Lobbying Do's and Don'ts

Do

• DO Identify yourself as a specialist in the field of sexual assault.
• DO learn members’ committee assignments and where their specialties lie.
• DO present the need for what you are asking the Member to do.  Use data or cases that you know.
• DO tell what survivors need to have laws work better for them.
• DO relate situations in his/her district.
• DO tell how you are utilizing funds now.
• DO ask the Representative or Senator's position and why.
• DO tell what proposed legislation could do to help your clients.
• DO — in case of voting records — ask why he/she voted a particular way.
• DO show openness to the knowledge of counter-arguments and respond to them.
• DO admit when you don’t know.  Offer to try to find out the answer and send information back to the office.
• DO spend time with a Member whose position is against yours.  You can lessen the intensity of the opposition and perhaps change it.
• DO spend time developing a relationship with the Members’ staff.
• DO use the Legislative Agenda in your lobbying visit.
• DO show how your program works together with those addressing related issues.

Don't

• DON’T overload a visit with too many issues.
• DON’T confront, threaten pressure or beg.
• DON’T be argumentative. Speak with calmness and commitment so as not to put him/her on the defensive.
• DON’T overstate the case.  Members are very busy and you are apt to lose their attention if too wordy.
• DON’T expect Members to be specialists.  Their schedules and work loads tend to make them generalists.
• DON’T be put off by smokescreens or long winded answers.  Bring Members back to the point. 
• DON’T make promises you can’t deliver.
• DON’T shy away from meetings with legislators whose view is opposite your own.
• DON’T be offended if a legislator is unable to meet and requests you meet with his/her staff.