top 10 ways to pass parity

Top 10 Ways to Pass ParityThese States Already Have:Colorado MaineNew Hampshire OregonRhode Island VermontMassachusetts CaliforniaNew Jersey IndianaLouisiana ArkansasIowa TexasMaryland VirginiaMissouri IllinoisUtah

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Organize

• Work with partners: ACA,AOPA• Lobbyist • Identify coalitions• Friends & foes• Grassroots

Find Champions• Bicameral except for Nebraska

• Only legislator can officially introduce the bill by becoming the bill's sponsor

• Legislators usually sponsor bills that are important to them and their constituents

• Sponsors will try to gain support for their bills but you have to do leg work too

• Co-sponsors—Dem and Rep ideal

• Strong sponsors to keep language on track

Put Bill in the Hopper

• Template language • Work with lead authors• Get bill number • Bill referred to

committee• Communicate

Map The Path

• Health/Commerce• Committee hearing• Subcommittees• Must pass

both houses• Amendments from

friends and foes

Focus on Committees

• Know the chairs• Find constituents• Death by committee

Face & Name

• Get involved with campaigns– Lit drops– Door knocking

• Visit in their district

• Visit on the Hill

• Write letters/emails

Use Compelling Messages

• Key messages & talking points

• Hard data

• Patient stories

Use the Media as a Tool

• Know the reporters on the health beats

• Work with ACA to pitch people stories

• Letters to the editor• Editorial meeting• Advertisements

Be Sneaky

• Amendment– Moving bill– Something that has

to be funded– Relative– Process

Be Persistent

• Long haul

•Set expectations

•Be consistent

•Build on successes

•Remember friends