutional right – one the corporations haven’t taken away yet!
“Congress shall make no law…abridging…the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the
government for a redress of grievances”- First Amendment of the Constitution
WHY TALK TO OUR REPRESENTATIVES?
Introduction Keys to a Good Meeting National Issues
You are their boss: you hired them, you need to give them direction.
They spend most of their time in DC and are not connected to what’s really going on.
They have to power to change the way this country operates. Corporations get that and have been using it to their advantage. We need to as well.
WHY TALK TO OUR REPRESENTATIVES?
Introduction Keys to a Good Meeting National Issues
CONGRESS IS LISTENING…
Introduction Keys to a Good Meeting National Issues
The Good Ones Understand that they’re removed from real people and the
impact of their decisions at home and want to hear from you
The Bad Ones Want to know what risks there are taking for doing the
wrong thing
Both Kinds Want to keep their jobs. YOU HAVE POWER IN THE ROOM.
WHY DO THEY LISTEN?
Introduction Keys to a Good Meeting National Issues
Make an appointment!
Get on the calendar for a specific block of time with the right people.
Making the appointment also gives you the opportunity to tell them the topics you want to discuss so the staff and member are prepared
If you don’t have an appointment…
BEFORE THE MEETING: PREPARE
Introduction Keys to a Good Meeting National Issues
Whenever you can, meet with the Congressperson or Senator themselves, but don’t say no to a meeting with staff.
Most elected offi cials rely on staff to give them info and opinions. Talking to staff can make the diff erence and can be a good “foot in the door” to the elected offi cial
BEFORE THE MEETING: PREPARE
Introduction Keys to a Good Meeting National Issues
Be Prepared Have an agenda and share topics with offi ce ahead of time if at
all possible Do your research. Know their votes, their issues, their staff. Go
to http://capwiz.com/fconl/directory/congdir.tt for great intel on members, staff and some issue highlights.
BEFORE THE MEETING: PREPARE
Introduction Keys to a Good Meeting National Issues
BEFORE THE MEETING: PREPARE
Introduction Keys to a Good Meeting National Issues
Assign meeting roles and do at least one run-through/practice of the meeting beforehand
Chair
Lead on each issue/personal story
Note taker & wrap-up
BEFORE THE MEETING: PREPARE
Introduction Keys to a Good Meeting National Issues
Introduce yourselves and credential your organization briefl y by tell ing them… How many members you have, how many in their district What issues your group is working on Part of a national network, National People’s Action Mentioning any voter work your organization does (being cautious about
C3 vs. C4 status…)
Try and fi nd an issue, bil l sponsorship or vote you can thank your representative for: “Thank you for co-sponsoring a bil l to stop immigrant detentions”
Keep agenda to 2 or 3 issues you can dive into and have good discussion, get real responses on
Be specifi c – not “do you support tax fairness” but “Will you co-sponsor the Ellison “Inclusive Prosperity Act” to tax Wall Street?”
DURING THE MEETING
Introduction Keys to a Good Meeting National Issues
Have written materials to support your points and written materials (like the NPA Issue Sheet) to leave behind on important issues you may not have time to discuss
If they ask a question you don’t have an immediate answer to – don’t try and bluff ! – let them know you’ll get back to them
If in DC – ask for a meeting, public event back home on an important issue where you agree.
Thank the member and/or staff for their time, go over major decision points
Take a picture, but only at the end!
DURING THE MEETING
Introduction Keys to a Good Meeting National Issues
DURING THE MEETING
Introduction Keys to a Good Meeting National Issues
Typical things staff/electeds do during meetings
The other party is so awful and won’t let us do what we want to do!
How to respond
Yes, but there is a lot you can do (back to agenda and asks)
The work you are doing is so important and my goodness you’re good looking!
You should go and work on this pet issue of mine!
Let’s argue about this specific number for the next 20 minutes
The work we’re doing needs your help – here’s what you can do (back to agenda and asks)
Thank you, that sounds important. Today we want to talk about (back to agenda and asks)
We can quibble about details, but the issue remains and we need you to act (back to agenda and asks)
Follow-up is crucial! You want this to be an ongoing relationship – even with an enemy, keep ‘em close
Send a follow-up note within the week and get any materials you promised to them ASAP as well.
Follow-up on setting next meeting/event in district
Call monthly to update them on your activity, give more direction on issues
Regularly send them press, op/eds, etc. your organization generates
AFTER THE MEETING:FOLLOW-UP & KEEP IN TOUCH
Introduction Keys to a Good Meeting National Issues
QUESTIONS?
Introduction Keys to a Good Meeting National Issues
State of Play Waiting for a bill from the Senate, worried it will not be the
solution we need
What we Need: Inclusive and humane immigration legislation with a path to
citizenship for all 11 million.
Legislation that counters cruel immigration enforcement.
Provides immigrant workers exercising labor and civil rights with protections against retaliation and exploitation.
Future immigration proposals must put families and family unification at the center while employment-based provisions must guarantee strong labor standards for all
NATIONAL ISSUES:IMMIGRATION REFORM
Introduction Keys to a Good Meeting National Issues
We need to make sure Corporations and the 1% are paying their fair share towards an economy that works for everyone
State of Play
$85 billion in automatic cuts kicking in – Sequester How do we decide, “who pays? and for what this year?” -
>2013-2014 Budget What about a “Grand Bargain?” Would that be grand? Hint:
No. Corporations Have a Plan – it’s a bad one. Our electeds
must side with us, not them
NATIONAL ISSUES: FAIR SHARE
Introduction Keys to a Good Meeting National Issues
What we don’t need, more cuts for our communities More tax breaks for corporations, more tax cuts for us
The Sequester and the Ryan Budget “Comprehensive Revenue Neutral Corporate Tax Reform” Fix the Debt’s agenda, including territorial taxation
What we need – Wall St. & Corporations to Pay their Fair Share Robin Hood or Financial Speculation Tax
Representative Ellison’s Inclusive Prosperity Act Closing Loopholes for corporations and the wealthy
Senate Budget Levin Bill
NATIONAL ISSUES: FAIR SHARE
Introduction Keys to a Good Meeting National Issues
Fire DeMarco! Support Nominee! We need principal reduction and policies that help homeowners
and the economy
Break up the big banks!
Cap 36% Common sense usury law, Durbin Bill
NATIONAL ISSUES: HOUSING & BANKING
Introduction Keys to a Good Meeting National Issues
Liz Ryan Murray, Policy Director [email protected]
Veronica Castro, Immigrant and Worker Justice Campaign Director [email protected]
Amanda Deveck-Rinear, Revenue Campaign Director [email protected]
Jordan Estavao, Holding Banks Accountable Campaign Director [email protected]
QUESTIONS & CONTACT
Introduction Keys to a Good Meeting National Issues
