The Real Battle Begins

Living through the dog days of August 2011 entails more than enduring heat and humidity. This is the period of congressional recess where advocates have a full month to lobby Members of Congress on issues of importance to them.

With the focus on the Super Committee’s mandate to tackle entitlements and tax reform per the debt ceiling agreement, local community groups will need to bring their “A” game to preserve funding for their priority programs. It will not be easy. Now that the committee has been named, the focus will be on the individuals appointed to the panel. There will be tremendous pressure for them to reach consensus on a deal.

Because of what is at stake, they will ultimately reach a deal. Neither side wants to trigger the across the board cuts which will occur if an agreement isn’t reached. At the end of this process neither side is going to be completely happy with the results.

To help maximize your lobbying efforts, here are suggestions to consider:

• A new, more personal message has to be crafted to resonate with voters. The decision by Republicans to propose cuts to Medicare backfired because it affected people, both Republicans and Democrats, personally. In these tough economic times, your message has to resonate with the self-interest of the voter.

• Go outside of the box to deliver your message. The use of Twitter, Facebook, and the other social media outlets are important; however, programs like Ellen, The View, etc., have audiences that respond to emotional messages. Their producers look for stories for their principals to discuss and occasionally invite a guest to appear on a show. For example, seek stories which highlight individuals in various communities are being helped by programs which are in jeopardy of being eliminated by Congress.

• Be realistic in your expectations. Know what you want, but be realistic about what you can get. Cuts are unavoidable. It is ridiculous to think otherwise.

• Use the House budget numbers as the baseline in determining potential cuts. The House numbers are driving the debate. The administration and Senate Democrats have failed to coalesce around an alternative to the House budget proposal. Consequently, use these numbers in calculating potential cuts to your program to help with your advocacy efforts. It will also help prepare you for the programmatic and administrative changes you may face in the near future.

• Accurately assess the current political environment. The anti-Washington, DC sentiment throughout the United States is very intense across the political spectrum but that does not necessarily mean widespread dissatisfaction with specific programs. The uproar over potential cuts to Medicare and Social Security reminded everyone how sensitive the voting public can be when faced with specific options. However, budget changes will drive how Washington functions in the future. There will be changes in the way Washington funds and administers programs.

• Think of ways to be proactive with the coming changes. Be proactive in embracing the change to the benefit of the programs you support. Is this an opportunity to pursue programmatic, administrative or regulatory changes? This is always an opportunity in the midst of a challenge.

• Embrace tax reform. This is a bipartisan initiative which can raise revenue and create a more equitable tax structure for all income groups. It may also protect some programs from deep cuts or elimination.

Interesting Read

Whole Foods versus Cracker Barrel: How Americans Are Self-Sorting
By Charlie Cook
The Cook Report

Republicans Set Sights on Balanced Budget Amendment
By Jennifer Steinhauer
The New York Times

Panetta Warns Against ‘Doomsday’ Cuts of $600 Billion in Defense Spending
By Jason Ukman
The Washington Post

Debt-limit Deal Triggers Lobbying Campaign from Health-Care and Defense Industries
By Dan Eggen
The Washington Post

Two Parties Pray to the Same God, But Different Economists
By Michael Gerson
The Washington Post

End Political Gridlock: Put a Millennial in Charge
By Laura Sessions Stepp
Special to CNN

Are Millennials Cut Out for this Job Market?
By Ruben Navarrette, Jr.
CNN Contributor

Origins of the Debt Showdown
By Brady Dennis, Alec MacGillis and Lori Montgomery
The Washington Post

Fewer Dinners Mean Meaner Politics
By Lea Berman
The Washington Post

In Economic Turmoil, U.S. Needs a Leader Like Churchill
By David Gergen
CNN Senior Political Analyst

The American Dream hangs in the balance
By Joe Scarborough
Politico

We Can't Even Cut Programs That Don't Work
By Steven Malanga
Real Clear Politics

Postal Service proposes cutting 120,000 jobs, pulling out of health-care plan
By Joe Davidson
The Washington Post

Posted in: http://www.blogger.com/img/blankhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif.gif