LEGISLATIVE STEERING COMMITTEE AGENDA - Wacounties.org

Framework for the 2013-2015
Legislative Agenda
Our goal is to accomplish significant legislative successes in the next two years. Doing so requires a
dramatically different approach than what WSAC has attempted before. We propose a multi-year
campaign involving an integrated outreach, media, and legislative strategy.
The WSAC legislative approach is divided into two components. For more difficult issues, we will
focus on creating a foundation for future success. When success appears to be likely on an issue,
and the groundwork for success has been prepared, WSAC will pursue direct legislative action.
Creating a Foundation for Success
Many of WSAC’s current legislative priorities lack the legislative and stakeholder support necessary
to expect that a solution will be achieved in the near future. For example, it is well established that
counties have a structural problem in the way they are financed; yet WSAC has been unable to
advance legislative proposals that address this problem, either on new revenue or needed reforms.
Attaining a solution on these difficult issues requires a step-wise approach and employing a variety of
tactics, such as:
• Working internally with the county family to identify potential solutions
• Educating legislators about the scope of county responsibilities and the issues we face
• Conducting outreach to key stakeholder groups to assess what they might support and what
they might need from us in order to support our solutions
• Developing messaging
• Preparing and initiating a media strategy
• Identifying potential partners and opponents
• Mobilizing affiliates and partners
• Refining solutions based on member and stakeholder feedback
• Converting solutions into legislative language
• Identifying key legislative and stakeholder leaders
• Developing our lobbying strategy
For issues that are placed into this category, we do not expect to introduce legislative requests until
there is a reasonable chance of passage. WSAC will always take advantage of legislative
opportunities that arise serendipitously. However, staff will spend their effort on activities intended to
build a foundation for success over time.
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