a case study in “grassroots” lobbying: how madd · pdf filea case study in...

A Case Study in “Grassroots” Lobbying:How MADD Fixed the Flaw in Hawaii’s Drunk-Driving Law

Relevant Lobbying Provisions: • Grass Roots Lobbyingoccurswhenanonprofitorganizationurgesthegeneral publictotakeactiononaspecificlegislation.Keyindicatorsofgrassrootslobbying: –Relatestospecificlegislation –Reflectsapointofviewonthelegislation’smerits –Encouragesthegeneralpublictocontactlegislators

The Public Policy Situation:TheHawaiilegislaturepassedanewdrunkdrivinglawthatdeletedthe“impliedconsent”provisiondesignedtovirtuallyguaranteedriver’slicenserevocationforrefusaltotakeaBreathalyzertestafterapolicestop.Withthelegislatureadjournedandlittlemorethantwomonthsleftbeforethenewlawbecameeffective,onlyaspecialsessioncouldrestoretheprovision.

MADD’s Lobbying Strategy:Actingonpoliticalintelligence,MADDleadershipdecidedtofocuslobbyingeffortsonthegovernor,whosupportedthe“impliedconsent”provision,andthesenatepresident,RichardS.H.Wong,theonlyofficialwhocouldconvenethespecialsession.Togaintheirsupportandtheattentionofthewholepoliticalestablishment,MADDlaunchedahugegrassrootscampaigntokeepthegovernorandthesenatepresidentinthemediaspotlightwhiledemonstratingthepublic’sstrongsupportforfixingtheflawedlaw.

MADD’s Tactics:MADDchoseMemorialday—typicallyaslownewsdaywithhightrafficfatalities—tostageaneventinfrontofHawaii’sEternalFlamewarmemorial.There,beforenewscameras,MADD’slegislativechairpersonremindedHawaiianstorememberthosekilledonhighwaysaswellasinwars.Atwo-foothighsignattachedtothepodiumborethephonenumbersofthegovernorandWong.Onthesameday,MADDmembers,accompaniedbyotherhuge“callorwrite”signs,begancollectingsignaturesonapetitiontobepresentedtoWong.MADDusedonlyonemessagetogainsupport:“AfterJuly1st,mostdrunkdriverswillnotlosetheirlicensetodrive.Theywillbelegallysharingtheroadswithusandourfamilies.”

Inamedia-heavyceremonyafewdayslater,adelegationofMADDstateandchapterleaderswearingyellow“RingWong”T-shirtspresentedWongwiththepetitions.MeanwhileMADDvolunteersflashedthetwophonenumbersonheavilytraveledhighways,andthestate’smedicalassociation,togetherwiththenurse’sassociationandemergencyphysician’sassociation,heldanewsconferenceinsupportoftheMADDcampaign(MADD’sothermajorcoalitionpartnersincludedlawenforcementagencies,insurancegroups,theHawaiiConventionandVisitorsBureau,andtheChamberofCommerce).AsDemocraticsenatorialcaucusmeetingsrelatedtoamendingtheflawedlawbegan,MADDvolunteerspresentedeachsenatorwithaballoontiedtoagoldkeyandanotesaying,“Youarethekey.”

Thoughthecampaignwasdrivenbygrassrootslobbying,MADDleadershipalsousedtraditionaldirectlobbyingtechniques:buttonholingeverysenator,nosecounts,vigilsduringcaucusdeliberations,andpreparationofsenatetestimonyandwitnesses.

Public Policy Outcomes:Theimpliedconsentprovisionwasrestoredwithonlyonedissentingvote,andMADDgarneredwidecommunitysupportwithoutalienatingpoliticalleaders.

One MichiganAvenue EastBattle Creek, MI49017-4058USA269-968-1611TDD on siteTelex: 4953028Facsimile: 269-968-0413Internet: http://www.wkkf.org

HE 4411Item #563500 5/06

Definitions

• Lobbyingisvirtuallyanyadvocacyactivityaimedatinfluencinga“legislator’s”voteon specificlegislation.

• Direct Lobbyingoccurswhenanonprofitorganizationattemptstoinfluencespecific legislationbystatingapositiontoa“legislator”orothergovernmentemployeewho participatesintheformulationoflegislation.

• “Legislator”refersto – membersofCongressortheirstaff – statelegislatorsortheirstaff

– locallegislativerepresentatives(e.g.,oncountyboardsandcitycouncils) – thepublic,inthecaseofaballotmeasure –membersofanorganization(ifaskedtotakeactiononlegislation)

• Legislationisdefinedasactionbyalegislativebodyincludingtheintroduction, amendment,enactment,defeatorrepealofacts,bills,resolutions,appropriations, andbudgets.AlsoincludedaretheU.S.Senateconfirmationsofexecutiveandjudicial branchnomineesandproposedtreatiesthatneedU.S.Senateapproval.

Therearefourstatutoryexceptions: • Nonpartisananalysis,studyorresearch~mayhaveapointofviewbut

mustprovideafullandfairexpositionoftheunderlyingfactstoenable readertoformanindependentopinionorconclusiononthesubject andbewidelydisseminatedandnotlimitedtopeopleononesideof

anissue.

• Requestfortechnicaladviceorassistance~awrittenrequestfroma legislativebodythatisavailabletoallmembersoftherequestingbody.

• Self-defense~communicationonanactionwhichcouldimpactan organization’sexistence,powers,duties,tax-exemptstatus,orthe deductibilityofcontributionstotheorganization.

• Discussionofbroadsocial,economic,andsimilarproblems~discussion ongeneraltopicswhichmaybethesubjectofspecificlegislationbut mustnotrefertospecificlegislationordirectlyencourageaction.

Source:TheMADDcasefactsweredrawnfromalongercasestudyin“LobbyingSuccessStories:ExamplesofHowNonprofitLobbyingHasChangedOrganizationsandChangedLives,”apublicationoftheCenterforLobbyinginthePublicInterest,www.clpi.org.