Upload
others
View
2
Download
0
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
OWEA Government
Affairs Committee
Update – the Quest
for Relevancy
Presenters:
Dale E. Kocarek, PE, BCEE
June 20, 2012
Education in All Things
"Above all things I hope the
education of the common
people will be attended to;
convinced that on their good
sense we may rely with the
most security for the
preservation of a due degree
of liberty.“
Thomas Jefferson to James Madison
December 20, 1787
1800 Portrait by Rembrandt Peale
OWEA Evolution Toward Relevancy
• OWEA is taking strides to moving from an organization
that does strictly training to one of public outreach,
education, advocacy, and active engagement.
• We believed that an informed membership is essential to
participative government and being free of poorly
conceived and burdensome regulation.
• We believe that most elected officials and policy makers
– regardless of political affiliation - want the right
information to make decisions.
OWEA Evolution Toward Relevancy
Speech to the Press Corps – The American President
(1995)
America isn't easy. America is advanced citizenship.
You've got to want it bad, 'cause it's going to put up a
fight. It's going to say, "You want free speech? Let's see
you acknowledge a man whose words make your blood
boil, who's standing center stage and advocating at the
top of his lungs that which you would spend a lifetime
opposing at the top of yours." You want to claim this land
as the land of the free? Then the symbol of your country
cannot just be a flag. The symbol also has to be one of
its citizens exercising his right to burn that flag in protest.
Now show me that, defend that, and celebrate that in
your classrooms. Then you can stand up and sing about
the land of the free.
Michael Douglas as President Andrew Shepherd in
The American President, 1995
OWEA Evolution Towards Relevancy
• OWEA is a 501-c-3 (educational) organization
• Our “advocacy” stresses education, which
everyone benefits from
• Our message is non political, but our theme is
common sense and meaningful regulation
• We want to be a respected “voice.”
OWEA Evolution Towards Relevancy
• A year ago, Tom Angelo, Doug Clark and I
discussed how OWEA may be perceived as
more relevant.
• Despite a number of positive initiatives between
2010-2013, relevancy still remains to some
degree a problem!
OWEA Evolution – How Have We
Improved Our Relevancy?
• We have done this through MOUs, the Technical
Review Group, the Fly In and relationship
building with other organizations.
• This helps build consensus on important issues,
share resources and create a consistent
message with sister organizations.
• We want our message to be positive, pro-active,
and and constructive and “part of the solution.”
OWEA Evolution Towards Relevancy:
The Technical Review Group (TRG)
The Technical Review Group reviews of proposed rules
and regulations based on the expertise of select members
of the group. It seeks to:
• Educate members through sharing information and
networking
• Educate the public on preserving and enhancing our
water quality
• Be proactive on water environment issues
• Build a positive professional image within and outside
the Association
.
OWEA Evolution Towards Relevancy:
The Technical Review Group (TRG)
• The TRG is a section in the OWEA Government
Affairs Committee that helps OWEA coordinate
review of proposed rules, issues, policy and
white paper reviews.
• The most recent is the Ohio EPA’s proposed
strategy for nutrient management and control.
OWEA Evolution
• OWEA became an active partner with WEF on
their 2012 messaging campaign to get the
message of water in front of candidates
• WEF created the “water for jobs” campaign:
with the slogan “Water Puts America to Work”
• Op Ed pieces appeared in newspapers in Ohio
cities in August - October 2012
OWEA Evolution Towards Relevancy:
WEF Jobs Campaign Op Ed Piece (Columbus Dispatch)
Championing WEF’s Jobs Campaign
(WEF’s Job’s Logo)
AWWA-WEF Fly In – An Annual Event
• OWEA participated with the Ohio Section
of AWWA in the annual AWWA-WEF Fly-
In to Washington DC on April 17-18, 2013
• During this intense two day period, 170
members of AWWA and WEF converged
on Capitol Hill to meet with congressional
representatives on “water” issues
AWWA-WEF Fly In
OWEA Fly In Team at the Ronald Reagan Office Building on April 16, 2013 with
Friends from Kentucky-Tennessee WEA Photo was taken after the WEF
Infrastructure Forum
AWWA-WEF Fly In • The Fly-In has several purposes.
• It presents an opportunity for significant
“water” organizations such as AWWA and
WEF to play an active and participative
role in our nation’s law and rule making
process
AWWA-WEF Fly In
• It allows OWEA to form long term
relationships with Congress and
adhere to the principals of participative
government.
• We can become a sought after
resource to provide input on important
“water” issues.
AWWA-WEF Fly In: What Occurs Prior
to the Event?
• Appointments are made with
congressional representatives from our
home state 30-60 days ahead.
• Visits last about 25 minutes
• The morning of the first day, we get a
briefing from AWWA and WEF officials
on critical issues and talking points.
AWWA-WEF Fly In
Morning Briefing Session Before Going to “The Hill”
AWWA-WEF Fly In: One of the Ohio Groups
Senator Rob Portman, Dave Weihrauch (OAWWA), Dale Kocarek, and Doug Clark on April 17, 2013
AWWA-WEF Fly In Topics for 2013
• The evolution of WIFIA in 2012 to S. 601
(Title 10 of the WRDA)
• Tax Reform and Municipal Bonds (concerns
over the potential removal of exemptions for
high income earners)
• Affordability Determinations and what may be
a better tool that MHI
• Integrated Planning – how will it really work?
AWWA-WEF Fly In Challenges
• Congressional representatives are very
busy. Unfortunately, the Fly In was the
same week as the Boston Marathon
bombing, a “ricin” scare in the Longworth
Building, and the “gun control” vote in the
Senate.
• Messages must be clear, concise, and
preferably attached to a draft bill.
• Practice the “elevator speech.”
AWWA-WEF Fly In Challenges
• 50% of the time, we meet with congressional
aides.
• At times our group may be confused with
others also taking about “water.”
• It is best to have a single message per year.
• It is a multi-year process to build relationships.
AWWA-WEF Fly In Focus on Financing
• The concept of WIFIA was championed by
Bob Gibbs of the 18th District in 2012.
• In 2013, WIFIA became part of Title 10 of
the Water Resources Development Act
(WRDA), sponsored by Senator Barbara
Boxer.
• On May 15, 2013, the US Senate passed
S. 601, which created a WIFIA pilot
program.
What Does WIFIA Propose to Do?
• The original WIFIA proposal was to provide direct loans for
large projects > $25 Million using funds from the Treasury
Department.
• WIFIA would also help states leverage SRF funds.
• Agency Directors have voiced concerns that WIFIA would
add complication/confusion to state’s management of the
SRF. It is clear that there is much more that needs to be
worked out!
OWEA’s Onward Quest for Relevancy
• To be relevant, OWEA needs to be perceived
as reasonable, enlightened, consistent, and
adding value to a discussion.
• We believe that OWEA made good progress!
• Continued progress will require OWEA to do
even more
• We must continue to improve our
communication and engaging our members.
OWEA Government Affairs
Committee Update
Thank You!
Questions?