Transcript State & Federal Advocacy 101 - MESH-MN

State & Federal Advocacy 101
St. Stephen’s Community Engagement Program
Cathy Heying
Who are our Legislators?
 Lawyers
 Teachers
 Nurses
 Nonprofit Manager
Rep. Rena Moran (DFL)
 Business Owners
 Social Workers
Rep. Jim Abeler (R) Sen. Michelle Benson (R)
 Psychologists
 Chiropractor
 Community
Organizers
 Chief of Police
 Insurance Agents
 Economists
 Consultants
 Farmers
 CEOs
Sen. Jeff Hayden (DFL)
 Real Estate Agents
Rep. Mary Liz
Sen. Scott Dibble (DFL)
Holberg (R)
2014 is a Bonding Year:
88th Minnesota Legislature
Governor Dayton & Legislature
In 2014, the job of Gov and Legislature is to review
make capital investments (bonding), with limited
policy consideration
Capital Investments (bonding)
Policy
• Homes for All: invest $100
million in bonds for affordable
housing. These bonds would
provide for approximately 5,000
units to be rehabilitated or
constructed, serving low-income
Minnesotans throughout the state.
▫ Build and rehabilitate
supportive housing
▫ Preserve and rehabilitate
affordable housing
▫ Stabilize communities impacted
by foreclosure crisis
• MFIP Education Bill:
remove training and education
barriers for parents enrolled in
MFIP: access Adult Basic
Education/earn a GED as a
work activity, enrollment in
post-secondary programs, 12week job search timeframe
instead of 6, remove barriers
for ESL classes
• Prosperity for All: raise the
state minimum wage to $9.50.
A bonding year is when the government makes decisions about
infrastructure needs and borrows money to meet those needs.
TAKE ACTION! Who represents you?
Federal (D.C.)
• Senator Amy Klobuchar
• Senator Al Franken
• Representative Keith Ellison
(Minneapolis)
• Representative Betty
McCollum (St. Paul)
State (St. Paul)
• Governor Dayton
• 1 State Senator
• 1 State Representative
http://www.leg.state.mn.us/
FEDERAL LEVEL
Federal Level Advocacy is a bit
more challenging. Because
Government is so big at that level,
things move much slower and it can
be harder to see the results of our
efforts.
Always call or write a personal
letter rather than email at this level.
Stay connected with national
advocacy groups to help you wade
through the bureaucracy!
Contact Your Representatives
• Call during the day
• Call at night
• Write a letter
• Write an email
• Set up a meeting at the capitol
• Set up a meeting in your neighborhood
• Friend them on Facebook
• “Like” their Fan Page
• Follow their Twitter account
Other Ways to Stay Active
• Follow the MN Coalition for the
Homeless on Facebook for
Action Alerts!
• Join advocates from around the
state on a conference call at 3pm
every Thursday by calling 1866-414-2828. Code: 229-868#
• Connect your friends and
families with their legislators in
greater MN and surrounding
suburbs