Day on the Hill 2006 – Have No Fear

WASHINGTON, D.C. – During Tuesday morning’s Professional Landcare Network (PLANET) Day on the Hill breakfast, attendees received last minute issue briefings and were provided tips on how to make the most of their Capitol Hill visits. Learn from these pointers to make the most of your regular visits and letters to local lawmakers.  

·         Keep your points simple, discussing only one to three issues. Don’t get enamored with your member and talk about non-relevant issues – stay focused.

·         Concerning the issue of H-2B, make sure to point out that you, as part of the industry and a local businessperson, represent an outstanding solution to the worker shortage and illegal immigrant problems. This is a problem they can solve very quickly by co-sponsoring and supporting the “Save Our Small and Seasonal Businesses Act of 2006” (S. 2284, H.R. 4740). If they don’t support you and the passage of this bill, they are the ones holding back the growth of your business. Don’t be afraid to tell them that.

·         Represent the industry professionally and make sure to come away with relationships so you can continue to write lawmakers throughout the year and follow up with them. This will help you to build better relationships with your members and hold them accountable on issues.

·         When you write your local lawmakers, make sure to tell them who you are, where you live and why and how they can change the status of an important issue. This way, you make it easier for them to make instance change. This solution works much better than simply complaining to them.

·         If they don’t support you on a specific issue, make them tell you why and what you can do to change their minds.

·         Do what they say. If they are telling you they are not hearing from other business owners in your area about an issue, drum up support and help get those letters in.