Ewald at the Capitol: Special Elections
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Minnesota Legislature
The Impact of Citizen Testimony: Real Stories from the Capitol
Introduction
The legislative process can often seem opaque and inaccessible to the average citizen. However, personal testimonies from constituents play a crucial role in shaping policy decisions. In this post, we’ll share real stories of how citizen testimony has made a significant impact at the Minnesota Capitol, illustrating the power of public engagement. For more inspiring examples and practical advice, watch our video on testifying before the Minnesota legislature.
The Role of Citizen Testimony
Citizen testimony provides legislators with valuable insights and firsthand accounts of how proposed laws affect their constituents. Unlike lobbyists, who represent specific interests, citizens speak from personal experience, making their contributions unique and highly impactful.
Case Study 1: Affordable Housing Initiative
One powerful example of impactful testimony comes from a recent affordable housing initiative. A constituent who had benefited from housing vouchers shared her story before a legislative committee. She detailed how the vouchers helped her transition from homelessness to stable housing and eventually to home ownership. Her testimony highlighted the real-life benefits of the program, helping to sway undecided legislators and secure additional funding for the initiative.
Case Study 2: Environmental Protection Bill
Another compelling story involves an environmental protection bill. A local farmer testified about the detrimental effects of pollution on his crops and livelihood. He provided data on crop yields and health issues in his community, linking them directly to pollution from nearby industrial activities. His detailed, fact-based testimony helped pass stricter environmental regulations, protecting both the environment and public health.
Why Your Testimony Matters
These stories underscore the importance of citizen engagement in the legislative process. Here’s why your testimony can make a difference:
- Humanizing Policy Issues: Personal stories help legislators understand the human impact of their decisions.
- Providing Expertise: Constituents often have valuable knowledge and experience that can inform better policymaking.
- Influencing Outcomes: Well-crafted testimony can sway undecided legislators and build support for or against a bill.
Tips for Effective Testimony
To make your testimony as impactful as possible, consider these tips:
- Be Authentic: Share your personal story, share the truth and speak from the heart. Authenticity resonates more than rehearsed speeches.
- Be Prepared: Research the bill and understand as best as you can its implications. Provide data and evidence to support your points.
- Be Concise: Respect the committee’s time. Focus on the most important points and stay within the allotted time.
Conclusion
Public testimony is a powerful tool in the committee process. By sharing your experiences and insights, you can help shape the laws that govern your community and state. For more real-life examples and guidance on how to make your testimony effective, watch our video on testifying before the Minnesota legislature. Remember, your voice matters. Engage with your legislators, testify before committees, and make a difference in the lives of Minnesotans.
Ewald at the Capitol: Work Is Moving Rapidly; MMB Releases Budget Forecast
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A Step-by-Step Guide to Crafting and Delivering Effective Legislative Testimony
Introduction
Testifying before a legislative committee is a powerful way to influence policy and ensure your voice is heard. However, the process can seem intimidating, especially if you’re new to it. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the steps of preparing and delivering effective testimony, helping you make a meaningful impact. For a deeper dive into the process, be sure to watch our video on testifying before the Minnesota legislature, where we provide real-life examples and additional tips.
Understanding the Legislative Process
Before diving into the specifics of testimony, it’s important to understand the legislative process. Bills are introduced and assigned to committees, where they are debated, amended and voted on. Public testimony is often a critical part of these committee hearings, allowing citizens to present their views directly to lawmakers.
Step 1: Tracking the Bill
The first step in preparing to testify is to be aware there is legislation that could impact your area of interest. The news media covers some of the high-profile bills that are introduced at the legislature, but because thousands of bills are introduced every year, not all of them get media attention. Ewald’s Government Relations team can do that monitoring for you. Contact us for details. Once you know there is a bill, you will want to stay informed about when and where the bill you care about will be heard. You can set up an alert to track your bill on the Minnesota Legislature website. Committees typically post their schedules online a few days in advance, but sometimes they don’t post their schedules until the day before the hearing. Regularly check these schedules to ensure you don’t miss the opportunity to speak on the issues that matter to you.
Step 2: Signing Up to Testify
Once you’ve identified a bill you want to speak on, it’s time to sign up to testify. Here’s how:
- Contact the Committee Administrator: Email or call the committee administrator to get on the testifier list. Provide your name, the bill you’re addressing, and whether you support or oppose it.
- Confirm the Details: Ask how long you’ll have to speak, whether testimony is in-person or virtual, and if there are any specific procedures you need to follow.
Step 3: Crafting Your Testimony
Crafting your testimony is crucial to ensuring your message is clear, concise and impactful. Here’s how to do it:
- Understand Your Audience: Legislators may not be experts on every issue. Your goal is to educate and persuade them by presenting clear, factual arguments. Our video showcases effective testimonies that you can use as inspiration.
- Structure Your Testimony: A typical testimony should follow this structure:
- Introduction: Address the chair and committee members, state your name, any organization you represent, and the bill number with your position on the bill.
- Body: Explain the issue, provide supporting data and share personal stories that illustrate the bill’s impact.
- Conclusion: Summarize your key points, restate your position and thank the committee for their time.
