Lobbying
101: How to be a Biker Lobbyist
Why Lobby?
To make biker rights a reality, you
must convince legislators that your position makes sense. Visiting a legislator
is an essential tactic for furthering your campaign. Lobby visits can be made
on the local, state, or national level, depending on the particular issue you
are supporting. A lobby visit can be an incredibly rewarding experience, and
all bikers should meet with their elected officials to discuss motorcyclists
rights issues.
Be Prepared
Know the issue. You
can get information about legislation from ABATE of SC's Legislative
Coordinator or from ABATE of SC's Legislative
Action Center.
Prepare Position Papers
Gather your facts and organize them
into a one sided (two, only if absolutely necessary) page fact sheet. This will
be the form that you will hand in to your representatives. Remember to be as
concise as possible.
Make an Appointment
It is always a good
idea to make an appointment to be sure that the appropriate
people will be in the office. Remember, staffers and members
have busy schedules. If you just show up, you will most likely
only get to drop off your materials with a front-desk administrator
who probably will not be able to discuss your issue. You can
easily find your representatives contact info using your zip
code at ABATE of SC's Legislative
Action Center.
Before the Visit
Dress appropriately for your visit
or in other words wear your leather. When you wear leather not only do the legislators
you visit know you were there and why but so do all the other legislators who
see you walking the halls. Bring extra copies of your fact sheets. Check the
status of the bill that you are lobbying, and find out who has co-sponsored
it. If possible, try and form a delegation by bringing friends who are also
from your district. If they are not from your district, you have no obligation
to divulge this fact if you are not asked, but also do NOT lie if asked.
Visit the Bill's Sponsor
If you are lobbying for a particular
piece of legislation, it is a good idea to call or visit the bill's sponsor
before lobbying. They usually will be very eager to assist you in reaching the
right members and will offer input on ways to present the issue.
The Opening of Your Visit
It is important to be as relaxed
as possible during your visit. Expect to be a little nervous. If you have a
delegation with you, choose a primary speaker based on familiarity with the
issue and speaking skills. Introduce yourself to your representatives or their
legislative aides (LAs). Let them know what bill or issue you are interested
in, how you feel about the bill, and how it will affect you. Try to make this
part as clear and concise as possible.
Answer Only Questions That You Know
Answer questions and offer your side
of a stance. If you do not know an answer, tell your representative that you
will get back to them. NEVER make up an answer. If you give out incorrect information,
you will eliminate the credibility of yourself . Offering to get back to them
also offers you a chance to re-familiarize them with your topic.
Don't Get Mean
After discussing the issue, if your
representative or LA does not give you an answer that you want to hear politely
thank them for their time, let them know that you still hold your position,
urge them to reconsider, and politely leave. Do not get argumentative. Remember
LAs and representatives are people, too, and may hold their stance more rigidly
if you are unreasonable with them. No one likes working with someone who refuses
to negotiate.
Be Flexible
If your representative opposes the
bill that you want, see if you can come up with some common ground. Always offer
to follow up on any new developments, and ALWAYS make sure that your fact sheet
has all of your contact information.
Follow Up
After your visit, it is important
that you follow up on any questions that you were unable to answer. Always send
a note thanking your representative or LA for their time. If necessary, set
up another appointment if you need to follow up on a new slant or topic. If
your representative does what you told them to do, then be sure to thank them
and let them know that you appreciate their efforts.
Benefits of the Visit
Your visit will not only help to
persuade your representative, but it will also be an educational experience
for you. During your visit, you will get an inside look at the political climate,
and get insight on how to better promote your issue. Never be afraid to ask
an LA a question about the actual mechanics behind government.
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