D. Scott Penman Penman & Winton Consulting

 Create a basic understanding of the legislative funding and policy making process in Missouri  Provide insight into points along the process that can maximize advocacy efforts  Highlight key components of process and strategy to maximize advocacy effort

Senate Members: 34 Democrats:9Republicans:25 Female Democrats:5Female Republicans: 1 Male Democrats:4Male Republicans:24

House Members: 163 Democrats: 45Republicans:118 Female Democrats: 20Female Republicans: 23 Male Democrats: 25Male Republicans: 95

 Republican veto-proof supermajorities in the House and Senate  Just 5 new Senators and 35 new Representatives mean a majority of legislators have legislative experience  Amendment 10

 What are your priorities and issues?  Senate and House websites ◦ ◦ ◦ Committees ◦ Calendars ◦ Bill Reporting System

 Bill is assigned  Bill is heard ◦ Proponents ◦ Opponents ◦ Cost ◦ Alterations  Voted upon  Returned to speaker

 Does the chair of the committee support or oppose the legislation?  Talk to committee members before the hearing ◦ Ask for their votes ◦ Learn why they do/don’t like it (personal and professional)  Testimony: make the case ◦ Is legislation needed? ◦ How does legislation work/what does it do? ◦ Diversity in testimony: what and who ◦ Costs ◦ Be respectful  Determine if it could be combined with other legislation  Preempt opponents

 Key Players ◦ Presiding Officer: Places your bill on the calendar, or not  Senate: President Pro Tem  House: Speaker ◦ Majority Floor Leader: Chooses to take the bill up for debate ◦ Sponsor speaks on bill ◦ Legislative champions speak on bill  Amendments  Length of time

 Vote Count  Short and Sweet  Resolve Differences Prior to Debate  Prepare Your Sponsor and Others ◦ Talking points ◦ Cost estimates ◦ Purpose/goal ◦ Evaluation

or  Conference Committee  Governor’s Desk

 The State Fiscal Year (SFY) begins on July 1st and ends on June 30 th  The process by which funds are appropriated is similar to the process by which laws are made

 Core: 90% of the budget  Cost to Continue: 5-7% of the budget  New Decision Items (NDI): 0-3% of the budget

 Similar to legislative process for policy except:  Budget Bills introduced in the House by the Budget Chair  Budget goes through two tiered committee process in the House  Department recommendations are considered (even if administrator is of a different political affiliation)  Historical and economic trends are considered  More tolerant of federal interaction, federal dollars, restrictions, directions

 A final budget is due on the Governor’s desk one week prior to the end of session  Budget bills have a one year sunset and begin on July 1st  Line item vetoes/withholding of funds  Amendment 10  Cost/benefit analyses  Cost savings projections  Discussion with state department

 Very difficult to get a bill passed  All about the majority party  One member of a party supporting your bill does not mean the rest of the party supports it  Legislative actions are rarely taken because they’re “the right thing to do”  During floor votes, there may be “confusion” on the dais  There is no compassion in politics; “deities,” however, may have some  Never take anything for granted  Coalitions are vital

D. Scott Penman Penman & Winton Consulting Website: Phone:

Advocacy Basics: Crafting Your Message Nonprofit Success: Achieving Impact Through Advocacy Presented by Paul Kincaid January 16, 2015

Communication Communication is key to success o The messages you communicate matter o How you communicate the messages matters o Who communicates the messages matters o The timing of the communications matters 20

Philosophy Develop and have a solid philosophical foundation from which to work – you won’t have time to make it up as you go o Professionalism, honesty and integrity always o Have respect for all o Never say anything you don’t want repeated o Always express appreciation o Accept “Legislators are always the legislators” o Avoid high-highs and low-lows – be steady 21

Philosophy to consider View governmental relations within public relations Treat legislators as “donors” Seek first to understand Respect the profession 22

Public relations function I view governmental relations as a specialty area within public relations Therefore, I approach governmental relations by applying all public relations best practices Others will approach governmental relations with a different mindset 23

“Donor” rather than “public servant” The implications: o Request rather than demand o Persuade rather than insist o Build long-term relationship o Listen more than talk o Find common ground o Have frequent, quality communications o Respond promptly o Provide excellent customer service 24

Seek first to understand…. See the world from the elected officials’ perspective o Why were they elected? o Who elected them? o How can they get elected again? o What are their priorities? Elected officials have difficult jobs, work long hours, and do their best for their constituents 25

Show respect for the profession Show respect for government, service, legislature by learning: o Rules o Practices o Traditions o Terminology Take the work as seriously as the elected officials do Be a quick study and never stop learning 26

Helpful advice “A single lie destroys a whole reputation of integrity.” Baltasar Gracian Spanish Jesuit, writer philosopher in the 1600s 27

More helpful advice “Look out the window, not in the mirror.” Peter Drucker Management consultant, educator and author Eliminate preconceived notions Base your analysis on facts and actual situation Don’t permit “wishful thinking” 28

Keys to consider Be accurate Be positive Be compelling Be repetitive Be visual 29

Lead with what you believe Your organization’s purpose is the most powerful, compelling message you have o Example: We believe no child in Greene County should go to bed hungry. What is your organization’s belief statement? 30

Follow with your mission Transition from belief to your organization’s mission to act on the belief o Example: My organization’s mission is to provide healthy meals to children and their families. Most organizations have and use this kind of mission statement 31

Then make your request Based on the belief and the mission, you can make your request o If statutory bill, request might be: We would like your support to pass HB 123 because it will help us accomplish our goal by X, Y and Z. o If budget bill, request might be: We ask for your support of this line item allocation because it will allow us to meet our goal by funding X, Y and Z. 32

Summary Belief Mission Request 33

Tips for success Be succinct (high ratio of words to ideas) – try to keep written pieces to one page Use bullets, callouts, charts, graphs, photos, other graphics/visuals to make reading easier Provide context and comparisons Make the request clear and precise Don’t be afraid to adapt and revise based on feedback In person, be aware of body language 34

Prepare your advocates Help your advocates succeed When asking members of your team to make contact with legislators, prepare and review bullets with them in advance When assisting legislator who is advocating, ensure they have the background information they need when they need it 35

Create feedback loops Be an attentive listener Be an excellent observer (“look out the window”) Have multiple sources of information to cross-check Seek and get feedback from all who have contact with legislators Make adjustments accordingly 36

Reminders It’s all about relationships Don’t wait until you need something to communicate – have regular contacts throughout the year Say “thank you” and/or express appreciation every time you have contact Ask “What can I/my organization do to help you?” Give credit to the elected officials for success 37

Good resource Missouri State Government website: o House o Senate o Statewide elected officials o Live debate from House and Senate 38

Helpful advice You rarely advance/pass legislation as a result of media coverage/exposure. Respond to media if asked Focus on beliefs/goals, not strategy, tactics, timing Refer media to appropriate elected officials for expert/definitive statements If you do talk to media, always give credit to legislators for successes – but do not blame for failures 39

Thank you Paul Kincaid, APR, Fellow PRSA Kincaid Communications, LLC 40

Q&A/Discussion What have we missed? What was unclear? What would you like to discuss further? What comments do you have? What experiences would you like to share? 41