From the Desk of the Executive Director
It’s that time of year… again. The time of year when legislative staff and lobbyists go into a frenzy trying to keep up with legislative committee meetings, bill filings, and campaign fundraisers. There are some things different this year, too. With the passage of a “lobbyist reform” law in December, lobbyists cannot “schmooze” legislators over food and drink, and really for the most part, cannot spend any money entertaining them. This may not sound like a big deal to those who are engaged in this process from afar or on occasion, but let me assure you – it is a BIG deal, shaking the very cultural roots of Downtown Tallahassee and toppling 100+ years of tradition. One of the immediate effects of the change is that you can now find legislators in their offices during lunch and into the evening hours. On a humorous note -- I spoke with a legislator this week who has a new-found sympathy for the state employees who have lived under a $3/6/12 – breakfast/lunch/dinner per diem rate for the past 20 years. There have already been unintended consequences with the passage of this lobbyist reform bill, and more will reveal themselves daily. It will take months… maybe years, for those involved to adjust and for new traditions to develop.
In a sense, this lobbyists reform law levels the playing field a bit for 501(c)(3) organizations like Florida Hospices & Palliative Care (FHPC). Allow me to explain.
There are several realms in which influence is developed with public policy makers. One is the “political realm.” I’m referring to political support (cash & in-kind contributions and volunteering time) on a campaign… helping the candidate get elected or reelected. All members of the Florida House are up for reelection every two years, and half of the members of the Florida Senate are up for reelection every two years (for a four year term). A 501(c)(3) organization is generally prohibited from any involvement in political campaigns as an organization. Certainly, the organization can, and does benefit from the personal involvement of people who identify themselves as believers in what the organization does. The involvement of members of the community, or hospice board members, employees, volunteers, etc., make a significant impact, and we appreciate that to no end. As you might imagine, this is the realm where big business and “big fish” thrive, and this is where some of the most powerful bonds are developed between the lobbyists or members of the community, and legislators. Community volunteer involvement certainly mitigates the undue influence of the big campaign fundraiser, and will give any legislator pause before acting solely upon the word of a lobbyist. The new lobbyist reform law will have some effect on the political realm in that, incumbent legislators will prudently be more concerned about lobbyist funded campaign events.
One realm in which the field has been leveled a little involves the “social realm” of wining and dining legislators. Most 501(c)(3) organizations cannot in good conscience spend $100,000+ annually entertaining legislators. With the new law, this advantage is taken away from those who can spend that kind of money.
The “grassroots realm,” is where 501(c)(3) organizations like FHPC have a distinct advantage – IF those who are in the grassroots respond to requests to engage in the public policy process. The “grassroots” can be a pretty broad group, and includes every single person who has an interest in the success of an organization’s agenda. Hospice programs have tremendous involvement and presence in their communities. Everywhere I go, people share their hospice experience with – usually in soft, warm tones, and it more often than not, it includes the expression, “It was a real blessing.” Can you think of any other service where people use that expression to describe what they experienced? If all who are believers in quality hospice care take the time to “touch” public policy makers and legislators, the collective effect will be monumental. We’re not expecting anyone to be a solo community activist superstar in reaching out to these decision makers (though if you want to be – please give me a call), but if everyone reaches out to gently and effectively “touch” these people in the normal course of their lives, it will have a profound effect.
We need to train ourselves to think of the entire year as
“advocacy season,” rather than just when the legislature is meeting in
Executive Director