Please comment here to describe what your lobby team would look like and what its 2009 priorities would be as part of the following industries/organizations:
You’re currently reading “Class 9 – Lobby Team Insights,” an entry on Corporate Government Affairs
10.25.08 / 11pm
Our group, Wind Energy, came up with the following characteristics to describe our ideal lobbying team in both Texas and Washington, DC:
1) The team needs to be well versed in the legislative processes of both Austin and DC, to include the budget process as well as committee process
2) The team needs to be knowledgeable on energy policy beyond just wind energy…and should be able to succinctly and accurately provide important information to members and staff
3) The team will be made up of bi-partisan members who are also knowledgeable of campaign tactics, i.e. marketing, polling, and use of the media
4) The team should consist of lobbyists familiar with coalition building so that we could be part of an overarching energy alliance, yet still focus on our company’s individual needs
5) The team would include an environmentalist
6) The team would include lobbyists who are willing to learn about members and their districts so that they can build relationships outside of the office as well
Our 2009 priorities would be:
1)To maintain our position among the energy alliance, support what they are seeking legislatively, but will not allow them to dictate our agenda. We will distinguish ourselves from other energy companies by marketing our “green” side and focus on the fact that we are homegrown energy, lessening the reliance on foreign companies
2) We will focus on passing legislation to require that all energy companies set aside a percentage of their energy to come from wind energy. This would ensure that our company maintains a strong position in the energy alliance as well as help us to grow our own profits through mandated collaboration
3)We will try to get legislation passed that would make all government buildings use wind energy to power their facilities, thus setting a precedent for other businesses to follow
4)Given the potential Democratic take over in both Texas and DC, we would set a larger agenda, thus ensuring that we will at least come up with some amount of victory.
5) We would use the current media attention focusing on high gas prices, dependence on foreign fuel, etc…to market our company. Currently, both political parties are talking about alternative fuels and energy – we could continue the momentum through campaign style commercials to keep the pressure on lawmakers throughout session to pass bills favorable to our company
10.29.08 / 9pm
City of San Francisco
2009 Legislative Priorities:
State –
1) Environmental Policies related to Bay Area shores/ and wildlife
2) Playing defense on unfunded mandates passed from the state level to municipalities. In particular state highway/transportation funding.
3) Tourism – with the Bay Area renowned for sites like Alcatraz and the Golden Gate Bridge, it is important to remain supportive of this industry
Federal –
1) Protecting our ports – Homeland Security, Business Development/Incentives, International Trade
2) Real Estate/Mortgage Crisis – Taking a proactive approach to issue which could have great impact, monetarily, on many social services the city provides (i.e. utility assistance, rental assistance, etc). When people have to choose between paying their mortgage or their utility bills, they may end of paying the former and looking for assistance from the city to help subsidize their other bills.
3) Economic Development – International trading/NAFTA due to port industry.
4) Air/Water Quality Initiatives – This has a great impact on tourism and quality of life issues for residents.
Lobby Team Qualifications:
1. Multilingual for Campaign Purposes. San Francisco has a diverse population, with a sizable Asian population. Any media reports/advertisements should reach this segment of the population.
2. A member should have a background in foreign business/international relation policy matters. This will be useful in our lobby for international trading missions.
3. A member should be well versed in environmental policy including Clean Air and Water. The bay is a large attraction and is important not just to the well-being of citizens but a major tourist attraction
4. Transportation Policy is important. Roads and Bridges help link San Francisco to other communities like Oakland. Maintaining this infrastructure means it is vital to secure as many dollars via Appropriations.
5. A member should have military/homeland security experience to help monitor legislation that will keep our ports safe and secure.
