Tips for Effective Legislative Lobbying

• Staff can be very important and often know more about specific issues than the legislator. If you get a meeting with a staff person then find out what you can do to help them stay informed and in turn inform their legislator
• Be ready for the meeting to be cut short. Even if the meeting is cut short quickly get to what you want the legislator to do
• Facts tell, stories sell - research and data can be helpful but always have the human interest story with you
• Decide who in your group will open and close the meeting
• It's ok to disagree but don't get angry
• Don't lie-if you don't know something admit it and say that you will get the information
• Get to the point, be precise about what you want and why it is important
• Give relevant examples - if you can connect your interests to those of the legislator's then do so
• Remember you are lobbying - be persuasive
• Present your views with conviction but don't give a speech
• Anticipate the devil's advocate kind of arguments with a friendly legislator and anticipate your opposition's arguments with a legislator you are not in agreement with. Be ready to counter.
• Legislators are members of a community, a home town - if your organization does work in their home town or district then let the legislator know.
• Don't conclude the meeting until you have agreed upon the next steps and you are clear on the position and direction the legislator is heading on your issue
• Leave a one page fact sheet
• Always thank the legislator at the end of the meeting

Taken from the Independent Sector.

For more information on COHHIO's advocacy efforts, contact Cathy Johnston at cathyjohnston@cohhio.org or at 614-280-1984.