Tips for Grassroots Activities

The most effective tool for grassroots activities is for business people to get to know the legislator where their business is located. A business owner or manager should call the legislator's district office, tell the office how many employees and facilities the company has in the legislator's district, and should indicate a desire to get to know the legislator and to have him or her become familiar with the business's problems and interests. You can invite the legislator to come out to the office for a brief tour and then to go out for lunch or coffee. The legislator may be interested in doing this or, if not, he or she may ask you to come to the district office.

Either way, the idea is to have a small, friendly conversation. You should explain to him in layman's language how you operate. You should work into the conversation some of your concerns that involve government, such as overtime pay, workers' compensation, health care, air quality management district requirements, etc. You should, of course, bring up any concerns that relate specifically to your local jurisdiction. Discuss how it affects your business and how it hurts you and the consumer.

In these discussions, you should not hesitate to discuss your specific interests and your bottom line. Of course, you can point out how these factors make you decide whether to employ more people and spend more money, etc.

Obviously, if you get to know your legislator other than by calling the office, that's fine. These are people that like to get out in the community and attend various functions such as nonprofit association fundraisers, community planning forums, and the like. If you serve on any volunteer boards in your community, take advantage of the opportunity to get to know any legislators who participate as well as city council members and school board members. There is a good chance that they will eventually wind up in the Legislature, particularly now that we have term limits.

Getting to know your legislator one-on-one in the district or with just two or three business owners or managers from the district is the best way to go. Some groups like to come to Sacramento for a "lobby day." While this activity has some positive aspects, it should be a supplement to on-going local contact. The legislators are often very busy in Sacramento and cannot devote the kind of time and attention they should. Moreover, they often meet with a large group in Sacramento and that decreases the likelihood of developing the personal relationship that works to best advantage.

Similarly, some groups like to invite a legislator to address them at their convention or conference. Again, while this has some positive attributes, small, district contacts are a must. The legislator is called upon to make a presentation or to mingle with many people at a convention or conference. He or she is in a "meet and greet" frame of mind. It's work. A more personal tour/lunch and conversation allows the legislator to relax and get to know you, your business and your concerns.

In this vein, should you have more than three businesses in a legislator's district, don't have them all visit with a legislator at once. Keep the group to three or fewer. If you have more than that, I'd recommend you have one group meet him or her first, and then another call him or her and get together in a month or so. In this way, it will seem like a lot of different people living or doing business in the district are concerned with the same issues. The owner/manager(s) should mention that they are a member of the association whose lobbyists are Edelstein and Gilbert. However, the meetings should not be set up or sponsored by the association. The idea is that these are local business people who have concerns/problems and want to get to know their legislator.

Grassroots activities are becoming an increasingly important part of the lobbying process. As issues come up in Sacramento, from time to time we will ask you to contact your Assembly Member or Senator to let them know your views. These contacts can be the key to passing or defeating legislation affecting your ability to operate your business and make a living. Grassroots lobbying of a legislator is greatly enhanced if the legislator is already familiar with your business and your industry and has a personal relationship with you.

The following are some general guidelines for all grassroots contacts:

• Express your specific interests and explain how the bill or problem affects you. Economic interests and your ability to employ people are very important to the legislator.
• Legislators like to deal in concrete problems, not generalities.
• Don't threaten that you won't vote for the legislator if he or she doesn't do what you want him to do. However, don't by shy in expressing how important the issue is to you and how much you would like the legislator's support.
• Never discuss making a campaign contribution in connection with legislative activity.
• Always be polite to the legislator and his or her staff.