10.30.08 / 10am
Desirable Skills/Attributes for Our Lobby Team in the Cable Industry:
1. A team which is politically balanced
2. Team members with skills in the following areas:
A. Law
B. Political Campaigns
C. Specialized Knowledge/Experience in the Cable Industry
D. Key Relationships in Texas/D.C. Politics
E. Marketing Knowledge/Experience
F. Grassroots Leadership
G. Experience as a Former Regulator or Policy Maker
The areas our lobby effort would focus on include:
1. The market share and market areas which are allocated amongst providers, as well as how this allocation takes place
2. FCC regulations and broadcasting issues
3. Technological issues, such as those arising from the increased usage of the internet to provide content once only provided by cable television, as well as those issues concerning the scope of what cable and telecommunications companies can offer (television, internet, phone, etc)
4. Censorship and Privacy issues, such as policies pertaining to what/when/who can be tracked online and how this information can be used
5. Infrastructure improvements and changes, such as upgrading existing coaxial cable to fiber-optic, and obtaining the proper permits and such to conduct these types of operations
6. The digital television conversion of 2009 and the obligations of government and the obligations of the cable industry pertaining to the switch
7. Regulation/Deregulation which could help or hurt our ability to compete in the marketplace with satellite based content providers
10.30.08 / 11am
Our group was to look at how to assemble a team at both the state and federal level to bring cable indurstry into the market.
(1) The team felt that that our first focus as we developed a team was to have an attorney at the helm that had expertise in the market we were addressing. In addition. we felt we needed both federal and state attorney’s as members of the team to handle both levels of regulatory function i.e. a regulatory leader.
(2) An addition team member we fest strongly about was a political campaign person who was a leader in the area who would be able to give personal insight into the elected officials that area. An individual that had industry experience.
(3) The team also would want to have a person who could be viewed as a relationship leader between Washington, D.C. and the local area.
(4) Our team should also have a marketing/pr type person who could assist in seeing that the message that went out was a good and positive one for the cable industry.
(5) We also would want a grass roots leader. This would be important to the team we were constructing because we would need to know how people at the local city, and state level felt about our industry. Would be be going into farm lands and private ranches and wanting assess to their property to put out equipment, if need be, in their space.
(6) An example we spoke of in class was the conversion that is currently going on between analogue to digital. And the fact that the public has not become angry in being told that they need to “convert” by Feb. 2009, How do we push that message without making the public see it as having to “buy” equipment to satisfy the cable industry.The campaign has gone well to date with the various congressmen offering coupons at their locations that their citizen’s can pick up and receive a discount.
Therefore, we viewed this as a positive message by the industry working with their corporate affairs committees.
(7) We would want a member on the team that was aware in addition to regulatory issues also a corporate tax expert to be able to define how much each individual home would be assessed and again to provide a message to the public.
The total picture you would want to present for a cable industry corporate affairs team is that we want to make all of these issues fit into a government affairs office. That we want to fit with the community, the city, the state, the federal government We want to have speakers for the public to be able to ask questions off.
The total package the team wants to present is that we are taking about changes in your community perhaps but we want to offer you a good infra-structure so that you can get answers to your questions. We want the team to be available to the people that will be inpacked when the leg is voted on and passes. That the public will feel positve about the move and not negative.
Our team felt strongly that we could accomplish this goad with very specific people who would have been selected to make up our team by being the “best of the best” for moving forward in the cable industry. And we can and would achieve that with each area targeted with the professional in that area.
10.30.08 / 1pm
Team Cable Company–
Our team would be composed of and expediate policies in Texas and Washington, D.C. in various areas such as:
1.) Market Share/Market Area: Concerning FCC regulations and broadcasting issues.
2.) Meeting the challenges of changing technologies that could benefit both client and consumers.
3.) Address issues concerning the legality of privacy and censorship issues and tracking behavior.
4.) Address percentage of subsidizes for cable infrastructure.
5.) Address limits in budgets on the local, state and federal levels.
6.) Have a inside and outside lobbying team.
7.) Address tax implications/issues for clients.
8.) Senior thought-analysis (campaign) vs. grassroots.
10.30.08 / 4pm
Tobacco Lobby Team-
Our group believed that a tobacco lobby team would have the following qualfications:
1. A Tax/financial expert
2. A Healthcare expert that could challenge/debunk the claims that tobacco causes health conditions.
3. A factory worker who could possibly provide a face to the campaign.
4. Someone who has major influence from a supporting Tobacco states.
5. Someone who has networked and has association with a large tobacco firm, possibly a company such as Phillip Morris
6. Someone that can provide substantial PR/Media/ Marketing
7. Someone that is educated in the farming/agriculture business area relating to tobacco.
8. A demographer to help create a diverse team. Also to look at what fits certain demographic areas to know where tobacco is wanted, used, and not wanted in the United States.
