Legislative Advocacy Presented By: Bill Spiers Director of Financial Aid Tallahassee Community College SASFAA 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.
Advice Keep on advocating! DON’T GIVE UP! Have fun!
Legislative Relations • Questions?
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