An insider look at lobbying (SXSW 2017)

An Insider Look at Lobbying A proposed panel for SXSW 2017

Dates for Community Voting are August 8 - September 2, 2016, check out the website for tips and information at www.sxsw.com/conference/

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An Insider Look at LobbyingPanel Discussion moderated by Jonathan Mathers

Neal “Buddy” Jones, Founder & Partner, Hillco

Ray Martinez III, President, Independent Colleges & Universities of Texas (ICUT)

Dr. Ken Krammer, Water Resources Chair & Legislative Advisor, Lone Star Chapter of the Sierra Club

Christi Craddick, Commissioner, Railroad Commission of Texas

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Christi Craddick, JD Commissioner

Railroad Commission of Texas

Commissioner since 2012, with a focus on to maximize the effectiveness and efficiency of an energy industry

Strong advocate for recycling in the oilfields, which has driven up the percentage of reclaimed water, an essential achievement in a state enduring a multi-year drought.

Former attorney specializing in oil and gas, water, tax issues, electric deregulation and environmental policy.

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Ray Martinez III, JD President

Independent Colleges and Universities of Texas, Inc.From 2003-2006, Commissioner on the U.S. Election Assistance Commission,

From 2007-2013, adjunct professor of public policy at the University of Texas School of Law

Government Relations at Rice University and Texas A&M International University.

Director of the Higher Education Committee in the Texas Senate.

Chancellor of WGU Texas prior to joining ICUT

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Chapter Director for the Lone Star Chapter of the Sierra Club for 23 years. He is now volunteering as Chair of the Water Conservation Committee for the Chapter Executive Committee.

Ph.D. in Political Science from Rice University

Taught and conducted research at Texas State University in environmental policy and administration.

Appointed to task forces and advisory committees by Texas state officials, including the Governor of Texas and the Speaker of the Texas House.

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Ken Krammer, PhD Water Resources Chair & Legislative Advisor

Lone Star Chapter of the Sierra Club

Twice named among top 25 most powerful people in the State of Texas (Texas Monthly)

Ranked regularly in top 10 of “Top Hired Guns” (Capitol Inside)

Former Texas House Member

Former District Attorney for Hill County

Former Regent for Baylor University

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Neal “Buddy” Jones, JD Founder & Partner

Hillco Partners

U.S. Const. am. 1.The First Amendment guarantees freedom of speech, freedom of press, freedom of assembly and freedom of religion.

Often overlooked in its litany of fundamental civil liberties - “the right of the people peaceably … to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

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Interest Group v. Political Party

Interest groups want to influence public policies and decisions by public officials

Political parties want to win elections and control the government

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Lobbyist a Brief History

Dates back to the 1640s, when the lobbies of the chambers of the British Parliament were a hotbed for political wrangling.

In 1792, the Virginia veterans of the Continental Army hired William Hull

Lobbyists for Gunmaker Samuel Colt, seeking to extend a patent, passed out pistols as gifts to lawmakers and to one member’s 12-year-old son.

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What is Lobbying

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Communicating with and attempting to influence government officials on behalf of an interest group

Directed at legislators and other elected officials

Perception of Lobbyist

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Lobbyists rate below car salesmen

USA TODAY/GALLUP POLL: DECEMBER 5-8, 2013 – FINAL TOPLINE

Asked Americans to rate the honesty and ethical standards of members of various professions

Members of Congress, and car salespeople beat out Lobbyists

Only 6% surveyed claimed lobbyist were ethical12

How the Lobbyist really works

Obtain access to key decision makers

Use education and information to mobilize members and supporters

Attempt to sway public opinion

Build coalitions with other groups with identical or closely related interests in one or more issues

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Samuel Ward Lobbyist in the mid-1800s

"At good dinners people do not talk shop, but they give people a right, perhaps, to ask a gentleman a civil question and get a civil answer.”

Ann Hall, Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Ward (Emily Astor), 1837. Miniature on ivory, 5 1/2 x 4 1/2 in. Private collection, Barrytown, New York

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Bribery and Unethical Practices Often talked about but seldom done in modern politics:

elected officials do not agree to vote a particular way in exchange for campaign contributions

Sharpstown is exception that proves the rule -

and oh, you will get caught

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"If you can’t take their money, drink their whiskey, screw their women, and vote against ‘em anyway, you don’t belong in the Legislature”

The Honorable Jesse Marvin Unruh (September 30, 1922 – August 4, 1987)

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Personal Communication Goal of a lobbyist is to inform legislators of a group’s position on an issue

Establishes communication with those surrounding the law-making and rule-making process

Communication by lobbyist and group member

Emphasis on information-based communication

Not favors or gifts

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How the Lobbyist really works

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PeopleLinkage

InstitutionsPolicy

Agenda

Policy Making

Institutions Policy People

Interests, Problems,

& Concerns

(Impacts of Polices)

Political Parties,

Elections,News &

Entertainment Media,

&Interest Groups

Some issues will be considered, and others will not.

policy agenda changes regularly.

Legislature

Executive

Courts

Does it solve the problem?

Does it create more problems?


& Concerns


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PeopleLinkage

Institutions Policy Agenda

Policy Making



& Concerns


Political Parties,

Elections,News &


&Interest Groups



Legislature

Executive

Courts




& Concerns


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PeopleLinkage

InstitutionsPolicy

Agenda

Policy Making



& Concerns


Political Parties,

Elections,News &


&Interest Groups



Legislature

Executive

Courts




& Concerns


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PeopleLinkage

InstitutionsPolicy

Agenda

Policy Making



& Concerns


Political Parties,

Elections,News &


&Interest Groups



Legislature

Executive

Courts




& Concerns


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PeopleLinkage

InstitutionsPolicy

Agenda

Policy Making



& Concerns


Political Parties,

Elections,News &


&Interest Groups



Legislature

Executive

Courts




& Concerns


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PeopleLinkage

Institutions Policy Agenda

Policy Making



& Concerns


Political Parties,

Elections,News &


&Interest Groups



Legislature

Executive

Courts




& Concerns


Back to people

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PeopleLinka

ge Institutions

Policy Agend

a

Policy Makin

g Institu

Policy People

Interests,

Problems, & Conce

rns

Political

Parties,

Elections,

Some issues will be considered, and others

Legislature

Executive


Interests,

Problems, & Conce

rns Back to people

What happens between the lines is lobbying

Types of Interest Groups that play in the linesEconomic Groups

Business Groups & Labor Groups

Professional Groups Business Groups & Labor Groups

Social Groups Social Issues, Racial & Ethnic equality, women’s rights, and environment

Everyone has a lobbyist

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How deep do you bury a gas pipeline Table Top Exercise

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What is the best way to recycle and reuse produced water in oil drilling?

uh…oh…uh

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Threats to Democracy

Lobbyists directly address 3 of the 4 threats to democracy

Increased technical expertise

Limited Participation

Campaign Costs

Diverse Political Interests (Policy Gridlock)

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END of Presentation

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Moderator:

Jonathan Mathers ([email protected])

Panelists

Commissioner Christi Craddick, JD ([email protected])

Ray Marinez III, JD ([email protected])

Ken Kramer, PhD ([email protected])

Buddy Jones, JD ([email protected])

mailto:[email protected]





Government & Nonprofit

An insider look at lobbying (SXSW 2017)