Lobbying Without the Lobby

This week begins the most unpredictable session of the Maryland General Assembly I will likely ever experience. It would have been so without last week’s overwhelmingly significant tragedy, and the resulting threats of riots in every state capitol. Yet, State governors still govern, staffers still staff, local leaders still lead, advocates still advocate, and we all indulge in the opportunity to propel good policy when we can. 

Annapolis lobbyists like me will tune in, in spite of shuttered lobbies and an uprooted political environment. The hurried chats between committee meetings, late-night conversations over finger food, excitement and rush of busy corridors, rooms crowded with activists, last-minute hallway negotiations, and the old-fashioned back-slapping, hand-shaking and elbow-rubbing: not this year. Instead, this session, we will navigate quiet streets, pick up take-out from empty cafes, and engage in endless zoom meetings, conference calls, and emailing. 

Our work, rooted in access and relationship-building, must shift course dramatically to overcome pandemic restrictions and new misconceptions that wholly defy the fundamental concepts characterizing our profession. For the first time with Wednesday’s opening gavel, the General Assembly will not open its offices or gallery doors to the public. Members will only hold in-person meetings under extraordinarily limited circumstances. Floor sessions will last no longer than two hours each, and the Senate will limit oral testimony. Some legislators will likely narrow their focus to accomplish a more refined set of policy priorities. Others may continue to honor the tradition of utilizing this midterm session to advance their many goals before shifting attention to their reelection campaigns. Law enforcement will likely increase protection guarding bolted government doors, while at the same time, decision-makers inside will pass laws dramatically reforming that law enforcement. We will all have more to talk about then ever and minimal opportunity to candidly converse.

Successful advocates will exercise creativity in their approaches and flexibility with their wish lists. Personal relationships and the access these allow will remain powerful currency - perhaps more so, as advocates strive to make their voices heard over the noise of pounding headaches, increased attention to federal activity, strained wireless service, overflowing email inboxes, and Zoom fatigue. Indeed, even if we no longer know exactly what “lobbying” means, most will need it now more than ever. 

This era could usher in an increased demand for substance over style. For nuanced, tactical approaches to crafting thoughtful legislation. For solutions that address the shared priorities of diverse stakeholders, even if imperfect and demanding broad compromise. We all just experienced the immediate danger of trusting propaganda, fake news, and personality over policy. Meanwhile, this session denies policymakers the opportunity to physically woo and be wooed by charisma rather than intelligence. We will all have to advocate to improve policy without the ordinary ability to kick under the table and look each other in the eyes. While politics will always depend upon people, this session people must depend upon significance over showmanship.

This dramatic political moment could lead to a much-needed reset, a leveling of sorts, and a retreat to the substance of governance over the volume of politics. I believe in my heart that it will. I am oddly, shamelessly, overwhelmingly excited about what may come. I suspect we are about to enter a whole new era of advocacy and democracy. Frankly, it’s about time.