The beauty of the federal budget process is that no one really knows how the budget works. There’s a great scene in, the much bemoaned, season 5 of The West Wing where Josh Lyman relays just that sentiment. And I’d argue, that at the federal level, not much has changed since that episode aired. ContraryContinue reading “A Few Things to Know About the Budget Process”
Tag Archives: Lobbying
In Hard Times, Break Bread Together
Last week, I wrote about The Weight of Our Words, and the importance of semantics, or ensuring that we place the appropriate context and gravity on the words we choose in advocacy. In that piece, I indicated that today I’d be writing about how to engage with those who we expect to oppose our issues.Continue reading “In Hard Times, Break Bread Together”
Another Day in Ohio Politics…
You know, I had a plan for this week. I knew just what I was going to write about. Wouldn’t you know it, I even had one of my posts DRAFTED 3 days early. And then Ohio political news struck AGAIN! This morning, over his various social media platforms, Ohio Congressman Steve Stivers announced heContinue reading “Another Day in Ohio Politics…”
The Weight of Our Words
Words have meaning. That’s a pretty simple statement, right? Obviously words have meaning, or else we wouldn’t use them. But sit with the phrase a little longer, and you may just stumble on to why this statement is drilled into the minds of leaders at every level of our military. As a Marine officer, youContinue reading “The Weight of Our Words”
Sam’s Formula for Storytelling
Do you have a scene from a television show or movie that continues to live rent free in your mind? Mine’s pretty easy to pick. It’s stood the test of time with me – a regularly reviewed inspiration and simultaneous rebuke against me when I’m falling short. You’ll probably be able to guess that it’sContinue reading “Sam’s Formula for Storytelling”
Be bold. Be brief. Be gone.
“Be bold. Be brief. Be gone.” It’s a phrase I first heard as a young lieutenant. Like many graduates of liberal arts colleges, I’d mastered the art of adding more than enough fluff to any presentation to fill my allotted time. But what my classroom instruction failed to convey was the lack of patience theContinue reading “Be bold. Be brief. Be gone.”
It can only go so badly…
It’s important, from time to time, for advocates to be reminded that their lobbying meetings can only go so badly. The reality of our work is that the worst response we can typically get is “no.” But sometimes that’s not the low water mark of a meeting. Over the last couple of weeks I’ve workedContinue reading “It can only go so badly…”
Form Letters and Failure
I remember in my earliest years as a political volunteer that I felt an intense repulsion to the idea of helping with a letter writing campaign. In the early 2,000s, on the leading edge of social media platforms, such campaigns were far more prevalent than they are today. Advocacy organizations built strategies around helping theirContinue reading “Form Letters and Failure”
Part of the Possible 