How to Choose a Lobbyist

Since the early 2000s, there has been a steady increase in the amount of government activity that has directly affected healthcare stakeholders. Prior to this time-period, companies could afford to focus only on differentiating their products from their competitors. Now companies are finding that during their strategic planning meetings, they must account for how state and federal government activity may impact their bottom line. In addition to having a Government Affairs staff, these same companies are starting to realize the importance of having established a relationship with a lobbyist. The question is how do you find the right lobbyist for your organization? 

First you want to make sure the lobbyist has experience. To be a good lobbyist there is no magic number of how many years you have worked within the political system. However; many lobbyists have worked an average of six months in the legislature as an aide to a legislator or on the other side of the spectrum, many legislators have left the legislature to work as a lobbyist. These individuals have an insider’s perspective into how the legislature works such as when a bill filing deadline date is and whether or not a bill can be introduced due to if a state is in an emergency session where the rules for introducing legislation is different from regular session. 

Second the lobbyist should have a minimum number of contacts in the legislature. Whether it is in Congress or on the state level, the lobbyist should be able to have a go to legislator that can get a bill introduced quickly. However; the most successful lobbyist will not be limited to one party. Having contacts on both sides of the aisle will allow the lobbyist the opportunity to bring any bill at any time regardless of what political party has the majority.   

Third the best lobbyist should be strategic. He or she should be able to know when a good time to introduce legislation is. The lobbyist should know what legislator to target as the bill sponsor. This is important because the bill sponsor will be the champion for your particular bill from start to finish. The lobbyist will need to educate the bill sponsor on the nuances of the bill so that the sponsor will be educated enough to be able to respond to technical questions during a hearing or when the sponsor is in caucus meetings; explaining to their respective party about why your bill should be voted on. The lobbyists should be able to pick and choose what committee will be best for your bill to go into, who to use as strategic allies for your legislation and be intuitive enough on when to negotiate and when not to.   

Next it is important for your lobbyist to know the industry and to have foresight. You need to be comfortable knowing that your lobbyist understands your industry because if not, how can you be sure that your lobbyist is communicating the correct outcome for you? The lobbyist should be skilled enough to draft a bill that solves your problem without having to continuously ask you how something works. Additionally, while many lobbyists only focus on the legislature, the best lobbyists will think long-term to determine if a regulatory body will be involved once your bill passes. If so a lobbyist should be able to guide you through the regulatory process without leaving you to fend for yourself after a bill has passed. 

Finally, as with any other professional, you need to be aware of the reputation your lobbyist has. Do they take the time to make sure their clients understand everything that is happening? Does the lobbyist prepare the client and relevant legislators ahead of time for crucial hearings? Does the lobbyist make everything easy to understand? Does the lobbyist dress appropriately for meetings and do they have the needed respect from the legislature? Does the lobbyist closely follow the bill from start to finish or are they overloaded with too many clients? These are important issues to talk with your prospective lobbyist about before entering into a contractual relationship. 

While there are other nuances to the lobbying relationship, these should be enough for you to think about as your organization considers whether to engage a lobbyist. Lobbyist should no longer be considered a luxury item. The best lobbyist are quickly becoming essential parts of today’s corporate environment for the value they bring to their clients in either advancing their interests through legislation, or being available to respond to legislative targeting that has been on the rise. You know you have picked the right lobbyist when you can breathe a sigh of relief knowing that they have your back.  

Lanton Law is a national boutique law and government affairs firm that closely monitors legislative, regulatory and legal developments for our clients. We help stakeholders understand what’s at issue so that we can help our valued clients achieve their priorities. Contact us to learn about how either our legal or lobbying services can help you attain your goals.

President Biden Issues Executive Order Aimed at Multiple Industries

President Biden has issued an Executive Order (EO) titled Executive Order on Promoting Competition in the American Economy. The EO advocates for promoting “competition in the American economy, which will lower prices for families, increase wages for workers, and promote innovation and even faster economic growth.” In doing so multiple sectors of the economy including labor, healthcare, transportation, agriculture, communications, technology, banking and finance have been targeted.    

As our economy emerges from the pandemic, we foresee that state and federal policymakers will be taking a look to see what laws need to be strengthened or reworked for our reimagined economy. 

Lanton Law is a national boutique law and lobbying firm that focuses on highly regulated industries such as healthcare, technology, and finance. If you are an industry stakeholder with questions about the current landscape or if you would like to discuss how your organization’s strategic initiatives might be impacted by either Congress, regulatory agencies or legal decisions, contact us today.

