Getting Ready for the Legislative Session: Advocacy Tips from the Pros
The December Tenant Advocacy Group meeting featured Jonathan Blake and Jason Wetzel, St. Luke’s members who both work as lobbyists in the statehouse. We wanted to hear best practices from their point of view as the legislative session approaches. Their good advice applies to any issue one might be concerned about. Here are 6 key points from their presentation.
- Educate yourself about the topic that concerns you. Gather facts and stories that show what the issue is and how it affects Hoosiers. Dig deep into finding a fiscal impact report or study that relates to your topic.
- Build relationships with elected officials. Schedule a time to meet with them either during the session or in the "off season." Know they may not have a lot of time to talk to you during the session, so meeting during the summer and fall may yield you more time for discussion. You can meet with legislators who aren't in your district. While large numbers of people might be impressive, a better conversation might happen with just a few people--or just you!
- Keep your message short, concise, and consistent. Practice your "elevator" speech before a meeting so you know your points by heart.
- Ask the legislator for their advice. You may want to hear their ideas first so using the phrase "What do you think about...", "How can our state change ...", or "What kind of policy would help address this problem?" Then insert your thoughts into the conversation.
- Understand that this is a process, and it will take time for change to happen. You might need to communicate with the same legislator multiple times or speak with many different legislators to get the ball rolling. Be in for the long haul and know it could take a few years to see action. Use this time to expand your knowledge and your circle of groups who are also concerned with the issue.
- Always be respectful. No one likes to be yelled at or have fingers pointed at them with people saying "you should do this!" Get back to having conversations, understanding that there may be different points of view. Conversations are the gateway to finding compromises.