NOTE: Alma Winberry of Great Falls participated in Northern Plains’ first Lobby Day of the 2017 session on Jan. 25. Here are her thoughts on learning to be a grassroots lobbyist.
At the Northern Plains Resource Council’s Lobby Day at the state Capitol Jan. 25, passionate Montanans found many ways to convince legislators to improve the lives of all of us. Training, practice, role playing, meeting, discussing, summarizing, redirecting, teaming up, observation, educating, and accepting all in pursuit of that perfect response, “Yes, I am in support of the HB 296!”
Thinking on your feet
Some of the things you learn about being a citizen lobbyist for Northern Plains is to think on your feet, muster all the experience you have, take it in in a few seconds, change your game plan at a moment’s notice, and drop your ego at the door. When all is said and done, you have the feeling of being integrally involved in the democratic process laid out so well by our very insightful forefathers centuries ago.
The night before our Lobby Day, Northern Plains staff gave us talking points about House Bill 296, which would form a task force to study Montana’s preparedness for hazardous materials incidents on the rails and roads.
The who’s, why’s and wherefores helped stimulate our brain as a group to stimulate our faculties for delivering our individual testimonies before the committee in the morning. Preparing for testimony is a weighty task. It has to be done in a quick and expedient manner. After initial testimony is given before the committee, most points have to be given on a 30-second, “let’s walk and talk” with members of the committee in the Capitol hallways.
Industry too comfortable
During training, ample time and opportunity was given to practice our message before our committee meeting behind closed doors and in front of the mic. However, nothing prepared us for the onslaught of opposition to HB 296 after we gave heart-wrenching, practical, visual examples of the fragility of the rail lines and the inadequacies of hazardous material preparedness across Montana. It was evident that industry was comfortable in repeatedly saying, “We have this covered!” when indeed the opposite is true. Many examples were given with handouts that probably brought up the question to many a legislator, “Just how am I going to vote on this bill?”
Even though there was thorough preparation, practice, and planning, sometimes as a citizen lobbyist you just have to “wing it.” That’s what my team did in order to meet our goal of making contact with our targeted legislators. We sent a note with a House page to speak with Rep. Ray Shaw, who was on the House floor, which was closed to the public at that time. That worked! Rep. Shaw was polite and asked us for more information on the bill.
Strength in numbers, showing up
The most brilliant strategy as a citizen lobbyist is the many parts of the state we came from. We had people from Missoula, Red Lodge, Miles City, Glendive, Great Falls, and Billings. When you look at the range territory we covered sent a message to the committee of the seriousness of citizens across the state. Committee members took note when hearing citizens become passionate about protecting land, water, and people. This is reinforced when the same legislators hear your points again in individual contacts in the hallways. They pay attention, take note, speak with you seriously, and share their concerns so that follow up contact can be made. Our efforts helped Northern Plains staff with follow-up. We had put a human face on the topic or bill.
The best part of Lobby Day was to observe ownership of a bill by the sponsor, Rep. Denise Hayman, who repeatedly deflected detractors, questionable views, and misleading points. She showed leadership in helping Montana be more prepared in case of hazardous materials disasters in rural areas with this legislation.
Will HB 296 successfully advance? We will be watching.
Northern Plains member Alma Winberry is a retired special-education teacher in Great Falls, Montana.
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