Written by Rex Bartlett, Senior Associate, Policy & Government Affairs at Molera Alvarez, and VYP Board Member
Some of the most rewarding experiences I have had as a member of the Board of Directors for the Valley Young Professionals have been hearing about other industries that VYP members work in, and how those industries fit into the economy of Arizona. Learning about the diverse sectors of our economy also has taught me that though many of our jobs and responsibilities may never overlap, there are still plenty of parallels in development and lessons to be learned from one another. As contentious as government relations can be, I wanted to share some lessons I have gained from the past legislative session and hopefully impart some wisdom from our state’s capital.
Build Coalitions
In Arizona, we have a divided, or as some more optimistic people coin it, a shared government, meaning that the legislature and the Governor are of opposite political parties. In effect, that means that if you want to get a bill passed or something added to the budget, you’re going to need bipartisan support. Party identity isn’t, however, the only way to split the legislature. Whether a legislator is urban or rural, native Arizonans or transplant, a parent or not, can all change the way they may feel about a bill.
One of the best ways to use this to your advantage is to build a coalition to help support your efforts. When you reach out to other stakeholders or organizations that align with your interest in the issue, they also bring all the cross sections of their perspective into helping you accomplish your shared goal. Whether in passing a bill or closing a deal, those separate motivations can help to shore up shortcomings or highlight the variable benefits of any collaboration.
Get Creative
In this year’s budget there has been a confluence of events that have led to a slimmer budget than in many years past. When in the past there was more money to work with in the budget, members of the legislature decided that rather than work with members to build or invest in collaborative projects, every member got a certain portion of the budget to do with what they will. Years later, much of that money went unspent and was clawed back into the budget. The whole effort is not creating momentum or a sustainable budget process.
This year leaders in the Arizona House of Representatives and their partners in the Senate have been working to minimize cuts to critical programs and to adopt the federal tax law to help promote small business in Arizona. Most folks at the beginning of the session were worried that the legislature would have to pick and choose winners and losers in the budget but thanks to clever adjustments to funding sources and public private partnerships Phoenix remains one of the top investment locations in the country.
Plan and Be Prepared for it to Fall Apart
Every year in January when the legislature convenes government relations professionals and their clients from all industries and deploy their plan for how they intend to make their efforts successful. As well crafted and well informed many of these strategies are, very few manage to withstand the rigor of being pulled in 90 different directions from the Representatives and Senators. None of the ones that do come out in the same way that they went in.
The best plan that you can make to turn a bill into a law is to be flexible. From stakeholder meetings to committee hearings, to amending and voting there are lots of opportunities for bills to die. You can’t account for everything that may happen at the capital, but you can be prepared for change. Government relations often come down to a game of inches, small gradual changes which can compound to great effect, but that requires adaptability and the patience to execute it.
While the government is made of people just like you or I, having the right people on your team makes all the difference. The Molera Alvarez team is ready to connect and help turn your goals into successes. Reach out today to find out more: info@ma-firm.com.
