This document provides an overview of government affairs training for chamber executives. It discusses the importance of being involved in government affairs to advocate for business interests. It outlines obstacles to advocacy and provides tips to overcome them. The document then presents a four step process to build a successful government affairs program: 1) identify priority issues, 2) spread the word to members, officials and the community, 3) develop a grassroots network, and 4) follow up and ensure accountability. Specific tactics are provided for each step, such as surveying members, informing officials of policy stances, and developing a legislative scorecard.

1. Government Affairs Chamber
Training
Mid-America Chamber
Executives

2. Midwest Regional Office
One of 7 regional offices - Office of
Congressional and Public Affairs
Represents: MN, WI, IA, NE, ND, SD
Team: John Kirchner, Executive Director
Ethan Hellier, Manager

3. Why be involved in Government Affairs?
Public policy affects your members
Elected officials need to hear from you as the “voice
of business”
Your members can’t accomplish alone what they
can together
If you don’t, someone else will; and the #1 reason

4. Why be involved in Government Affairs?
Fulfill your Mission Statement:
Voice for business
Promote economic growth and development
Advocate for the business community

5. Why be involved in Government Affairs?
“Business must learn the lesson long ago learned by labor and other
self-interest groups. This lesson is that political power is necessary;
that such power must be assiduously cultivated and that, when
necessary, it must be used aggressively and with determination –
without the reluctance which has been so characteristic of American
business.”
-- Justice Lewis F. Powell, 1971, in a memo to the U.S.
Chamber of Commerce, prior to his appointment to the
U.S. Supreme Court

6. Overcoming obstacles to advocacy
Shattering the myths . . .
“Our chamber isn’t political.”
Neither are pro-business public policy statements. Issues are
not partisan.
“It will jeopardize our tax status.”
Actually, it won’t. In1975, the tax code was changed to permit a
501(c)6 organization to administer and solicit funds for political
activities. As a result, today many chambers are forming
political action committees to endorse and support pro-business
candidates.

7. Overcoming obstacles to advocacy
“It’s not our job and our by-laws prohibit
political activity.”
Your by-laws can be changed to match your mission, or your
mission statement should be changed to match you by-laws.
“Someone might get mad; we could lose
members.”
It will make more people happy and it will allow you to recruit
new, stronger members who share your chamber’s vision for
creating a healthier business climate.

8. Four Steps to a Successful Government
Affairs Program
STEP 1: Identify the issues that matter most to your
members and then develop a policy agenda
STEP 2: Spread the word
STEP 3: Mobilize the troops (Grassroots)
STEP 4: Follow-up and hold decision makers accountable

9. STEP 1: Adopt Policy
Establish a legislative or government affairs committee
to identify issues of importance
Those you should consider avoiding placing on your
committee include:
• Elected Officials: Mayors, city council members,
city government employees
• Political party leaders
• School superintendent or other association
leaders

10. STEP 1: Adopt Policy
What do your members care about? Survey them and
find out!
Pick your battles carefully. Avoid controversial issues
that may split your membership, especially at first.
Use the resources provided by your state chamber and
the U.S. Chamber.
Specific policies vs. broad policy statements
Politics vs. Policy

11. The All-purpose Agenda
Sample policy statement:
The Anywhere Chamber of Commerce believes that adequate and affordable health
care is important to all citizens. To ensure our member companies can offer the
best possible options to their employees, we encourage:
Greater options for individuals to choose the coverage that best meets
individual needs and circumstances.
Efforts to make health care affordable to small businesses and the self
employed.
Medical malpractice and other legal reforms that will make health care more
affordable and accessible.

