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Why
Do You Need a Lobbyist?
Irrigation Association Director of State Relations, Richard Ali, has this to say about the importance of hiring a lobbyist: “Every day of the year, someone is making a decision or debating an issue that could have profound impact on the way you do business. Your state legislature enacts new laws—or changes existing ones—to the tune of several hundred each year. These hundreds of laws are the result of sifting through several thousand newly introduced bills in a given year. Whether or not a proposal among these several thousand ever reaches the governor’s desk depends on the degree of support or opposition that is generated by those who will be affected.” “That’s exactly why lobbying is so very important. Elected officials don’t know the green industry, and they are poorly informed of the impact their decisions have on the industry as a whole. Whether lobbying individually or as a group, the point is that your lobbying efforts are meant to inform as well as to persuade on an issue of importance to you and the successful operation of your business.” “No legislator can possibly understand every facet of every industry. It’s practically guaranteed that very few legislators have a firm grasp on the issues important to the green industry. The solution is clear—to have a real say on important issues, then we must have a presence in state capitals around the country. Hiring and using lobbyists just may be the most effective way to do that.” Additional Resources: Web Sites — “What Clients Wish Their Lobbyists Knew and What Lobbyists Wish Their Clients Knew.” Stateside Associates. (www.stateside.com/publications/sgr/clientandlobbyist.shtml) — “Directory of Local Officials by Region.” U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). — “State, Country and City Government Web Sites.” Library
of Congress. — “Online Updates of Legislative Issues in the Green Industry.” Lawn and Landscape. (www.lawnandlandscape.com) — “Look Up Your Elected Officials.” ANLA
Legislative Center. |
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