New York Reaches Agreement To Legalize Adult-Use Cannabis

According to Governor Cuomo’s press release, the Governor, “Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie announced an agreement on legislation (S.854-A/A.1248-A) to legalize adult-use cannabis.

The bill would establish the Office of Cannabis Management to implement a comprehensive regulatory framework that would cover medical, adult-use and cannabinoid hemp. The bill would also expand New York State's existing medical marijuana and cannabinoid hemp programs. The legislation provides licensing for marijuana producers, distributors, retailers, and other actors in the cannabis market, and creates a social and economic equity program to assist individuals disproportionately impacted by cannabis enforcement that want to participate in the industry.”  

The New York State Cannabis/Marijuana Regulation & Taxation Act address the following issues:

• Establish the Office of Cannabis Management

• Medical Cannabis

• Adult-Use Cannabis

• Cannabinoid Hemp

• Adult-Use Cannabis Tax Revenue

• Municipal Opt-Out

• Traffic Safety

• Personal Possession and Home Cultivation

• Criminal Justice and Record Expungement

• Protections for the Use of Cannabis and Workplace Safety

• Public Health and Education Campaign

Lanton Law is a national boutique law and lobbying firm that focuses on healthcare/life sciences and technology. Specifically our cannabis practice helps all supply chain entities from growers, financiers, suppliers, dispensers to ancillary services.

If you are an industry stakeholder with questions about the current landscape or if you would like to discuss how your organization’s strategic initiatives might be impacted by either Congress, regulatory agencies or legal decisions,contact us today.

U.S. House of Representatives Passes Farm Workforce Modernization Act

Last week the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Farm Workforce Modernization Act. The bill known as H.R. 1603 is sponsored by Representative Lofgren (D-CA). According to the Congresswoman’s press release the bill “aims to provide a compromise solution that makes meaningful reforms to the H-2A agricultural guestworker program and creates a first-of-its-kind, merit-based visa program specifically designed for the nation’s agricultural sector.”  

A summary of the  bill can be found here. The bill now heads to the U.S. Senate.

At Lanton Law our food law practice helps farmers, ranchers and similarly situated stakeholders attain their strategic priorities. Contact us to learn about how either our legal or lobbying services can help you attain your goals. 

Lanton Law Attends 2021 American Farm Bureau Virtual Convention

Lanton Law was a participant in the 2021 American Farm Bureau Virtual Convention #AFBF21. The January 10-13, 2021 event covered a variety of topics such as the 2020 EPA Navigable Waters Protection Rule, country of origin labeling (COOL), climate change, mental health and broadband access to name a few issues. 

A new incoming Administration and a new Congress will bring new opportunities for farming and ranching in 2021. At Lanton Law our food law practice helps farmers, ranchers and similarly situated stakeholders attain their strategic priorities. Contact us to learn about how either our legal or lobbying services can help you attain your goals.

The Farm System Reform Act of 2019 Seeks to Level the Farming & Rancher Playing Field

Earlier this year, U.S. Senator Booker (D-NJ) unveiled The Farm System Reform Act of 2019 also known as S.3221. This proposed bill seeks to revitalize independent family farm agriculture and ensure a level playing field for all farmers and ranchers. 

The Farm System Reform Act of 2019 would, among other things, strengthen the Packers & Stockyards Act to crack down on the monopolistic practices of multinational meatpackers and corporate integrators, place a moratorium on large industrial animal operations, sometimes referred to as concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs), and restore mandatory country-of-origin labeling requirements.

According to the Senator’s release, below are a few issues that this bill seeks to address:

• Place an immediate moratorium on new and expanding large CAFOs, and phase out by 2040 the largest CAFOs as defined by the Environmental Protection Agency

• Hold corporate integrators responsible for pollution and other harm caused by CAFOs

• Provide a voluntary buyout for farmers who want to transition out of operating a CAFO

• Strengthen the Packers and Stockyards Act to protect family farmers and ranchers, including:

  • Prohibit the use of unfair tournament or ranking systems for paying contract growers

  • Protect livestock and poultry farmers from retaliation

  • Create market transparency and protect farmers and ranchers from predatory purchasing practices

• Restore mandatory country-of-origin labeling requirements for beef and pork and expand to dairy products

• Prohibit the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) from labeling foreign imported meat products as “Product of USA”

At Lanton Law our food law practice helps farmers, ranchers and similarly situated stakeholders attain their strategic priorities. Contact us to learn about how either our legal or lobbying services can help you attain your goals.