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Lobbying
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
The First Amendment of the United States Constitution
In September 2021 the Freedom Forum, a nonpartisan foundation, released survey results after asking more than 3,000 Americans how they feel about the First Amendment. The survey, titled, “The First Amendment: Where America Stands” found that amid disagreements on practically every aspect of modern life, one value unites the vast majority of Americans: 94% of respondents—across generations and the political spectrum—view the First Amendment as “vital.”
Lobbying is one of the oldest professions globally; people at all levels have used lobbyists as intermediaries between Kings, Queens, and even entire Empires. Our own First Amendment guarantees that all American citizens can “petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
“Grievances” is loosely defined here, which means that any person or organization can lobby policy changes, introduce or attempt to defeat a particular law, or even present an amendment to existing law. Lobbying work happens in our government at every level: local, state, and national levels are all involved in some way in lobbying activities.
What are some Examples of Lobbying Activities?
- Research issues and curate recommendations
- Lobby policy changes with public interest groups to generate support
- Craft a strategic plan to meet with key members of Congress to present your issue
- Encourage decision-makers to introduce business-friendly legislation
- Network and cultivate connections for future help with laws and legislations
- Providing relevant business information and values to decision-makers when you are in their districts and among their voters
- Partner with like-minded people and organizations to build coalitions
As an Arizona lobbyist with over twenty years of experience, Chad has direct relationships with top Arizona legislative officials at the local, state, and national levels. These lawmakers, legislative aides, and government officials are actively making decisions that affect your business, and having proper representation is essential.
Chad has provided lobbying services before the Arizona legislature for national, regional and statewide entities for many years. This representation includes drafting of proposed legislation, active engagement in planning of legislation strategies, individual contacts with legislators, representatives of the administration, and political party officials, as well as preparation for and delivery of testimony before committees and solicitation of support on legislative issues.
Most of Chad’s lobbying clients have been continuously represented for many years. This longtime and consistent representation in the halls of the legislature has bolstered both Chad’s and the client’s reputation on legislative matters.
Chad has been successful in assisting clients in successfully capturing the pertinent points of issues involved in proposed legislation, and preparing presentations which allow legislators to understand the perspectives important to the client.
Chad has a broad range of policy experience at the state and local level:
- State Medicaid System
- Commercial Health Insurance Policy
- State Sales Tax (Transaction Privilege Tax)
- State Income Tax
- Business Property Tax
- Personal Income Tax
- Workers Compensation
- Unemployment Insurance
- State Transportation Policy
- K-12 Education Policy
- Higher Education Policy
- Alcohol Industry Policy
- State Medicaid System
- Diabetes and Health-Related Issues
- State Sales Tax (Transaction Privilege Tax)
- State Income Tax
- Business Property Tax
- Personal Income Tax
- Workers Compensation
- Unemployment Insurance
- State Transportation Policy
- K-12 Education Policy
- Higher Education Policy
Public Affairs
“I suppose it is tempting, if the only tool you have is a hammer, to treat everything as if it were a nail.”
Abraham Maslow
Executing robust public affairs strategies for our clients is the core of our work. Public affairs work combines government relations, media communications, issue management, corporate and social responsibility, information dissemination and strategic communications advice. Heinrich Public Affairs can take the complex issues that your business is facing and utilize the tools of public affairs to help your company move forward the issue or the desired change that will benefit your business.
Issues Advocacy
The Arizona business, nonprofit, and government communities are engaged with multiple issues that need proper resolution through the government.
There multiple venues and platforms that can be vehicles for positive change. This is an opportunity for small to medium businesses to make their issues heard.
There are several organizations that Chad is a member of, or has contact with, which are platforms for the issues and problems that are important to your business. Chad understands that issues advocacy is often essential for forming coalitions or gaining support for a particular issue.
Chad has always been great to work with. He is service oriented and accomodating, even when schedule conflicts make accomodations difficult. When he was with the Secretary of State, he knew his job and executed well.
Strategic Planning
Complex governmental issues for medium to large businesses are typically not included as part of a company’s strategic planning. However, businesses in Arizona will benefit from a strong direction in planning, related to legislation and laws that can hurt business growth and hinder development.
Chad and the team provide strategic planning services that document strong action with all of your business stakeholders through crafting a plan that will create positive change. This plan will create a pivot for your entire organization to consider governmental action as a necessary part of doing business.
Chad and I have worked professionally to improve the business climate in South Dakota. I am the Chair of the Business Law Committee of the SD State Bar Assn and Chad was Deputy Director of the SD Secretary of State’s office. We made a great team while working on business legislation in SD. Chad brings that same sense of “get it done right” attitude to his work as a financial advisor.
Chad served as my Deputy Secretary of State for five years. He did an outstanding job of partnering with me to lead this office. He was responsible for staff management, budgeting, developing and lobbying for our legislative priorities, and project oversight. I highly recommend Chad with an emphasis on reliability and customer service.
Benefits of Incorporating a Strategic Plan For Government Relations
Legislation and laws that negatively affect business will almost always impact the larger Arizona business community. Businesses that need changes in policy to grow their business can incorporate a governmental relations as part of their long-term strategic planning. Doing this will ensure that your business is at the table when issues are being deliberated, and Heinrich Public Affairs can ensure your perspective is considered and accommodated in any policy changes.
Example of a plan:
- Consultation with a client to understand the issue and depth of change needed
- Identifying problems, objectives, and end results
- Brings experience of the governmental systems and levers that can be used to effect the change
- Identifying advocates, stakeholders, specific agencies, and government officials
- Sue the state, change the law, or both are options for what needs to be done
“Lobbying serves an important function in politics – by putting forward the views of stakeholders to policy makers, it helps in the development of better legislation”