Set Realistic Goals for Your Lobbying Agenda

If you follow the news, you may have seen a lot of headlines recently about a lobby group that’s pushing for Texas casinos. Let Texans Decide had been pushing for full-blown legalization of casino gambling in Texas, but they’ve made a lot of headlines and have recently dialed back their ambitions. Instead, they’re now pushing for allowing slot machines at horse and dog tracks - an objective they promoted in the 2011 Legislature. This is a great example of the kind of compromise that you sometimes have to make with your lobbying agenda. To reach your objectives, you’ve got to look at the big picture and have a realistic plan to get you where you want to go.

Public Opinion can Drive Legislation

A good lobbyist will tell you that public opinion plays a huge role in your push for legislation. You need the right strategy in place to manage the process and get public opinion on your side - or at least minimize negative feedback. Most elected officials are reluctant to enact legislature that goes against their constituents’ desires. If you’ve got a hot-button topic, that means extra thought must go into how to present your message.

Compromise is Key

If people feel strongly about the legislature you want to enact, you may not be able to get it all done in one session. You may need to compromise and accept smaller goals, and look at shifting legislature in small increments over time. When people see that the change isn’t bad, or isn’t directly impacting their lives, you’ll hear less outcry and you can continue the shift in smaller increments - or even make the big shift that is your final objective. Think of it as a series of strategic victories; each one getting you closer to your goal.

Lobbying is somewhere between an art and a science, with a little of both mixed in. If you’ve got a difficult agenda, call or e-mail us here at The Posey Law Firm, PC and we’ll develop a plan to help get you where you want to go.