12. STEP 2: Spread the Word
Inform your Membership
Create and publish your legislative agenda
Include your agenda/adopted policies in your
newsletter, email and social media communications
As the issues move forward, update your members
on the progress

13. STEP 2: Spread the Word
Inform your Community
Promote newspaper articles featuring local businesses
that highlight your position
Write letters to the editor, signed by your board
chairman, that outlines your position(s)
Schedule meetings with newspaper editorial boards
and key volunteers (board chairman, legislative
committee chairman, etc.)
Look for unique ways to get your message out (Example:
Partner with local media outlets to provide regular updates/activities)

14. STEP 2: Spread the Word
Inform your Elected Officials
Provide written policy statements to all appropriate
elected officials
Ask them to identify where they stand on your issues
Hold meetings with your legislative committee and
elected officials to discuss your issues
Boldly explain why your issues are important to the
health of the business community

15. STEP 2: Spread the Word
Join/Form Coalitions
Local issues: Partner with organizations who care about
the same issue and share your position
Regional issues: Look beyond your traditional borders
to other chambers and associations who share your views
Federal issues: Build on existing partnerships
spearheaded by the U.S. Chamber and other national
organizations

16. STEP 2: Spread the Word
Social Media
Facebook Twitter
YouTube LinkedIn

17. STEP 2: Spread the Word

18. STEP 2: Spread the Word

19. STEP 3: Grassroots Network
Develop a Grassroots Network - a collection of e-
mails of members interested in public policy
efforts including:
Members of your government affairs committee
Board members
Major contributors
Most influential chamber members

20. STEP 3: Grassroots Network
Using the Network
Provide issue updates on a regular basis
Issue “Calls to Action” as necessary, include:
An issue summary
Contact information for elected officials
Timetable for action
Gather Intel or feedback from elected officials
WARNING!! Try not to overuse your grassroots network

21. STEP 4: Follow-up and Accountability
Follow-up on the outcome of an issue:
Elected officials
Express thanks or disappointment
Develop a scorecard or voting record
Membership
Use this as an opportunity to recruit new
members to your grassroots network

22. Summary
Identify the issues important to your chamber and
adopt policy statements
Spread the word – Membership, Community,
Elected Officials
Develop and effectively use a grassroots network
Follow-up

23. Take it to the next level
Recognize that it is easier to pass your agenda if
your elected officials share your point of view.
Candidate support
Candidate Events (Hob-Nobs, Meet & Greets, Forums)
Candidate Endorsements / PACs
Candidate Training Programs

24. THANK YOU
John Kirchner, Executive Director,
Midwest Region
(612) 619-2048
jkirchner@uschamber.com

25. Ethan Hellier
Manager, Midwest Region
612-618-4968
ehellier@uschamber.com

26. 115th Congress
• House: 238-192 GOP (5
vacancies)
– 23 GOP’ers up in Clinton Districts
– Retirements
• Senate: 51-47 (2 inds.)
– 10 Democrats up in Trump states (5 in
Romney)
– 51 GOP votes are enough to pass
expedited budget legislation, but not
enough to overcome filibusters
Washington is a city of Southern efficiency and Northern charm.
-John F. Kennedy

27. The Trump Effect in 2018
• Entered office with the lowest approval ratings of any
president-elect in the history of polling.
• Republican leaders more willing to challenge him?
– House GOP candidates as a whole ran ahead of Trump, winning the
popular vote by 1.38 million votes, 49.1 % to 48%.
– Senate: Trump ran behind the GOP candidate in popular-vote percentage in
23 states.
– Overall, he ran 1.1% behind GOP Senate candidates, 0.2% behind in the
two-party vote.
– Most of the winning candidates ran ahead of Trump, especially in swing-
state races, except NV and CO, and significantly behind in IN and MO.

28. Congressional Voting Patterns

29. So, where are we going?
What has been accomplished?

30. Americans Living Paycheck to
Paycheck
2007 2017
41% 78%

31. The American Dream
2009 2016
Anyone who works hard has a fair chance
to succeed and live a comfortable life.
53% 49%
The economy mostly rewards the rich; it’s
difficult for average people to get ahead.
43% 48%

33. Regulatory Reform
• Since 1976,
federal agencies
have issued over
180,000 new
regulations

34. Regulatory Reform

35. Regulatory Reform
• Since 2009, the Obama Administration enacted 14 new major regulations
annually, totaling about $12 billion each year. In comparison, in 2017, the
Trump Administration only enacted 3 new regulations, while eliminating 67.
This has resulted in a cost savings of $570.4 million.

