15-Minute Advocate: Gearing Up for the 2013 Legislative Session

Find out how to stay up-to-date with legislative happenings this session.
(Published Jan 7, 2013)

Does legislative advocacy seem like something you just don’t have the time or budget for? Or perhaps you just don’t know where to start? Well, we’ve got good news for you! There are many simple things you can do—without spending a lot of time and money—to stay tuned to what’s happening at the Capitol during this session, which begins on Jan. 8.

1. Get Informed
The 15-Minute Advocate is a timely tool for city officials who wish to advocate on behalf of their communities. During the legislative session, The 15-Minute Advocate provides basic, key information on an issue. Articles are written when pressing issues warrant particular messages or action by our members.

Members will be encouraged to personalize and localize the impacts of an issue on their residents and city, and then to take a specific action. Regardless of the issue, the goal is to provide information that members can read, consider, and take action on in 15 minutes or less.

2. Take Action
Many legislators’ districts were recently changed by redistricting, and they are still getting to know their new constituents. Simply letting your legislators know that you are with the city of ___ could come in handy later when they may want to ask for your perspective on an idea for legislation.

Take a minute to call (yes, call) or email your state senator and representative to introduce (or reintroduce) yourself and your city, and to offer yourself as a resource on local issues. Be sure to provide legislative staff with your name, phone number, and email address for convenient correspondence.

You probably share stories about your city every day as you explain issues and changes to your residents. Getting to know your legislator is no different. Explain the ways in which their decisions in St. Paul will affect your community.

3. Stay Involved
Now that you’ve taken the first steps and reconnected with your legislators, consider these other tools to help you stay up-to-date on the issues that impact your city:

  • Third Reading. The League’s newest tool—a newsfeed of the latest legislative happenings available at www.lmc.org/3R. Be sure to bookmark it!
  • Twitter.com. Check it for updates from the League’s intergovernmental relations (IGR) staff, and also be sure to follow #lmcleg.
    Access IGR staff Twitter handles.
  • Cities Bulletin. Receive legislative articles via email every Monday during the legislative session (and bi-weekly in the interim) when you sign up for this free e-newsletter.
  • Member forums/listservs. Sign up to find out about information on topics like finance development, telecommunications, elections, housing, and general legislative information.
  • Come to the Capitol. Attend the League’s annual Joint Legislative Conference on March 21 to join hundreds of other local officials for issue briefings in the morning, followed by a visit to the Capitol to meet with your legislators. Registration will be open soon on the LMC Upcoming Events page.
  • Action alerts. You may receive emails from League staff throughout the session if your legislator serves on a key committee for legislation important to cities.
  • Webinars. Watch them live (or recorded on our website) after key state budget forecasts are released.
  • IGR staff. They can help answer questions about a specific issue area, visiting the Capitol, or how to contact your legislator.
  • Legislative website. Check out the newly designed legislative homepage to familiarize yourself with resources at your fingertips.
  • Videos. Stay tuned for videos on our website for tips on how to get around the Capitol and on League priorities.

You are your city’s best advocate. Let your legislators know it by taking one step this legislative session to build that relationship with them.

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