WASHINGTON — As a former member of Congress, Hill staffer, and now lobbyist, CUNA President/CEO Dan Mica handed out advice for legislative visits to readers of The Hill newspaper in its "K Street Insiders" section.
He said that as a member of Congress, he appreciated when constituents came in to visit him, made their point clearly and quickly and were respectful of his time. "Unfortunately," Mica wrote, "not everyone follows these basics."
He continued, "First and foremost, make sure everyone is on message." Pick someone from the group who can quickly and clearly articulate the message but prepare everyone for questions.
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"Time management is critical…We caution our folks that small talk should last no longer than the 30 seconds it takes to greet the member and walk to a
chair," Mica advised.
Never assume that the member of Congress has the same level of focus on an issue, he said. And in disagreements with legislators, keep your cool.
Finally, congressional schedules change all the time and are out of the members' hands so advocates must be able to think on their feet "literally." He explained, "The 20-minute meeting that was scheduled in the senator's office may turn into a brief walk-and-talk from one hearing to the next."
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