Legislative Advocacy

Presented By: Bill SpiersDirector of Financial AidTallahassee Community

CollegeSASFAA Legislative Relations

Chair

Current Legislative Issues

• Reauthorization• Federal Budget• Loan Issues• Ethics• New Grant

Programs• State Budgets

What Should You Do?• Be active in Legislative Affairs!• Environmental scanning for financial

aid issues.• Keep your administration informed.• Take stands when appropriate.

What Shouldn’t You Do?• Take stands that will

alienate your administration.

• Take stands that can be construed as partisan.

• Take stands that will jeopardize your tax-exempt status.

• Take a stand without knowing all the facts.

Resources To Help With Legislative Issues

• SASFAA Legislative Guide

• NASFAA• Chronicle of Higher

Education• Educational

Associations• State advisory

boards• Personal contacts

How To Contact Legislators

• www.senate.gov• www.house.gov• SASFAA has a link to these sites.• Most states have a web site where

you can contact legislators electronically.

• If you can’t contact electronically, write a letter. Addresses are online too.

• In person

Things To Expect During A Legislative Visit

• Be prepared to meet with a staff member and not the Legislator

• Expect your time to be cut short

• Expect questions about students

• Expect limited attention spans

Things to Do During A Legislative Visit• Be positive

• Thank the Legislator for what they have done

• Be brief• Know your points• Admit when you don’t

know an answer• Be consistent• Make three points or less

Things You Shouldn’t Do During A Legislative

Visit!• Display anger• Be partisan• Tell them what they

have done wrong• Tell them what they

should do• Tell them how much

work they’ve created for you

Things You Shouldn’t Do During A Legislative

Visit!• Take too much time• Go unprepared• Attempt to provide

information you don’t know

• Make promises you can’t keep

• Make statements you can’t prove

What Should I Do After Advocating On An Issue?• Watch• Wait• Be patient• Be consistent• Be persistent

What Will Happen After I Advocate On An Issue?

• Sometimes nothing.

• Sometimes you will get part of what you ask for.

• Sometimes your position will be voted down.

• Sometimes your position will adopted.

AdviceKeep on advocating!

DON’T GIVE UP!Have fun!

Legislative Relations• Questions?