CCL University: You say you want a resolution. . .
Getting carbon fee and dividend support from public bodies
Presented by Paul Biderman, Santa Fe, NM
Agenda
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Why get support from public bodies?
How do we start?
Drafting a resolution.
Lobbying for success.
Effective presentations at hearings.
Success! How do we use it?
Introduction
Paul Biderman
◦Santa Fe, NM
◦Retired attorney
◦Founding director, Attorney General’s Utility Regulation Unit
◦NM Secretary of Energy & Minerals, 1983—86
◦Director, Institute of Public Law, 2005--2011
Prepared in coordination with:
John Nelson, CCL group leader, Las Cruces, NM
Andrew Kingsdale, attorney, CCL chapter volunteer,
San Francisco, CA
Case Study: Santa Fe, NM
•City Council and County Commission had passed
resolutions supporting action on climate change
•CCL chapter approached one strong supporter on
each body for guidance on resolutions
•Chapter studied past resolutions for consistency but
avoiding redundancy
•Obtained preliminary support from Sustainable Santa
Fe Commission
Case Study: Santa Fe, NM
•Recruited support from other environmental groups
•Called each councilor for support
•Turned out the numbers for the hearing
•Timed city council effort for mayoral election
•Publicized resolutions through radio interviews
•Notified Congressional delegation
Why support from public bodies?
• Builds case from grassroots up
• Adds support of elected representatives
• Provides political cover for
Congressmen/Senators
• Helps shift the undecided and motivate the
favorable
Why support from public bodies?
•Gains publicity and promotes public
discussion
•Provides a “win” for the CCL chapter
•Builds coalitions
•Gains membership and participation for local
chapter
How do we start?
•Develop plan, with commitments and
assignments for chapter members
•Identify governing bodies to approach
•Identify champion on each governing council
•Find allies for coalition
How do we start?
•Seek support from media
•Prepare arguments, data
•Publicize hearing and get turnout
Questions?
To ask a question:
• If you’re on the phone: *1 to unmute
• If you’re online, click the microphone symbol
near your name.
Drafting a resolution
• Ask your legislative champion what works
• Example resolutions on CCLU page
http://community.citizensclimatelobby.org/cclu/local-resolutionsto-support-carbon-fee-and-dividend/
• Aim for succinctness, simplicity
• Develop a resolution suitable for your public
body
Drafting a resolution
Key points to include:
•Severity of problem and urgent need for
action
•Scientific support in general terms (details
can be in appendix)
•Prior shows of support/concern from council
Drafting a resolution
•More key points to include:
•Description of and support for CFAD
•Effectiveness, fairness, economic benefits of CFAD
•Bipartisan support from economists, corporations
•Send resolution to congressional delegation & others
Lobbying
•See every councilman, one at a time
•Keep delegation small; pick a primary spokesperson
•If possible, include a supporter with access to the
councilman, or at least from within district
•Consider a non-voting work session
•Observe open meeting requirements
Lobbying
•Activate allies
•Prepare with data and arguments
•Do practice runs to prepare for objections
•Provide a concise fact sheet with talking
points.
•Stay focused on key, persuasive points
Lobbying
•Make emotional appeals, but avoid hyperbole
•Acknowledge competing pressures the councilman
faces
•Be respectful; don’t interrupt and NEVER threaten,
blame, or raise political affiliations
•Listen: even opposing councilors can provide
valuable insights
•Be politely persistent
Las Cruces case study
Nov 2013 effort to pass a resolution failed
◦City Councilors did not respond to calls to
meet
◦We were set up to present during a nonvoting work session
◦Denier was asked by one of the Councilors
to present
Las Cruces case study
Second attempt eight months later
succeeded:
◦Councilors would commit to a climate
change resolution but not to CFAD as a
solution
◦We took what we could get
◦One Councilor (a CCL member) did most of
the work to get the resolution passed
Las Cruces case study
City attorney sent letter to
Congressional delegation transmitting
resolution!
Dona Ana County Commission
Drew on Las Cruces City Council experience
•Met with County Commissioner who was a strong
supporter
◦He wanted a short resolution with most of the
science in a “white paper”
•Met individually with all of the commissioners
•Denier also presented at the hearing
•Resolution passed with one no vote
Questions?
To ask a question:
• If you’re on the phone: *1 to unmute
• If you’re online, click the microphone symbol
near your name.
Hearings
•Work for a strong turnout of supporters
•Expect to be limited to very brief statements
•Select a few articulate, prepared, credentialed
spokespersons to deliver main arguments
•Have other supporters stand up/show hands in
support
•Prepare for rebuttal as permitted
Hearings
•Rebut deniers by emphasizing their insignificant
numbers among scientists—don’t get lost in technical
counter-arguments
•Stay respectful at all times; avoid partisanship
•Direct all remarks, including responses, through the
chair
•Treat every question as serious and important
•Convey appreciation to council supporters
San Francisco Case Study
Challenges arranging meetings with supervisors:
◦Often met with supervisors’ aides
◦Asked if each supervisor would support, cosponsor resolution
◦Matched constituents with their supervisors
◦Searched for a sponsor, co-sponsors
◦Kept track of meetings on docs.google.com
San Francisco Case Study
◦Identified supervisor considered climate
change expert;
◦other supervisors deferred to him on
issue
•Eventually arranged a meeting with that
supervisor
◦He became champion, agreed to sponsor
resolution
San Francisco Case Study
Drafting the resolution:
•Followed format of prior SF board of supervisors
resolutions
•Used the CCL Letter of Support as guidepost
•Negotiated with board champion skeptical of
revenue neutrality
Sold him by arguing that revenue neutrality=
fairness to poor & middle income, national
consensus
San Francisco Case Study
Advocacy:
Before proposing resolution to Board of Supervisors,
-got support from local Democratic clubs,
county central committee
•Several days before hearing, sent out telephone
scripts and supervisors’ phone numbers to supporters
•Only two CCL spokespersons at hearing, no
opponents
Success! How do we use it?
•Publicity: print media may not respond but radio will
•Follow up with councils on transmittals of resolution
to Congress or do it yourselves
•Follow up with Congressional delegation on issue
•Stay in touch with coalition partners
•Use for group activities, recruitment
•Send a copy to CCL Field Reports
Questions?
What can your community do?
What else do you need to make it happen?
How would you make use of this?