Lobbying and Testifying in Committee or an Interested Parties Meeting
10/14/2024
The terms in
the title are ones everyone who has ever tried to change a law is very familiar
with. For those that are new, we will explain the terms, what they are used
for, how they 
are used,
and why.
Often social media misrepresents these terms adding to an already confusing mess that surrounds changing the law.
Each of these must be approached differently and differently than they have been done before by others.
Our methods and suggestions come from conversations with legislators, what has worked for us in the past, and watching the mistakes that others have made to cause their failures.
Preparation
Be prepared.
Take the time to read your state statutes and Rules of Procedure. If you know them thoroughly it will help you as you discuss changes with any legislator you meet with.
Be able to point out what you would like to see changed and why.
Do not try to present an overly complex set of changes or a complex argument. The KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid) method works best.
Know who will support the changes and who will oppose them and why.
Adding one word to those existing presumptions does not make for an equal custody bill. Know the history of legislation in your state.
Shared parenting has existed in Ohio since 1981. The term joint custody was first used in 1978.
Write a proposed bill beforehand.
Never lie to a legislator or misrepresent facts, know your facts inside and out.
Lobbying
Lobbying is the process of first, attempting to get your proposed changes introduced and if you find a legislator that will, helping the legislator in finding additional sponsors. You have to be able to explain to a legislator what the problem is, how the problem can be fixed, and how to fix it. Know where to lobby, this is a state issue only, the federal government will not get involved.
In 2012 on
the day the SB144 was introduced, I was attending a meeting with several
others. I went to check on the bill and joined the meeting that was already in
progress. As one guy was droning on with his “constitutional argument” I could
see the Senator’s aid with the deer in the headlights look. I stopped the guy who
was talking and explained what was going on in the courts and with their
decisions with one question.
Me - “Would you walk into a stranger’s house and tell them how to raise their
family?”
Aid - Heck, no.
Me – That is what the courts do every day.
The Guy – I never thought about it that way.
Aid – I fully understand now.
Keeping it simple does and will go much further than long stories or complex arguments.
We have one conversation starter question that we use and I fact that we use to draw legislators in and get them to think.
“Why does the State of Ohio remove fit parents from the lives of children every day?”
“Ohio’s shared parenting law was passed in 1981. Why has it never been modernized and brought up to current standards?”
Interested Parties Meeting
An interested parties meeting is a semi-formal meeting of proponents, opponents, legislators, and representatives from government agencies sit down to discuss a piece of legislation. These can take place before or after the formal introduction of a bill. These are sometimes calls because of testimony when a bill is discussed in committee.
If invited, this may be the only time that you are in a room where you can directly challenge something that the opposition claims about a bill. The opposition may want changes that you think are good or bad but you better be on your toes and ready to firmly support your stance.
If the opposition is claiming something you know is not true, ask them where they got their “facts”. They are also making these false claims in their private meetings with legislators. I have seen many fail by trying to be nice rather than firm.
Testifying
Before Committee
Once the bill is introduced and assigned a number, it will go to the committee that assigns all bills to its testimony committee.
Testimony will begin with the Primary Sponsors. I prefer that the sponsors write their testimony. If they write it it will appear more natural and credible to those on the Committee.
Proponent Testimony
This is where those in favor of passage get to tell how and why this will benefit them and their family.
Start strong with the person who knows the most about the bill’s language and what it does. If the person that wrote the bill is testifying that lead-off spot would be best for him or her. They will best to present and to answer questions that get asked by the committee members. That knowledge should also keep them light on their feet with questions and short responses that make an impact.
Individuals should Keep their testimony to 3 – 5 minutes in length. Make sure that you use the same language as in the bill. Tell how the old law affected you and how the new bill with change that and prevent those problems moving forward.
Opposition Testimony
This is when those who do not want the bill to pass testify as to why and what they claim that it will cause. Have someone attend so you can ask and refute some of the falsities that the opposition presents.
Thinks I have heard from the opposition:
Attorneys
“The judges always get this right.”
“The definition of best interests of the child is ORC3109.04.” - That is the factors for determining custody, not the definition of Best Interest of the Child.”
Judges
“Those that want this law changed are greatly misguided.” – Former Ohio Supreme Court Justice Paul Pfeiffer. Pfeiffer in oral arguments on a case before the Ohio Supreme Court once made the statement, “We all know what shared parenting is, that is when Dad shows up when he doesn’t have a golf game.”
A retired judge testifying against SB144 – “I need clear and convincing evidence included. I just had a case where I had to award shared parenting although I thought the mother was abusing the kids.” I thanked him for supporting the bill. “I don’t.” I then pointed out that the bill required clear and convincing evidence. He admitted he had not read the bill only the Judicial Conference statement.
Child Support
“This is going to cause us more work.” – Child support and custody issues are separate issues. CSEA’s only cog in this wheel is to enter the information into the system and track payments. Other than reviews when requested or at the end, all you have to do is sit around.
Domestic Violence
“This will cause more domestic violence.”
“Men are always the offenders.” – CDC research says that it is split nearly equal as to who is the most likely offender. The newest research is suggesting the most violent group is in gay women relationships.
While the Domestic Violence Network brags about its services for women, I want to know how many shelters they run in Ohio for men who have to leave the home with their children.
Legislative Director
440-281-5478
legislation@ohiofamilyrights.com
