Three separate meetings. Three very different members of congress. From both major parties. One message: you should expect a shutdown this fall. That’s the most concerning talking point I’m hearing consistently out of DC.
Just a couple of weeks after they will return from the August recess period, Congress will face yet another fiscal cliff. And while I’ll leave the speculation on deal-making to the pundits, I think it’s important for the average concerned citizen to realize this isn’t coming out of the blue – and that it does mean you’ll need to lobby for your own causes differently.
At the end of September, Congress will be consumed with one topic: funding the government. Since the 1980s, this type of fiscal emergency has been wielded by one party or the other to force major policy concessions. This fall will be no different. That being said, with Congress laser-focused on this one massive issue, it falls on us to ensure our issues remain relevant and respected in the course of that debate.
Razor-thin republican majorities in the Congress give an incredible amount of power to small groups of legislators. And right now, a small group of Republican members is causing a headache for just about everyone as they position themselves to bring the government to a halt and force federal spending reductions.
As advocates, that’s all out of our control. And while it can be incredibly frustrating, and even a bit demoralizing, the truth remains that we cannot control the situation. All we can control is how we react to the situation we see ahead of us. What’s steamrolling toward us that has both major parties concerned – so concerned they’re openly talking about just how likely it all is.
Some of this rhetoric is about raising awareness of the coming problem. Some of the rhetoric is about expressing the concerns individual members of Congress have and how they plan to act in the midst of the drama. But much, much more of the rhetoric is identifying that there’s common ground between large portions of the majority and minority parties – and that they need our help.
No, we cannot control the actions of a few members who want to force a political fight. We can’t force them to negotiate. But we can back up those who will.
If you have an issue you’ve been supporting through advocacy, it’s an important time for you in the coming weeks. You have an opportunity to build credibility and trust with an elected official near you. Because those members of congress are looking for help from back home.
That’s the other part of the talking points I’m hearing around my own state this August: we’re going to need your help.
Government shut downs suck all the air out of the room. Until a funding spat is resolved, the rest of the government’s business simply cannot proceed. That means every debate on every other issue also comes to a halt. And as important as your issue may feel to you, it’s important to recognize there are a few good times when it makes a lot of sense to chart a different course for your issue. A government shutdown is the big one.
If you try to continue advocacy as normal during a shut down – without any adjustments to your strategy – you’ll be seen as tone deaf. This is the perfect time to practice putting your target’s agenda in the spotlight where you can, and trying to be that critical backup voice they need to press the issue.
It’s important right now to listen for cues from your federal elected officials. Are they sending out digital surveys to their constituents on federal spending issues? They may be looking for personal stories about how a shutdown will impact their district. Are they holding town halls and speaking about what they expect in the fall? They’re clearly trying to get the word out. How can you help?
You can use this time as an opportunity to both continue to educate the public on your issue and demonstrate the setbacks you’d experience in a government shutdown. Ninety percent or more of what we do in advocacy isn’t lobbying. It’s not getting to the point of asking an elected official to take action on an issue. Rather, that 90% is about using the platforms at our disposal – and the political debate of the day – to win more people to our cause.
Get creative. Find personal, impactful ways that others can feel heroic in the midst of your issue getting sidetracked by the bigger political debate. Along the way, capture the stories and find ways to empower your congressional representatives with the solutions you’re creating along the way. Write an op-ed or a letter to the editor, call in to the local radio show. You don’t have to get into the partisanship of the debate to tell your story. You can simply tell your story and let others come to their own conclusions.
But the bottom line is this: when a disruption like this comes along, it’s not time for business as usual. Now is the time to think differently, be nimble, and feel empowered to step (temporarily) away from your big, bold plan. Take a side quest, find a way to bolster those working to resolve the debate, and make yourself more credible and trusted along the way.
From someone who’s needed that from community leaders in the past, trust me, it’s ok. You can do it. And you’ll likely win some new champions along the way.
Did you know that most members of Congress have a newsletter they send out periodically via email? This is a great way to get a view on what they’re spending their time on both in DC and back home. It’s a great source of intel if you’re looking to understand what’s important to them. They also often include surveys on the issues of the day. Use your local representatives newsletter as an opportunity to rethink how your cause can play into those priorities – especially at times when big disruptions are headed our way.
If you don’t know who your federal representative is, you can search by zip code on the House of Representatives Website (the search tool is in the top right corner of the webpage).
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