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Grassroots Lobbying: Rx for Political Success. Presentation to the ACA HOD February 2009. Basic Fact:. Millions of Americans will vote in U.S. Federal Elections…. Basic Fact:.
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Grassroots Lobbying: Rx for Political Success Presentation to the ACA HOD February 2009
Basic Fact: • Millions of Americans will vote in U.S. Federal Elections….
Basic Fact: But, relatively few will: Contribute to a candidate; attend a political event, contribute to a PAC; work in a campaign; write, call or lobby a congressional office or candidate for office, etc…
This means that: • Only a small number of Americans are “grassroots activists”… • VERY IMPORTANT: These individuals have a disproportionate level of influence(relative to their number) on political issues, events, and public policy…
Why…? • Simple Answer: They are involved… They are helping influence the outcome of legislative and policy battles… They are “leveraging” their power and influence… Others are not… Others are AWOL from the process…
Important Conclusion… • Those who aren’t involved in grassroots politics have little room to complain when things “don’t go their way…” • In large measure, those who aren’t involved have only themselves to blame for negative outcomes…
Another Important Conclusion: • There are virtually no barriers to getting involved in the political process at the grassroots level… • The process is typically very open – with multiple and easy entry points… • There is almost always a “vacuum” that needs to be filled… • It is usually easy to “move up the ladder…”
Three Basic Ingredients Needed for Effective Grassroots: • FIRST: Commitment on your part(should be viewed as an “obligation”), to become “well informed” about current and likely future issues of importance… • SECOND: Willingness on your part to take action(often at the direction of your state or national organization)
Three Ingredients Needed: • THIRD: Advance Preparation(know what you are doing) – ensuring you have become familiar enough with the issues and the grassroots/lobbying process, so that your activities are likely to be effective and have a high likelihood of success…
Five Ways to Become and Stay Informed: • ONE: Take time to actually read and understand the information ACA and your state organization sends you regarding political or legislative issues, often contained in specialized news articles or Alert Bulletins
Five Ways to Become and Stay Informed: • TWO: Become a frequent, and skilled user of the ACA’s website. Also check the website of competitors/opponents. • THREE: Express an interest to join ACA’s Legislative Commission and/or “interest section” that deals with government relations issues.
Five Ways to Become and Stay Informed: • FOUR: Get to know your association’s national legislative “team.” Call them and consult with them on issues and priorities when you have questions. • FIVE: Network within your profession and exchange information with your colleagues on a regular basis. Attend local, state and national meetings (such as this one) where legislative issues will be discussed
Staying informed… • If you do the previous five things on a regular basis – you will become and stay well informed – and pretty soon your colleagues will be calling YOU, wanting to know what’s going on…
Don’t Let the Process Intimidate You… • You are highly skilled, well-educated health care professionals with something important to say; • Your elected officials and their staffs put their pants or skirts on the same way you do; • You have a constitutionally protected right to free speech and to petition Congress for redress of your grievances; • You can “learn” fast and quickly become a valuable grassroots resource for your profession.
