Slide deck from FMCC 2016 Lobbying 201 Breakout by Mike Hogan

1. ADVANCED LOBBYING
TACTICS
How to Be the Most Effective Advocate forYour Cause
Mike Hogan,The Alpine Group

2. FIRST, INTRODUCTIONS
• Mike Hogan – The Alpine Group
• 30 years of Lobbying fun
• Held Senior positions in the House and Senate
• Led Lobbying for 3 Health Care Trade Associations
• Clients include: Nike, Ford,Wal-Mart, Intel, AdvaMed, Boston Scientific,
CRISPR Tx
• Loves Music, Motorcycles, Golf, Bourbon, and Dogs –Yet somehow not
a redneck?

3. REVIEW OF BASICS
(LIST OF FAVORITE TRUE CLICHÉS)
• Its about long term relationships
• “No one cares how much you know, until they know how
much you care”
• “If you are not at the table, you’re probably on the menu”
• “The Foot you Step on Today is Connected to the Ass you
may have to Kiss Tomorrow”

4. A FEW MORE BASICS
• Be sensitive to the Environment –
• What is member’s situation electorally
• What are their concerns back home (representationally)
• What are large issues facing the Congress?
• What is currently being considered on the floor?
• Does Member or staff have personal involvement in the issue?
• Do NOT underestimate staff – ever
• How can you present your issue as a solution to a problem?

5. NOW, THE ADVANCED STUFF

6. CHECK YOUR TOOL BOX
THE 7 KEY TOOLS OF ADVOCACY
1. Direct Lobbying- What you are here for today
2. Data + Message – Find the best way to tell your story
3. Grassroots – Keeping in touch back home
4. Earned Media – LTE, Op-Eds, articles
5. Paid Media – When the stakes are high, spend the money
6. Coalitions – Find friends and put them into service
7. Political – Contribute, volunteer, be there early and often.

7. SO YOU DID YOUR MEETING, NOW WHAT?
• E-mail Staffer/Member to thank and briefly restate issue/request.
• If request was made, check back in and see if action was taken
• Thank,Thank,Thank,Thank and Thank
• Write LTE to commend
• Do local meeting, introduce to colleagues
• Be creative about how you can help – Tire Pressure check?
• When in doubt,TWEET!

8. RULES OF ENGAGEMENT

9. KNOW YOUR STRENGTHS AND
WEAKNESSES
• Only an honest appraisal will guide you right
• Are you wearing the white hat?
• Is your solution “big government” based?
• Does it require new spending/tax revenues?
• Are your “champions” REALLY committed, or just going along?
• Have you fully developed your narrative? Focus grouped it?
• Have you reached out to 3rd party groups to “borrow” their clout, names?
• Who is opposition? Do you really know their strengths and weaknesses?

10. ARE YOU THE BIRD OR THE BUG?

11. FOCUS ON THE RIGHT GOALS!

12. GOAL – STRATEGY - TACTIC
• Goals rarely change, make them BIG!
• Strategies must point to goals, and be carefully thought out.
• Tactics can be more fluid (and fun).
• Tactical Examples:
• Driving for Quality Care
• Local Surgery
• Press roundtables
• Coalition briefings vs. hearings
• There’s a caucus for that….

13. REMEMBER
• Relationships must be long term
• Staff move upward!
• Social Media has changed the game
• Know yourself – SWOT
• Keep long term goals in mind.

14. THANK YOU!
Questions?
Mike Hogan
The Alpine Group
mhogan@alpinegroup.com
202/548-2303