9. A campaign manager
2009 Priorities
1.Taxes- Minimize the tax on tobacco in states.
2.Health care policy- Insurance claims and lawsuits-Put a cap on the amount of money that someone can sue for in order to prevent large class action lawsuits.
3.Education- Focusing more on schools and youth in communities.
4.A focus on internal regulations vs. government regulations-the Hollywood model. When faced with regulation from the government an entity will regulate itself to prevent government regulation.
11.19.08 / 10pm
Insights on hiring lobbyists for various companies (posted by Meghan, Thomas and Paul):
Municipality:
Firm Hired: Patton Boggs
The City of San Antonio has selected the law firm Patton Boggs, LLP, to serve as its state and federal lobbyist team. Based on our state and federal legislative program, Patton Boggs has demonstrated their acumen in gaining favorable results for their clients, both corporate and municipal. The team, based out of Dallas, has a knowledgeable staff with public policy experience in the agenda we have set forth. A number of their partners have represented leading municipal governments in developing and implementing federal funding strategies and addressing policy issues.
Patton Boggs has a diverse staff, a major importance to a multi-racial and multi-lingual city such as San Antonio. Diversity can produce an inspired environment leading to creative thinking, better solutions, and increased understanding to get the job done. Their staff, with extensive experience, can reduce uncertainty. With many partners/staffers either serving in Congress or as assistants to key legislators in the past, they understand how to negotiate the appropriations process at every level. Their direct and continuous involvement with decision makers enables them to anticipate developments that may impact the City and will allow the Council to alter their strategy at a moment’s notice.
Several partners, new and old, have a strong history of fundraising for a number of candidates throughout the state and nation. This aspect only strengthens their relationship credibility.
Patton Boggs is innovative and creative with the way they distribute and shape information. Their website provides corporate agencies and law makers an opportunity to view online podcasts on numerous legal and political topics. They also produce research on policy that can bring a wealth of information to both lawmakers and their constituents.
Their track record of success locally can be verified by Bexar County, which hired the firm in 2007 to land key appropriations associated with the San Antonio River Improvement Project. The firm has also been recognized by a number of publications voting them the number 1 firm to work for by women. Most importantly, Patton Boggs retained the top spot in The Hill newspaper’s anual survey of lobbying revenue based on 2007 reporting.
Cable Company:
Firm Chosen: Public Strategies
Public Strategies first and foremost in DC and in Austin specialize in private and public strategies in regards to telecommunications. One main point they bring up several times in most of their writing is the bi-partisan approach… understanding this idea of a campaign more often then access based. The majority of their team has direct experience as a DC staffer or State staffer. Their lobbying strategy encompasses the idea of a campaign by… strategically planning the agenda, advocacy
work, communications (media campaign portion) and then preparedness for the session. They approach it from a step-by-step basis… building a foundation.
They do give a list of their clients, however none of them are major Cable companies or television companies. I would recommend using them due to their telecommunications background but pending the proposal in which they deliver to through the RFP. Secondly, I would suggest that you have them outline what they have done for other clients and what
they might tailor differently for your company. This would allow us to see that they understand the issues (digital conversion, etc.) and are prepared to successfully put together a campaign.
Tobacco Company:
Firm Hired: Dutko Worldwide
Dutko Worlwide has utilized the campaign method of lobbying extremely well for the tobacco industry and thus has the experience and track record necessary to fulfill our agenda on both the state and federal level. Through their campaign advocacy strategies, Dutko has helped forge longstanding relationships and partnerships with Members of Congress, the White House, and regulatory agencies – they have essentially advocated for our mission at every level, and have not solely relied on a single point of entry into the realm of opportunities for our issues to be discussed. These campaigns have built political capital and have strengthened the strategic position of a wide range of organizations, and thus makes them the best candidate to represent our tobacco company’s interests at the state and federal level.
