Services
Lobbying Services
Active affirmative or defensive lobbying services to effectively communicate the client’s position on legislation of interest or concern:
- Review bills and memos of interest to the client;
- Research issue and laws and regulations affecting the same;
- Determine legislative history of bill and develop understanding of both sides of the issue;
- Ascertain the current political climate surrounding bill and issue and determine a countervailing political strategy;
- Provide consistent personal and written contact with key lawmakers, policy makers and their senior staff responsible for the bill of interest;
- Attend pertinent budgetary hearings, as necessary, and monitor budget negotiations;
- Disseminate memoranda-in-support/opposition, as appropriate;
- Schedule and attend meetings with legislators, policymakers and staff, as necessary;
- Assist in drafting testimony in preparation for legislative public hearings, if any;
- Draft legislation or amendments, make recommendations on legislative sponsors and co-sponsors;
- Attend select legislative receptions, fundraisers, legislative business lunches or dinners on behalf of the client;
- Assist in organizing an annual “Lobby Day on the Hill” for the client and its attendant Legislative Reception;
- Assist in building coalitions with organizations and establishments with similar interests;
- Provide advice on grass roots/grass tops campaigns to Albany and legislative district offices;
- Provide periodic and consistent oral and written communication to the client on legislative, political and issue developments;
- Maintain personal accessibility to the client’s Legislative Chair throughout.
Legislative Monitoring
Review and tracking of legislative bill introductions, public hearing notices, legislative committee agendas and calendars, for the bills of interest to the client:
- Provide copies of bills and introductory memoranda and any related materials;
- Track the legislation through the New York State Watch and Legislative Retrieval System computerized bill tracking system;
- Provide periodic, individualized client bill tracking status reports showing any actions on bills of interest for that period;
- Assist in preparation of memoranda-in-support or opposition to bills of interest;
- Assist in development of appropriate legislative strategies with regard to identified legislation;
- Consult with the client regarding written or oral testimony, if any, position reports or “white papers” to the legislature and governor’s office or appropriate state agencies.
Regulatory Services
Similar services relating to the state’s rulemaking process with salient state agencies can also be provided.
Contract Procurement
Similar services relating to the state’s contract procurement process with appropriate state agencies, public authorities and political subdivisions can also be provided.
Political Action Committee's
Make recommendations on appropriate political contributions to maximize the impact of the client’s PAC fund dollars. Judicious PAC contributions are critical to any legislative political campaign.
Strategic Planning
- Identify affinity groups- to broaden base of support of issue(s)
- Create coalition in support of contracting stakeholders
- Brief stakeholders with message to enlist as advocates for issue(s)
- Develop grass roots/grass tops campaign to create “drumbeat” of support
- Develop & engage public affairs/media component, as necessary
Tactical Implementation
- Select legislative or regulatory “champion(s)” to embrace & carry issue(s)
- Meet with champion(s) and seek counsel as to bill/regulation introduction
- Meet with salient committee chairs/agency heads
- Meet with central legislative leadership/fiscal staff, governor’s office, DOB, salient agency staff
- Meet with minority leadership/staff
- Meet with stakeholders & retained counsel/lobbyists in support of issue(s)
- Produce & disseminate memoranda-in-support based on message
- Utilize targeted PAC contributions
Consider Range of Political Outcomes
- Develop realistic fallback positions- in face of strong opposition
- Fashion & sell compromise solutions- “half a loaf is better than none”
- Think creatively outside the box- react to dynamics of issue(s) situation
