Don't Get Angry. Get Educated and ENGAGE!

Don't like it? WORK TO CHANGE IT.

Every year, the same 50 lobbyists and organizations meet with the same well-meaning ( but still have to raise money to run for office!) elected officials and provide them with information. And - as a result and no surprise here - the same 50 point of view are what’s represented in funding and policy decisions.

If you care about something? If you really care a lot about something?  You NEED to talk to your elected officials, provide them with information about what’s really happening. And trust me, politicians would much rather spend an hour learning about their constituents lives than an hour with a professional lobbyist.

But how can you make sure you're 'doing it right'? We're planning to offer three dynamic, interactive government affairs trainings this fall! Plan to join us, and e-mail me if you want us to e-mail you the schedule when its announced.

Changes at The Art of Politics

City councilors, state representatives, and US senators all make decisions - just like you - largely based on two things: information and their core beliefs. And  - just like you - their core beliefs run deep, but they’re always looking for new information.

Whether or not you agree with them politically, politicians run for office because they really to want to do good things for their constituents. Having worked for both an elected official AND constituent businesses and organizations - I want you to know something: elected officials aren’t getting the whole story.  Our so-called representative democracy doesn’t ‘represent’.

The problem is, every year, the same 50 lobbyists and organizations meet with elected officials and provide them with information. And - as a result and no surprise here - the same 50 point of view are what’s represented in funding and policy decisions.

If your organization is doing good, valuable work in our community, you NEED to talk to your elected officials, provide them with information about what’s really happening on the ground with their constituents. And trust me, politicians would much rather spend an hour learning about their constituents lives than an hour with a lobbyist.

To address this issue,  I've recently transformed The Art of Politics from a lobbying firm into a Government Affairs Training company. In other words, instead of fishing for people, we're now teaching people how to fish. Our trainings are dynamic, interactive and you'll walk away knowing how to have interactions with elected officials that yield tangible results.

Call us with any questions!

Two Years in the Making - The Massachusetts Legislative Cycle

The Massachusetts state legislature used to have a really ridiculous name.  Prior to 1780, it was known as the Great and General Court of Massachusetts. Thanks to John Adams, however, it is now less ridiculously called: the General Court. 

Like the United States Legislative Branch, the General Court is bicameral: a 160-member House of Representatives and a 40-member Senate.  Even though Massachusetts has an annual budget process, Massachusetts lawmaking runs on a two-year cycle.  Every two years, the legislative slate is wiped clean and old bills are re-filed or go gently into that good night.  

A good policy advocacy plan is designed around the two-year cycle. That doesn't necessarily mean passge in two years! There are thousands of pieces of legislation that - after many legislative cycles - are still building the political capital for passage.  The current General Court, the 186th, will end on June 30, which means that a lot of political jockeying for position will take place over the next 80 days.

I thought you might want to know.

Bodies at Rest and Bodies in Motion

Image via Wikipedia

Bodies at rest tend to stay at rest. Bodies in motion tend to stay in motion. The heavier the body, the harder it is to get it rolling from a dead stop; that is one reason why democrats are so eager finish a Health Care bill. Let's talk about bodies, rest and motion from a political perspective.

Momentum is a concept that applies to government affairs too. A policy or project management plan should plot out the entire legislative strategy, from start to finish. But it should also prepare to seize any momentum that comes, and duck any swiftly moving planets, because hauling a political issue/project to the front burner when it has been simmering on the back burner is time consuming and expensive.

Political momentum is fueled or slowed by some of the following

• Political capital on the table
• Key project leaders' commitment to the issue
• Key advocate's relationships
  

Where is your project in terms of momentum?