How to Get Congress to Give to You $240 Billion

How to Get Congress to Give to You $240 Billion Russell Harrison Senior Legislative Representative Grassroots Activities

Representing IEEE members in the United States to Congress, the media, state and local governments. IEEE-USA Government Affairs Rep. Rush Holt (D-NJ-12)

The Stimulus Bill • $1.6 billion, DOE Office of Science • $400 million, ARPA-E • $2 billion, NSF research • $100 million, NSF scholarships • $220 million, NIST research • $400 million, NASA science $22.5 Billion Direct $240 Billion Indirect

Cap and Trade • Tons of money • Smart Grid Standards • Renewable Energy Incentives • Energy Efficiency No Nuclear

Immigration Reform • Permanent residents are better than temporary workers. • Increase EB Visa program • Expand country caps • Dependent exemption • Graduate student exemption • Reform H-1B program • Congress is just now drafting comprehensive immigration reform

Small Business Administration Strategic Alliance Memorandum • Improve communication between SBA and technology engineers • Give engineers better access to SBA personnel • Give SBA better access to engineers

K-12 Education • Adding engineering to K-12 curriculums • Expose students to technology and engineering concepts • Focus on middle schools

Other issues • Pension reform • Intellectual property reform • Health IT • Open Access • Green Jobs

But How Do We get Congress to Do These Things?

What do Lobbyists Do? • Advocate Positions • Bridge between voters and politicians • Research • Problems & Solutions

Politicians listen to lobbyists because voters don’t talk to them.

This is not bad. It is exactly how the system is supposed to work. _________________ Politicians cast votes based on what will get them re-elected.

Accommodating Self-Interest Democracy’s Secret Strength

A Politician’s World YOU

What do politicians want? • A chance to impress you. • A chance to help you • Anecdotes. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid Senator Chuck Schumer

Taking the Initiative Percent saying the following had “some” or “a lot” of influence over their boss. • Visit from constituent – 99% • Letter from constituent – 96% • Lobbyist – 93% • Form Letter – 65% Congressional Management Foundation

Taking the Initiative Percent saying the following had “some” or “a lot” of influence over their boss. • Visit from constituent – 60% • Letter from constituent – 44% • Lobbyist – 15% • Form Letter – 3% Congressional Management Foundation

Sent by a voter. Read / listened to by a kid. Sorted by issue into a folder. Response sent. Read by a senior staffer when: A decision needs to be made on how to vote, or The folder reaches a specific size. Impact: Bring attention Decide as vote Life of a Grassroots Message

What’s His Point? Personal Contact Matters

How do you get Congress to give you $240 Billion? Ask Ask Again

Stories • Rock River – Cheap entertainment • Seattle – Engaging politicians • California – Students efforts • New York – Education our Leaders • Pittsburgh – Embarrassing the Powerful • IEEE-USA in SLC – Powerful Speakers

IEEE-USA Grassroots • Legislative Action Center: • www.ieeeusa.org/policy/lac • Washington Fly-Ins • Education: Feb. 8 -9 • R&D Funding: April 28 – 29 • Energy: May 17 - 18 • Washington Fellows • Campaign Workshops • Policy Committees

Questions orComments

“In order to manage increased constituent communications, our office has shifted resources away from other priorities.” 50% Source: Congressional Management Foundation

How helpful is it for messages from constituents to include the following? Source: Congressional Management Foundation

Money $4 Billion in 2008. Why? Because they have no choice.

Tools of the Political Trade TV / Radio Ads Mailings Hand-Delivered Lit Phone Calls Personal Canvassing $1,000 per vote $320 per vote $29 per vote $24 per vote $13 per vote

How to Get Congress to Give to You $240 Billion