caroll mortensen integrated waste management board sustainability program legislation: a former...

CAROLL MORTENSENINTEGRATED WASTE MANAGEMENT

BOARDSUSTAINABILITY PROGRAM

Legislation: A Former Committee Consultant’s Perspective

Confessions of a Policy Wonk in a Political World

A BRAVE NEW WORLD EVERY SESSION!

TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN YOUR MISSION YOU MUST BE EDUCATORS AS WELL AS

ADVOCATES.

KEEP AND DEVELOP RELATIONSHIPS.

LOOK FOR NEW ALLIES.

Term Limits

MANY HAVE SAID THAT THIS IS THE MOST CHALLENGING LEGISLATIVE CLIMATE

EVER!

FOCUS ON SOUND FIRST STEPS AND REMOVING ROADBLOCKS.

Be realistic about the problem you are trying to

solve.

A S K Y O U R S E L F T H E T O U G H Q U E S T I O N F R O M T H E B E G I N N I N G A N D D E V E L O P A N S W E R S.

E S P E C I A L LY H O W A R E Y O U G O I N G T O PAY F O R T H E P R O G R A M

T H E S E W I L L G E T A S K E D A N D Y O U N E E D T O B E P R E PA R E D.

Have “all” the questions answered

THIS CAN BE VERY HELPFUL.

LEARN FROM OTHERS EXPERIENCE.

CHANGE IN NATIONAL POLITICAL DYNAMIC IS AN OPTION NOW.

What are others doing?Cities/States/Federal/Globa

l

AN ESSENTIAL AND SOMETIMES SURPRISING FIRST STEP.

PROVIDES INSIGHT AND VALUABLE INFORMATION.

Reach out to the opposition first!

TRY TO ‘SHAKE UP’ THE SUPPORT LIST FOR YOUR BILL .

LABOR, PUBLIC HEALTH, CULTURAL AND OTHER GROUPS.

Find Unlikely Supporters

INCLUDE ALL MEMBERS AND STAFF.

BOTH PARTIES NEED EDUCATION.

Two Party System!

MUCH MORE THAN THE DEADLINES FOR COMMITTEES TO MEET.

POLICY ANALYSES, MEETINGS, AMENDMENTS, TESTIMONY.

VERY FEW COMMITTEES ARE ALIKE!

Know The Committee Process

LEARN THE ART OF BREVITY!

MOST LETTERS LONGER THAN A PAGE ARE NOT EFFECTIVE!

UP-TO -DATE FACT SHEETS ARE VERY IMPORTANT!

TWO MINUTE L IMITS ON PRESENTATIONS ARE COMMON.

Brief Letters / Brief Presentations

KNOW THE PROCESS! SENATE AND ASSEMBLY ARE DIFFERENT!

BE PREPARED!GO EARLY!

The Floor!

SOME T I ME S I T S BE TT E R T O L E T A BI L L T O S I T OR DI E .

WH AT OT H E R I SSUE S AR E PE NDI NG?

T H I S I S AN E VE N BI GGE R C H AL L E NGE I N A T E R M- L I MI T E D L E GI SL AT UR E .

Know when to hold ‘em and when to fold ‘em!

B E T R U E T O T H E M I SS I O N / V I S I O N O F Y O U R P O L I C I E S A N D P R O G R A M S.

B E “ G E N T L E ” I F O P P O S I T I O N I S WA R R A N T E D.

B E C L E A R R E G A R D I N G D I F F E R E N C E S I F Y O U H AV E A D I F F E R E N T P O S I T I O N F R O M T H E T R A D I T I O N A L

A D V O C A C Y G R O U P S.

Playing Nicely with Others

STRENGTH IN NUMBERS!

COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH.

MANY CONTACTS AND INSIGHT AS TO THE PROCESS.

Work with League of CA Cities and CA State

Association of Counties

C OMMON MI STAKE !

KE E P A POT E NT I AL OVE R SI GH T OR I MPL E ME NT I NG AGE NC Y I N T H E L OOP.

WH E N YOU H AVE T R AC T I ON, D E VE L OP C ONTAC T S I N T H E GOVE R NOR’ S OF F I C E .

Don’t forget the Agency and the Governor’s office!

OFTEN OVERLOOKED, BUT POWERFUL, POLICY TOOL.

SUPPLEMENTAL REPORTS.

OVERSIGHT AND SPECIAL HEARINGS.

EFFECTIVE WAY TO LAY OUT ‘NEXT STEPS’ .

Don’t forget the budget process!

YOU ARE ALL EXPERTS!

SHARE YOUR KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE!

Get Involved!

IF YOU THINK OF SOMETHING LATER!

CALL OR EMAIL ME!CMORTENSEN@CIWMB.CA.GOV

916 341 6456

THANKS!

Questions!