Lobbying 101 Amber Lenhart, MPH Health Policy Specialist Spokane - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Lobbying 101

Amber Lenhart, MPH Health Policy Specialist Spokane Regional Health District 1/30/2020

Presentation Overview

• Can SRHD lobby?
• Why not?
• How do we know if we’re doing it?
• What can we do then?

Caveats

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND

THIS PRESENTATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE OR TAKE THE PLACE OF LEGAL OPINION OR LEGAL GUIDANCE.

Can SRHD Lobby?

No.*

SRHD is prohibited from lobbying

• Special purpose districts can lobby only if

they have an elected board

• Public funds cannot be used for lobbying

How do we know if we’re doing it?

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA

Direct Lobbying

RCW 42.17A.005 (22) through (35): “Lobby” and “lobbying” each mean attempting to influence the passage or defeat of any legislation by the legislature of the state of Washington, or the adoption or rejection of any rule, standard, rate, or other legislative enactment of any state agency under the state administrative procedure act, chapter 34.05 RCW.

Direct Lobbying

IRS Definition:

• Communication

directly with legislator or staff

• On specific legislation
• That reflects the
• rganization’s view
• n the legislation

Direct Lobbying

IRS Definition:

• Communication

directly with legislator or staff

• On specific legislation
• That reflects the
• rganization’s view
• n the legislation

Face-to-face meetings with legislators or staff, letters, emails, or phone calls

Direct Lobbying

IRS Definition:

• Communication

directly with legislator or staff

• On specific legislation
• That reflects the
• rganization’s view
• n the legislation

Bills that have been introduced, specific legislative proposals not yet introduced, and ballot measures

Direct Lobbying

IRS Definition:

• Communication

directly with legislator or staff

• On specific legislation
• That reflects the
• rganization’s view
• n the legislation

Does not include regulatory actions, executive actions, school board decisions, zoning board decisions, corporate actions, institutional actions (e.g., hospitals, universities)

Direct Lobbying

IRS Definition:

• Communication

directly with legislator or staff

• On specific legislation
• That reflects the
• rganization’s view
• n the legislation

Communication is rarely completely neutral

Grassroots Lobbying

IRS Definition:

• Communication to the public
• Includes tweets, advertisements, speeches,

letters, etc.

• On specific legislation
• That reflects the organization’s view on the

legislation

• And includes a call to action

What can we do then?

• WAC 390-05-271(1) and (2) clarify that an

individual can express his or her own personal views, and that a public office or agency can make an objective and fair presentation of facts relevant to a ballot proposition if such action is part of the normal and regular conduct of the agency.

What else can we do?

Take advantage of exceptions:

• Subsequent Use
• Distribute information broadly to the public

(outside of legislative session and without a call to action)

• Nonpartisan analysis
• Invitation to testify from committee chair

Examples of Education vs. Lobbying

• Health Impact Assessment
• WA BOH Health Impact Reviews
• Oral or written assistance provided in

response to a written request by a governmental body, legislative committee or subcommittee

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA

Lobbying or Not?

An SRHD employee doorbells and volunteers for a phone tree for a candidate on the weekend

Lobbying or Not?

SRHD signs on to a letter encouraging legislators to adopt Just Cause Protections for renters, and related legislation has been proposed at the state level

Lobbying or Not?

Staff attend a forum with legislators on behalf

• f SRHD and during a side conversation with a

state Representative remind the elected official that a specific proposed bill would help SRHD clients

Lobbying or Not?

An SRHD program creates a webpage listing policy solutions to address youth vaping— including banning flavored vapor products— and provides a link to a web form to contact a legislator

Lobbying or Not?

SRHD staff meet with Spokane Public School Board members and ask the board to approve changes to school siting and redesign standards to support public health

Lobbying or Not?

SRHD staff are invited to participate on a committee drafting language for a bill that will be proposed during the upcoming legislative session