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How to Hug a Porcupine Building Relationships with Lawmakers and Why It’s Important Dear Congressman Bartlett: I voted for you three times, and I think you are wonderful. Please send me $900 at once, so I can buy an icebox and repaint my car. -John J.__________ P.S. The three times I voted for you were in the election of 1946. Agenda I. The World According to John Q. Congressman II. How to Build Relationships with Lawmakers…And WHY It’s Important to Do So III. Q&A Research • Congressional Staff Focus Groups • Congressional Staff Survey • Congressional Office Consulting www.CitizensHandbook.com The World According to John Q. Congressman “Does your representative in Congress care what you think?” (Rasmussen National Survey – 2013) “Please rank the most important aspect of your job.” (Congressional Management Foundation Survey of U.S. House of Representatives Members – 2011) 100% 95% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 16% 10% 0% “Congress cares about what I think.” - Public Opinion “Staying in touch with constituents.” - Member of Congress Opinion 865% Average Percentage Increase in Constituent Mail House Senate All Offices 585% 548% 548% 396% 401% 297% 255% 111% Add text 2002 78% 154% 94% 66% 64% 55% 2003 2004 241% 275% 202% 169% 158% 92% 2005 114% 110% 2007 2008 72% 2006 2009 2010 Monthly Average Per Office: 6,000 Staffing Number of Full Time House Staff 18 Year House Staff Number Frozen 1974 1974 55 cents Email and the Internet Have . . . 100% 87% 80% 57% 60% 41% 35% 40% 17% 20% 3% 0% Made it easier for constituents to become involved in the public policy process. Made Members/Senators more accountable to constituents. Agree Disagree Increased constituents’ understanding of what goes on in Washington. Your Member of Congress’ Brain Wants to make a difference in the world Amount of time thinking about your issue Ego . Desire to please everyone $$$$$$$$ capability Who & What Does Congress Listen To? • Expert Constituents • Passionate Constituents • Angry Constituents • Influential Constituents • Conscience How to Build Relationships with Lawmakers and Why It’s Important to Do So "If your Member/Senator has not already arrived at a firm decision on an issue, how much influence might the following advocacy strategies directed to the Washington office have on his/her decision?" In-Person Visits from Constituents 97% Contact From Constituents' Reps. 96% Individualized Postal Letters 90% Individualized Email Messages 88% Phone Calls 86% Telephone Town Hall Comments 85% Visit From a Lobbyist 82% News Editorial 75% Individualized Faxes 70% Form Postal Letters 54% Form Email Messages 51% Postcards 45% Comments on Social Media Sites 42% Form Faxes 30% 0% 10% 20% A Lot of Positive Influence 30% 40% 50% Some Influence 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% “A lot of influence” 46% In-Person Visit from Constituent 8% Lobbyist Visit 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% “I have told paid lobbyists for years that any lobbyist worth his salt will concentrate on getting my constituents to tell me what they think…not what he thinks. He better spend his time getting them to write me because that’s what I listen to.” - Republican Senator Message Includes… Information about the impact the bill would have on the district 77% Constituent’s reasons for supporting/opposing the bill or issue 74% 48% Personal story related to the bill or issue 0% Helpful 20% Very Helpful 40% 60% 80% 100% The Power of a Personal Story H.R.2784 “No Private Contracts To Be Negotiated When the Patient Is Buck Naked Act of 1997” SEC. 3 CERTAIN SITUATIONS WHERE IT IS NOT APPROPRIATE TO NEGOTIATE A PRIVATE CONTRACT To promote equality in the negotiation of private contracts, the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services shall issue regulations prohibiting the discussion or signing of private contracts at any time— (a) the patient is buck naked and the doctor is fully clothed (and conversely, to protect the rights of doctors, when the patient is fully clothed and the doctor is naked); (b) the patient is wearing one of those short, flimsy little hospital gowns that don't close in the back; (c) during any sigmoidoscopic or proctoscopic examination of the gastrointestinal tract or a digital rectal examination of the prostate; Build a Relationship with Staff Average Age of House Legislative Assistant: 27 Build Relationships with State Staff • Potential Champions • Conduits to Legislative Staff • District Director = Legislator’s Best Friend in Office Survey Question “In your opinion, how important are the following for understanding constituents' views and opinions?” Invite Legislator to Facility “The most effective way to influence a lawmaker is for a constituent to talk to a legislator about how the policy will affect the person or a particular group.” - House Democrat Attend a Town Hall Meeting “The best ideas I get for legislation come from town hall meetings.” - House Democrat Set Up In-State Meetings “Constituent groups should always allow the congressional office to determine the time they will meet with the Member instead of their dictating the best time frame for them.” - House Chief of Staff Letters to the Editor Q&A “We in America do not have government by the majority. We have government by the majority who participate.” - Thomas Jefferson CongressFoundation.org