Washington DC is teeming with interest groups, lobbyists and other groups, all with the goal of trying to affect the outcome of public policy. Although the idea of interest groups and lobbyists having an effect on Congress finds disfavor with many people, it is likely that the number of interest groups and lobbyists will continue … Read more
Have you ever found yourself wondering how people get invited to give testimony before Congress? If you believe you have something valuable to contribute to congressional policy discussions it is important to learn how the process works and what you can do to receive an invitation to testify. photo credit: A Gude First, witnesses must … Read more
GOP rules governing committee term limits were adopted by House Republicans in time for the 104th Congress. Senate Republicans adopted the language nearly verbatim shortly after that. In 2001, Senate Republicans adopted a clarification to reflect that tenure in the minority does not count against the term limit for committee chairs. “Time served as Ranking … Read more
The Capitol Hill Chapter of the Federal Bar Association is hosting a luncheon with William N. LaForge, Past National President of the FBA, and author of Testifying Before Congress: A Practical Guide to Preparing and Delivering Testimony before Congress and Congressional Hearings for Agencies, Associations, Corporations, Military, NGOs, and State and Local Officials. When: Friday, … Read more
When building a public affairs website bear in mind that the guidelines for building an effective website are not the same as when building traditional public relations campaigns. When someone visits a public affairs website they expect to receive information without any spin on it. The best websites dedicated to public affairs allow visitors to … Read more
Most legislative campaigns today feature coordinated legislative efforts, and almost all lobbyists now work through legislative coalitions. The reason for this is that lobbyists recognize that there is incredible strength in numbers and that in most cases the whole is greater than the sum of the parts. photo credit: westy48 By coordinating strategies and pooling … Read more
[William] LaForge visited the Roberts-LaForge Library on the Delta State University campus Friday, Oct. 15, to speak to students, faculty, and community leaders about his career in law and politics that began with his education at Delta State. Following the presentation, LaForge signed copies of his book for members of the audience. Delta State alumnus … Read more
If you want to make effective telephone calls to key members of Congress and their staff, follow these simple guidelines. First, never give a person who answers the phone the opportunity to say no to you. Before you even place the call to a legislative office, ensure you know which staff person currently is responsible … Read more
As a witness at a Congressional hearing, you may find yourself in a position in which you will encounter members of the media either before or after the hearing. The likelihood of this will depend upon the nature of the hearing topic as well as the extent of the media and public interest in the … Read more
Congress follows public opinion quite closely. In fact, public opinion and Congress have a relationship in which public opinion can change the course of actions taken by Congress while at the same time Congress frequently seeks to influence public opinion. photo credit: The Democratic Alliance If it is your goal to drive the actions of … Read more