John PellerDirector of Government RelationsAIDS Foundation of ChicagoSeptember 2010

Political Strategy: Fun for Everyone

Disclaimer…NAF Southern REACH grants supports

advocacy and not lobbying.Our tips cover planning and strategy

development but actual lobbying costs must be covered by other sources

The key elementsKnow your political environmentKnow the timeframePlan… plan… plan…Develop your messageAdjust plans to changing political windsLather, rinse, repeat

Know your political environmentWho is in power? Who is REALLY in

power?Among lawmakers, who gets along? Who doesn’t get along?What are the various caucuses, and how

do they relate?What are the hot topics, and how can

you glom on?Know the timeframe.Know your allies or make some…

coalitions are key!

Framing controversial topics

EXAMPLE: Non-prescription syringe purchase bill

- Challenge: prejudice against drug users and fear of appearing to avail drug use

- Senate Republican sponsor framed the issue in terms of his diabetic wife needing unfettered access to sterile syringes

- Efforts led by a coalition of doctors, pharmacists, public health professionals, retail merchants (i.e., AIDS orgs and drug users were less prominent)

- Law passed in 2003

The Battle over Values

EXAMPLE: failed effort to repeal principal notification law

Challenge: Principals oppose repeal of law requiring health depts to notify schools of HIV+ students

Parents and public health experts testified on heightened stigma caused by the law, lack of public health evidence supporting it, and concern universal precautions might not be followed, as required

Despite compelling evidence, lawmakers rejected the law’s repeal

The Battle over Values

EXAMPLE: failed effort to repeal principal notification law

What did we learn?

Powerful interests (in this case, principals) can sway the debate no matter the evidence

Next approach must find a way to work with principal and/or generate sufficient pressure from a constituency equally or more powerful that this block

Personality FeudsState Budget Stalled By Political Stalemate A bitter dispute between House Speaker and

Governor over powers to set regulations hampered hundreds of bills including state budget

By Speaker’s directive, House bills carried rider mandating a joint House/Senate panel to approve regulations, a provision vehemently opposed by the Governor

Substantive legislation—even where otherwise there was agreement—languished as a result of this impasse

Lesson: even the best laid plans can be stalled by petty disputes. Senate-drafted bills had a better chance of sidestepping the feud (though not entirely)

KNOW YOUR TIMEFRAME

You’re on their calendar, not yours

Know deadlines for bill introduction, committee consideration, budget issues

If you miss a deadline, it’s likely over till next year (unless you find a creative way to get it amended to something moving)

Appealing to the Lawmakers’ NeedsEXAMPLE: ADAP funding

IL ADAP was $5-$7 million short

Supporting ADAP aligned with one of the Governor’s key goals – appealing to those concerned about AIDS before an upcoming reelection.

Lessons: timing and politics matter

Changing Times Change Political CalculusEXAMPLE: Testing expansion

A Midwestern advocacy organization asked for $2 million to implement CDC routine testing recommendations/new testing law

Budget implementation bill designated $500K for HIV testing expansion

In the wake of the recession, health department subsequently spent the money on other purposes

Advocates did not challenge the health dept. because they realized there was no other option.

LESSON: Environmental changes have an impact; the need for advocacy/monitoring never end

Plan, Plan, PlanKnow lawmakers’ timeline

What elements do you need, and when do you need them?

What will the opposition say?

Then be prepared to change your plans, messaging, strategy to prevailing political needs

Slow Economy – Fast StrategyExample: The impact of the economy

With projections of a slow recovery, AIDS budget advocacy might need to: Focus on economic consequences of failure to curb HIV/AIDSEconomic impact by category, year, population, state, taxpayerDiscuss the impact of HIV disparities on jobs and community revitalization

calculate the amount saved by states as a result of federal AIDS funding

calculate the future deficit costs of not curbing HIV/AIDS

Change at the top can change strategyExample: Nat’l HIV/AIDS StrategyWhat might happen if there's shift in power in the November elections? How might this impact our implementation strategy? Possible directions:Weaker White House may required more focus on CongressMore emphasis on Senate (if it remains in Democratic control)Deliberate appeals to Republicans and their values (such as cost savings)Greater engagement of states, particularly conservative statesAdvocacy to garner congressional support for NHAS (resolution, legislation)Need to cultivate GOP spokespeople

Other strategy elementsStart in the House, Senate or both?

How do you pick a sponsor?

What groups do you engage beforehand, and which don’t you engage?

What buzzwords should be in your bill or not in your bill?

CoalitionsWho can you work with to capitalize on

political dynamics?

Who can reach a legislator that you can’t reach?

How do you get someone to understand that they should join your fight?

How can you engage clergy and FBOs?

Where to learn moreNewspapers

StateHealthFacts.org (state’s government profile)

Your legislature’s website

Advocacy networks

Lobbyists and lawmakers

Political insider newsletters/websites: http://www.doseofchange.org/?page_id=78

Statehealthfacts.org

We’ll see you in New Orleans!In the meantime – send along any questions

to:

Jim Merrelljmerrell@aidschicago.org 312-784-9048doseofchange.org