By examining the case study posted by Dutko on their website, one can clearly see that their firm has the experience necessary, have built the strong relationships, are competent at the art of compromise, and have the ability to make the seemingly impossible happen for our tobacco company. For seven years, farmers and growers lobbied Congress for a buyout of their tobacco quota to no avail. There was not a coordinated message, on behalf of the tobacco industry, which allowed significant opposition to form from a number of different interest groups. Dutko Worldwide reversed the trend of tobacco bills dying in committee by developing a multi-pronged strategy to put the tobacco buyout on the front burner and get legislation moving through the Congress.
From their website, one can clearly see the formula for Dutko’s lobbying success in advancing pertinent issues for the tobacco industry, and that is the reason why our tobacco company would hire Dutko to get our agenda furthered in both Washington and Austin. Here is an excerpt from Dutko’s website which highlights the campaign approach with every necessary tool to further the tobacco agenda:
“Program Elements: Bi-partisan approach, education of members and their staff, grassroots development and co-ordination, direct Lobbying—massive outreach to individual members of the House as well as key committee members and staff to help them understand the need for the buyout, coalition Building—Developed and alliance with members of the health community that had an interest in passing legislation that would allow the FDA to regulate tobacco and coupled our buyout effort with their FDA related measure in the Senate, Administration Outreach—Involved the White House, US Department of Agriculture and Office of Management and Budget early-on to get their support for the legislation, developed a public affairs strategy that included educational materials, print, radio and television advertisements in key US media markets as well as various multi-media CD-ROM movies and vignettes for mass distribution, developed the website—www.fairtobaccopolicy.org—to create a virtual “headquarters” with news and updates, documents and “write-in” and “phone-in” element to supplement out third-party mobilization efforts, retained the public affairs firm of Edelman Inc. and designed a massive grass tops and grassroots “friends and family” campaign that included letter writing and personal conversations with members of Congress by friends, leaders in the business community, governors and other local elected officials, Presented local community forums to mobilize tobacco dependent communities to apply pressure to their members of Congress.”
The results that Dutko were able to secure make them the ideal candidate to advocate for our company. On their website, it clearly states that: After more than 18 months, The Dutko Group succeeded in creating enough political and policy impetus to secure the support of a diverse group of stakeholders in a $10 billion piece of legislation. Their successful campaign garnered media attention and created the much needed momentum among Congressional leaders and the grass roots community, paving the way for passage of a new tobacco policy. The campaign resulted in more than 11 million media impressions in key Congressional districts throughout the south. Legislatively, by a vote of 280-141 in the House and of 69-17 in the Senate, the 108th Congress passed legislation that included the landmark tobacco buyout provisions that were ultimately signed into law by the President in 2004.
Wind Energy Company:
Firm Hired: Holland & Knight
Holland & Knight was chosen to advocate for our wind energy company based on their depth of knowledge on the topic of alternative energy, as well as their experience in representing firms like ours on the national and state level. From their website, one can clearly see the advantage of hiring H&K to advocate for our company:
“Holland & Knight’s energy law lawyers join forces with lawyers in other practices throughout the firm – building the type of multidisciplinary teams often required to represent clients on energy-related matters. From navigating the complex worlds of capital infusion, technology licensure, tax and regulatory issues, to handling broad-based project management and the complexities of renewable and of alternative energy transmission access and infrastructure, to addressing the real estate, entitlements, land use and environmental needs – Holland & Knight lawyers are adept legal advocates and allies.”
Additionally, H&K understand the importance of lobbying at multiple entry points beyond the legislature and executive branch. They have built strong relationships with agencies and fully comprehend the inner workings of these agencies and their operating procedures. H&K has experience in advocating for our industry in front of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and PUC proceedings, as well as with providing firms in our industry with knowledge of the permitting and policies regarding siting, land use and environmental regulations. Their current experience in the development and financing of active wind farms and wind farms under construction is also a major plus for our company.
H&K understands our industry, and has the proven track record or being able to disseminate accurate information to not only members of the legislature and executive branch, but also throughout every institutional body necessary to the positive implementation of our goals and agenda. Their approach is beyond single points of entry based on relationships, and encompasses instead a campaign approach to advocacy for our industry which will ensure our success.
Corporate Government Affairs 
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