36. Congressional Review Act
• 14 successful Congressional Review Acts (used only
once before).

37. Regulatory Accountability Act
• Provides more Congressional oversight
• Allows for earlier public participation in shaping most costly
regulations
• Requires agencies to choose lowest cost option
• Allows for on-the-record administrative hearings for high-impact
regulations
• Places restrictions on agencies’ use of interim final regulations

38. Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and
Consumer Protection Act
• Since 2008, the number of small business loans has declined
by over 40%, even though the U.S. economy has grown almost
25% over the same period.

41. Policy & Advocacy
• Engaged state and local chambers of commerce.
• Educated and activated hundreds of thousands of
grassroots supporters.
• Ran a seven-figure paid media campaign in targeted
districts and states across the country, including
through television, digital, and radio mediums.
• Created TaxReformForAmerica.com
• Organized hundreds of in-district tax events with leaders
from local businesses.
• Communicated feedback from the business community to
the Senate and House Leadership and Committees,
starting with our principles and continuing with guidance
on specific provisions in the final conference report.

42. Disclaimer: Please note this is not intended
to be a comprehensive explanation of TCJA,
nor, in any way, should it be viewed as tax
advice. We strongly urge you to consult with
independent tax advisors.
*Courtesy: Dewy, Cheetham & Howe

44. What’s in it for businesses?
• Ends double taxation
• Repatriation of nearly $4 trillion: 15.5% on cash locked abroad,
8% on physical assets

45. What’s in it for you?

47. What else?

48. Business Community Responds
• Each quarter, 700 executives of U.S. middle market companies (revenues between $10 million and $1 billion
annually) are polled to gain insight into how this part of the economy thinks and behaves.
• The middle market is made up of over 200,000 businesses, 40 million workers, and contributes about $6.2 trillion
to the U.S. economy. Nearly 70% of businesses surveyed said the economy has improved in the first quarter, and
73% expect improvement over the next six months. Additionally, 58% of businesses plan to increase hiring over
the next 6 months. The MMBI rose 4.5 points to 136.7.

49. Reactions (Nation & World)wide
• China, Germany, EU examining lowering rates
• Companies already reinvesting:
– Boeing, AT&T: Capital investments/training/charity
– Comcast, Nationwide, Southwest: Bonuses/401ks
– BofA, Wells Fargo, Fifth Third, US Bank: Raises
https://www.uschamber.com/series/the-case-tax-reform/these-companies-are-investing-their-workers-businesses-and-communities

50. To Learn More, visit:
https://www.uschamber.com/tax-reform

51. 2017 Health Care Reform Attempt
• Strike One: House Failed to pass in March
• Strike Two: Senate Failed to pass in August
• Strike Three: Senate Failed to pass in
September

52. Health Care Reform Round 2:
Revitalize Current Market
• Provide the funds necessary to cover required cost-sharing benefits that
ensure lower income individuals have access to care.
• Help states develop a financial backstop for exceedingly high insurance
claims. This would limit premium increases that would be passed on to
others.
• Allow anyone to buy catastrophic coverage, creating more affordable, lower
cost coverage options.
• Estimated to reduce premiums by 40% and enable an additional 3.2 million
individuals to get coverage thanks to lower costs.

53. Other priorities before 2018 Election?
• Infrastructure
• Trade/NAFTA
• Immigration/DACA

54. Infrastructure
• A modest increase in the federal fuel fee
• Expand financing options, like public/private
partnerships, for local communities
• Streamline the permitting process to get projects off the
ground
• Develop a skilled workforce to build these projects.

55. International Trade
• KORUS
• NAFTA
• Tariffs

58. Immigration
• Green card reform and implementation of temporary worker
programs for high-skilled and lesser-skilled workers including those
in the agriculture industry.
• A national employment verification system that is workable for
employers.
• Improved enforcement to protect our borders while facilitating the
flow of trade and travel.
• Tough but fair process for the 11 million undocumented people who
are living in our country today to earn a legal status.

59. Thank You For Being Involved!
Questions?