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Factor
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Questions & Comments
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Sound
Technical & Policy Arguments/Solutions |
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Do
you really know the facts and substance of the
issues? Do positions ring true and make sense?
Are proposed solutions understandable and
logical? |
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Level
of Congressional Understanding of Issues |
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Do
relevant Committees/Members understand issues?
Does full House and Senate? |
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Nature
& Scope of Legislation |
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Offense
or defense (i.e., pass or stop action)?
Comprehensive or narrow changes? Technical?
Broad or limited industry impact? |
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Media
Coverage |
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Positive
or negative? Extensive or occasional articles?
Balanced or one-sided coverage? |
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Public
& Congressional Perceptions |
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Problem?
Unfair? Abuse? Good or bad? |
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Strong
General Grassroots Interest |
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Is
there existing general public support or
opposition on the issue? (E.g., Cut my taxes!
Don't cut my Social Security!) |
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Impact
on Local Voters |
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How
might the issue impact on Senate/House
Member/local constituents? Do they and/or
their voters know this? |
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Costs,
Jobs & Competitiveness |
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What
budgetary/tax cost impacts are involved? Will
jobs be created or lost? Does the issue impact
U.S. global competitiveness positively or
negatively? |
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Grassroots
Lobbying Targeted At Key Senate/House Members |
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Do
interested parties have significant in-house
grassroots capabilities for targeted
officials? Can they afford to hire grassroots
firm? |
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Committee
and/or Subcommittee Support & Interest
Level |
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What
are positions of Chairmen, Ranking Members,
other Committee members? Are they really
interested? What are their other
priorities? |
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Congressional
Leadership(s) Positions |
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Active
support or opposition? Indifference? Behind
scenes help or attack? |
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Administrations
Position |
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Major
Presidential priority? Personal Presidential
involvement? |
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Political
Strength & Level of Commitment of Leading
Sponsors/Supporters (i.e., A Good Horse) |
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Are
sponsors powerful, capable and committed to
issue? Real or token support? |
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Campaign
Contributions |
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What
past campaign contributions have interested
parties made? What future contributions might
they make? |
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Timing |
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Is
time available in legislative schedule? Is
issue viewed as ripe for action? Might it have
a significant election impact? Is a
legislative vehicle available for action? |
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Nature
& Strength of Opposition |
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Who
are opponents and how are they perceived? Are
they well organized? Well funded? Highly
motivated? |
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Direct
Contacts by Professional Lobbyists with
Senate/House Members & Staff |
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Are
lobbyists actively working issue? How many
lobbyists are involved and who are they? How
much political clout do they have? Is the
issue a priority for them? What else are they
working on? |
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CEO
Involvement |
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Are
high profile CEOs willing to participate in
Hill visits? Will CEOs help recruit
industry/coalition support? Are CEOs backing
lobbying effort with substantial economic
resources? |
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Industry
Positions |
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Is
this an issue of interest to broad industry
groups? Is there an industry consensus or
split? |
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Coalition
Lobbying Efforts |
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Are
lobbying coalitions involved? Can you form a
strong, broad-based, well managed, formal
coalition? Who should be in it? Is a coalition
opposing you? |
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Significant
Economic Resource Commitment to Lobbying
Program |
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Do
you and allies understand level of economic
commitment required to win or at least be
competitive? Are parties willing and able to
fund a credible and competitive lobbying
effort? |
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Lobbying
Strategy |
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What
is the general lobbying strategy? Is it
sound/realistic? What=s the likelihood of
success? Should it be changed? What are the
alternatives? |
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Planning
& Management of Lobbying Program |
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How
can lobbying program be designed and carried
out most effectively and efficiently? How will
the activities be coordinated and managed? |
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Quality
of Lobbying Materials & Presentations |
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Are
lobbying materials clear, concise and
professional quality? Are they interesting and
understandable? Do they communicate
effectively? |
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Personal
Relationships of Lobbyists & Clients with
key Senate/House Members & staff |
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Which
of the lobbyists and/or their clients have
strong personal relationships with key
Congressional policy makers? |
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Lobbyists
Judgments & Skills |
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Is
your lobbyist an experienced professional with
a proven successful track-record? Does your
lobbyist offer sound, reasoned judgments? Does
your lobbyist understand your industry and
have a good substantive knowledge of the key
relevant issues? |
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Other
Lobbying/PR Tactics |
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What
other lobbying/PR tactics might be helpful?
(E.g., trade-off or link with other issues;
compromise; spotlight A horror stories; raise
jurisdictional or procedural concerns; etc.) |
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