Now is the time for bold progressive policies

Posted on June 6, 2017

This might seem like a strange time for us to make the case for progressives to go on offense in the fight over public policy. Voters are more polarized than ever, politics is as...

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Create a state or local Progressive Economic Platform

Posted on May 24, 2017

There is a true and politically compelling story about the American economy. The rich have spent decades rigging the system to benefit themselves at the expense of everyone else. Without any real knowledge at...

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How and why to prepare an amendment strategy

Posted on May 10, 2017

Many lawmakers and advocates work in states, cities and counties where there is no chance to enact progressive policy. The votes for equity and justice simply aren’t there. In that case, your efforts have...

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How to earn more media coverage

Posted on April 26, 2017

It is rare that major progressive legislation succeeds without a great deal of publicity. Plenty of special interest legislation passes in the dark, but our side needs the light. How do you get the...

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Build your policy coalition

Posted on April 12, 2017

[This is the sixth in a series of columns about best practices for state and local advocacy groups. The first five are about proactive legislation, a Resolution strategy, a 6-step multi-year advocacy program, how...

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How to build and use your volunteer base

Posted on March 28, 2017

[This is the fifth in a series of columns about best practices for state and local advocacy groups. The first four are about proactive legislation, a Resolution strategy, a 6-step multi-year advocacy program, and...

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How to meet with a lawmaker

Posted on March 15, 2017

[This is the fourth in a series of columns about best practices for state and local advocacy groups. The first three are about proactive legislation, a Resolution strategy, and a 6-step multi-year advocacy program.]...

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A Long-Term Advocacy Strategy That Works

Posted on February 28, 2017

[This column is related to the last one that laid out a “Resolution Strategy” for policy organizing. This digs deeper into the six-part program for advocacy described by Michael Pertschuk in The DeMarco Factor:...

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A Resolution Strategy for Policy Advocates

Posted on February 15, 2017

Passing legislation is mostly about politics rather than policy. Progressives can have the greatest idea, backed up by a mountain of reports and an army of experts, and get nowhere near enacting it. At...

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Six reasons why advocates should champion proactive legislation

Posted on February 1, 2017

Generally, state legislators are happy to introduce bills that have little or no chance of enactment. City and county lawmakers also introduce such legislation, but with a little more caution depending on the customs...

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