Transparent and In Compliance: The Importance of Following Lobbying Guidelines When lobbying, it is critical to be aware of the regulations and laws pertaining to lobbying in order to ensure you are acting ethically and legally. Integrity is your currency as a lobbyist. If you are acting unethically when lobbying, you may earn a negative reputation that will make it almost impossible to get an audience with legislators and key stakeholders. Depending on the severity of your actions, you could also lose your ability to lobby. For that reason, it is critical that you ensure that you are doing ev ..read more

Examining the Past to Predict the 2024 Republican Primary Candidate As our nation looks to the 2024 Presidential election, an examination of the not-so-distant past can also give us an idea of how the upcoming election may play out. It is most important to understand the dynamics that led to Trump’s election so that we can best predict what the future holds in store. Photo by History in HD on UnsplashWho Could Beat President Trump and Who Is Going to Try? Recently I’ve read numerous articles from political pundits on the 2024 Presidential election. I’ve paid particular attention to the commen ..read more

What inequities do you see in Utah healthcare? What issues concern you? What things do you wish could be changed to improve the patient experience? Everyone has had negative experiences as patients in healthcare and wished that there was a way to improve healthcare.  Healthcare providers may be concerned about burnout and safety. Insurance companies may have concerns with billing and reimbursement rates. Lobbying provides a way to impact healthcare by educating and advocating for improvements and reform in healthcare. Case Study: Utah’s Senate Bill 27 & Senate Bill 28 Physician Assist ..read more

With the development of new technologies that allow firms to produce at a faster and more efficient rate comes the creation of taxes and manufacturing regulations that are put in place to ensure that convenience does not come before safety. For manufacturers these taxes and regulations can feel prohibitive. Manufacturers can work with lobbyists to advocate for change to ease the burden of restrictions from taxes and regulations. Recent Industry Production and Employment The last fifty years have brought with them a surplus of changes and new circumstances. For starters, while manufacturing’s G ..read more

One of the most effective ways to make your voice heard in the political arena is through the help of a lobbyist. While it is extremely important to find the correct lobbyist suited for your case, this is only the beginning of the lobbying process. Once the correct lobbyist has been found, it is time to begin strategizing which lobbying techniques will be used to approach and resolve the issue.  There are a variety of lobbying techniques that professional lobbyists use in order to assist their clients including working with the legislature, gaining the support of the executive branch, wor ..read more

The Impact of Technology  The world’s dependence on technology has become more prevalent in recent years, its purpose being to disrupt the traditional processes we follow in order to perform daily tasks. In 2019 alone, the world spent $3.360 billion on a variety of technology products and services.  With technology becoming such an integral part of our society, it has become increasingly common that prominent tech companies expand their outreach geographically to grow in international prominence.  This expansion of technology’s influence and audience has led to a strong correlat ..read more

Lobbyists are Topic Specialists How does lobbying benefit the government? Well, lobbyists are topic specialists. When they are working with a client, they take the time to understand the complexities of the issue. In order to adequately represent a client, a lobbyist must become a subject matter expert on the topic. A lobbyist needs to know all angles of the issue as well as possible objections to the topic. By the time a lobbyist begins having meetings with legislators, they become a specialist in the area of the topic. Lobbyists Ensure a More Informed Legislature Lobbying helps ensure a more ..read more

Understanding how lobbying works is very important. Lobbying is a popular method for influencing change. Lobbyists have helped thousands if not millions of companies and organizations get the attention of legislators and impact change. Two Types of Lobbying: Direct lobbyists (inside lobbyists) Try to meet with and influence  government officials and their staff directly. Indirect lobbyists (outside lobbyists): Try to meet with and influence people who can influence government officials and staff. They are working with the influencers, the people who have an influence on the lawmakers. L ..read more

What is a Referendum and Why Does it Matter?  A referendum gives the people the opportunity to oppose something that the legislature has passed. It matters because it gives the general public the opportunity to accept or reject decisions made by the legislature. If there is legislation that you feel strongly about, it is possible to turn it over with a referendum. Referendums can also be made to make constitutional changes at the local or state government level.  History of the Word Referendum The word referendum comes from the Latin referee, which means to carry back. Referendums al ..read more

Working with Lobbyists: A Five-Step Process  Lobbyists work to facilitate the process of change and improvement in a variety of different environments and circumstances. Whether it be on a government, community, business, or personal level, they help the common man’s voice be heard.  While it can appear daunting to begin working with a lobbyist, the process of collaborating with a lobbyist can be broken down into five simple steps: identify the problem and desired solution, find an experienced lobbyist, collaborate on a plan, establish a price agreement, and carry out the plan. Now l ..read more