Likability doesn’t matter when you are building a winning coalition in a Legislature
Remember the Hero Opportunity? A compelling problem or crisis that provides policymakers with public occasions to be the champion of a solution that makes a positive difference in the lives of a critical mass of their constituents/customers. From Chapter 2 of the 4th Edition of Lobbying on a Shoestring
Real Clout – an Introduction for Newcomers to the Public Policy Arena
I don’t think many people use power points any more unless they are briefing the President, but many folk learning the basic principles of advocacy have learned something from this one. Try it. you can find other helpful tools here let us know how you like it. This power point was developed from the book...
Relationships Matter
When two hill town girls from Western Massachusetts get together in Florida – they have fun. Jane Swift and I go way back to our roots in Western Mass, to small town politics, to shared values and commitment to social, racial and economic justice as we pursued our separate careers in the public policy arena...
Ten years ago today we celebrated and then got right down to organizing health care reform.
So, public policy advocates, what are you doing tomorrow? Planning to promote positive policy change in your state? You will find keys to building a winning public policy campaign in this little book Lobbying on a Shoestring Check out the introduction outlining the three rules of Lobbying and the Hero Opportunity
New! 4th Edition of Lobbying on a Shoestring Is Here!
Lobbying on a Shoestring offers a common-sense, practical approach to political action. Premised on the idea that real people should have a real impact on the development of public policy, this powerhouse of a paperback conveys truths about the legislative process and hard-won, strategic insights. The 2018 Revised Edition gets you and your clients up and...
On the Agenda at Last! Immigration Reform — No Excuses
from Ali Noorani’s Huffington’s Post in part…. Less than a week to go till the March FOR America and the immigration blame game is kicking into full gear. Democrats are blaming Republicans, Republicans are blaming Democrats. Meanwhile, the DC punditry – aided and abetted by a front pageWashington Post story that doesn’t have a source to cite – is tripping...
TAX BREAKS for Ben Affleck. Tax hikes for everyone else.
Joan Vennochi does it again. A sharp spin on a current hot debate — in this case revenues Here in part TAX BREAKS for Ben Affleck. Tax hikes for everyone else. As he calls for $1.9 billion in new taxes, that proposal didn’t add up for Governor Deval Patrick. So, he’s also proposing to cap the film tax...
On the Agenda at Last Linsky Files Gun Violence Legislation
From the Brookline Patch in part The bill looks to close loopholes in existing state laws, require mental health background checks, strengthen gun storage requirements and require liability insurance for gun owners. The following is a press release sent by the office of state Rep. David Linsky, D-Natick. State Rep. David P. Linsky announced today...
Refocusing Our Lens: Domestic Workers’ Rights Are a Neglected Feminist Issue
Fom RH Reality Check Domestic Workers Rights The attention gap for this issue is particularly unfortunate in light of how hard domestic workers are toiling not just in their jobs, but also to advocate for themselves. The successful campaign for a New York Domestic Workers’ Bill of Rights which passed in 2010, and the campaign in California which...
16 Candles and a Ballot in Lowell
Vote 17 Lowell — still working at setting an example for the rest of the country. We were very happy to be featured in the The New York Times Upfront magazine for students all across the country to read about our efforts to lower the voting age in Lowell! from the Free Library In 2009, city...
Taxes for Transportation — Human Services Chopped Liver?
News : Nearly six years after a bipartisan commission sounded the alarm about a transportation system in a crisis so severe that it carried a shortfall of nearly $1 billion a year, Governor Deval Patrick will ask lawmakers to solve the problem with a plan that includes higher taxes. Comment: Are we serious about fulling funding...
A Found Poem: from an official training PowerPoint for workers who screen shelter applicants.
THE CHILDREN AND I NEED SHELTER – LAST NIGHT WE SLEPT IN A CAR ( Massachusetts found poem)* Where were you sleeping before you slept in the car? How many nights have you spent in the car? Were your children with you? Do you own the car? Do you have the keys to the car?
