Tips For Successful Lobbying

Kelly Crouch

Thank you for taking this step towards protecting your hobby of exhibiting and breeding cats. No one can lobby against detrimental animal control legislation better than you with your understanding of the importance of your hobby and how changes in the law can destroy your ability to peacefully pursue your hobby. Now how can you lobby most effectively?

Be Prepared

Be on the look out for detrimental legislation. There are several sources to monitor: local news, public notices for legislative meetings and hearings, government web sites for agenda items in committees that cover animal issues and city council meetings, even the web sites of animal rights and animal welfare organizations.

Learn the legislative process. This will vary from place to place. You have to know the processes for the county, city, state and country in which you live that are applicable to the legislation you are lobbying for or against. The courthouse, library, and government staff are all good sources of information. Know which committees are responsible for animal issues.

Know how to get involved. Each council will have its own set of rules about how you can be heard. Sometimes you may need to get on the agenda in advance; sometimes you may need to just fill out a card with your personal information, in some situations you only need to raise your hand. In addition to speaking up and sending letters, you may want to get involved with a special committee should the opportunity arise.

Learning who the local officials are and what they support will help you launch an effective campaign. Know when they were elected and when (or if) they come up for reelection. Learn their interests and whether they have any pets. Even if there is no legislation pending, introduce yourself and your interests. This will help establish you as a go to person (or group) should questions come up in regards to animal issues. The same holds true for stat and federal legislators and their staff.

Establish your allies. What clubs, groups, shelters, associations share your concern about animal welfare. Of these organizations which ones support your philosophies regarding animal legislation and which ones are likely to support legislation you would oppose.

Know the current law. For municipalities and counties, the law may be scattered across several chapters such as animal cruelty, animal ordinances, zoning and home occupation laws, and elsewhere in the code of ordinances.

When there is an ordinance proposed – read and understand it! Even similar proposals can have widely different effects when enacted. You need to know what you are talking about and have the supporting facts. Credibility is crucial.

Being Persuasive

First understand that legislators are just trying to do the best job they can but they usually will not have your expertise. Gather your facts and educate them. You can rely on “the other side” to educate the legislators to your detriment. If a law has already been proposed, your legislator has already been convinced a problem exists. It may be time to work on convincing the legislator about the best solution even if your approach doesn’t require a law be passed.

Be prepared to help solve the problem. Perhaps help write alternative legislation or volunteer to help with education efforts.

Listen to all speakers during public meetings. When you are speaking, be clear, concise, and diplomatic. Ranting will result in a loss of credibility at best and cause people to block out your message or view it negatively because of the behavior of the speaker. When you disagree, explain why you disagree. Don’t engage in personal attacks against others.

Numbers count. Not every person has to speak so long as it is clear whether they support or oppose legislation.

Effective Tactics

Letters: One issue and one page per letter. State your purpose/position in the first paragraph and restate it with a request of your legislator in the last. Don’t use form letters, they can be ignored or actually hurt your cause. If you do start with a form letter, personalize it, make it your own. Determine whether your legislator prefers letters or emails. Using the wrong form of correspondence can result in your message being ignored. Staff members may be the ones actually reading your letters. Make sure your message is clear and concise so it gets communicated correctly.
Phone Calls: Ask to speak to the legislative assistant who handles the issue you wish to speak on (city or county officials may not have an office staff). Be short, state please oppose or support Bill 123 and then state why in a few sentences. End your call by repeating who you are, where you live or identifying you connection with the jurisdiction, provide a phone number and follow on any information the legislator requests.
Meetings: Schedule an appointment in advance with the legislator or his staff member and expect the meeting to be short. Be on time even if the legislator is consistently late. Don’t waste time, get to the point within 5 minutes, as you won’t get a time reprieve except at the legislator’s discretion. If going as a group, appoint a spokesperson. Leave a one page statement highlighting your issue and position. Follow up with a thank you letter, answers to questions the legislator may have had, and other information you want to supply.
Be diplomatic, not emotional.
Identify whether you are a constituent or what your connection is with the official’s district.
Refer to the legislation by number and title.
State why you support or oppose the legislation.
Don’t concede your opponents points.
End your communication by asking if the legislator will do what you want of them.
Numbers of people supporting your position always count heavily.

Make the most of your lobbying efforts. And never discount the power of a single voice (yours!) or the power of a unified group voice by forming a grass roots lobbying group.