- Be Concise: Legislators often have limited time, so it’s essential to make your points quickly and avoid unnecessary details. Aim to be clear and to the point.
- Use Personal Stories: Personal experiences resonate more than abstract arguments. Explain how the bill affects you or your community to make your testimony more compelling.
- Support with Facts: Bolster your arguments with data and evidence. This adds credibility and can help persuade undecided legislators.
Step 4: Practicing Your Testimony
Preparation is key to delivering effective testimony. But remember, you do not have to memorize your testimony — reading it from a script is a great way to ensure you stay on task, on time, and get your message across. Follow these additional tips to ensure you’re ready:
- Practice Aloud: Reading your testimony aloud will help you get comfortable with the material and identify any awkward phrasing.
- Simulate the Environment: Practice in a setting with background noise to mimic the hearing environment. This helps you stay focused and clear during distractions.
- Time Yourself: Ensure your testimony fits within the allotted time. It’s better to finish slightly early than to run over.
- Seek Feedback: Practice in front of friends or family and ask for their input. Adjust based on their suggestions.
Step 5: Delivering Your Testimony
When the day arrives, remember these key points to make your testimony as effective as possible:
- Arrive Early: Give yourself plenty of time to find the room, check in with the committee staff, and get settled.
- Stay Calm and Clear: Speak slowly, enunciate clearly, and project your voice. Confidence and clarity are crucial in making a strong impression.
- Maintain Eye Contact: Try to engage with the committee members by maintaining eye contact. This helps convey sincerity and confidence.
- Be Prepared for Questions: Legislators may ask follow-up questions for clarification. If you don’t know an answer, it’s okay to say so and offer to follow up later.
Step 6: Following Up
After your testimony, follow up with committee members if you promised additional information. This helps reinforce your commitment and keeps the conversation going. It’s also a good opportunity to build relationships with legislators who may become key allies.
Conclusion
Testifying before the Minnesota legislature is a powerful way to contribute to the democratic process. By following these steps, you can craft and deliver effective testimony that resonates with lawmakers and helps shape policy. For a more detailed exploration of this process, including real-life examples, watch our video on how to testify. Remember, your voice matters — make it count by being prepared, confident, and clear in your message.
Ewald at the Capitol: House Reaches Deal to End Stalemate; DFL Regains Control in Senate
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The Power of Your Voice in the Minnesota Legislature
Introduction
The common misconception about participating in the legislative process is that it is difficult, cumbersome, hard to follow, and often unavailable for members of the public. In fact, that couldn’t be further from the truth! Minnesotans are lucky in that they have the power and responsibility to engage directly with their state elected officials, and one of the most impactful ways to do this is by testifying before legislative committees. To see this process in action and gain practical tips, watch our video on testifying before the Minnesota Legislature.
Why Your Testimony Matters
Speaking before a legislative committee might seem scary, especially if you’ve never done it before. However, personal testimonies can significantly influence the actions legislators take. Here’s why:
- Highlighting Unheard Issues: Legislators cannot be experts on every issue. Your testimony can bring new perspectives and information that may not have been considered.
- Providing Real-Life Impact: Elected officials want to hear from their constituents. Your direct experiences and expertise provide invaluable context to the bills they are debating.
- Educating Legislators: While lobbyists provide important information, legislators rely on the insights of people directly impacted by proposed legislation. Your voice can shape their understanding and decisions.
Preparing to Testify
Preparation is key to delivering effective testimony. Our video covers this in detail, but here’s a preview of some of those steps:
- Track the Bill: Monitor the committee schedule to know when the bill you’re interested in will be discussed.
- Get on the Testifier List: Contact the committee administrator to sign up. Provide your name, the bill you’re speaking about, and whether you support or oppose it.
- Craft Your Message: Focus your remarks on the specific bill, supported by facts and your personal experience. Be concise, as you’ll likely have less than three minutes to speak.
- Practice: Rehearse your testimony multiple times. Reading aloud with background noise can help you prepare for potential distractions.
Delivering Your Testimony
When the day comes, keep these tips in mind:
- Stay Calm and Clear: Begin by addressing the chair and committee members. State your name and the organization you represent, if applicable.
- Be Concise: Stick to the time limit and avoid being repetitive. Keep your message clear and straightforward.
- Be Prepared for Questions: Legislators may ask questions for clarification. It’s okay to admit if you don’t know an answer and offer to follow up later. But this is not the time to debate.
Follow Up
Your responsibility doesn’t end when you leave the testifier table. Follow up with committee members if you promised additional information. This shows your commitment and helps build a rapport with legislators.
Conclusion
Testifying before the Minnesota legislature is a powerful way to influence public policy and ensure that your voice is heard. To learn more and see real-life examples, watch our video on testifying before legislative committees. It demystifies the legislative process and showcases that our democracy thrives on active citizen participation. Your experiences and insights are invaluable—so step up, prepare, and make an impact.
Ewald at the Capitol: Chaotic Start to Legislative Session
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Ewald at the Capitol: State Budget Outlook
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Ewald at the Capitol: Election Updates
Ewald at the Capitol – November 8, 2024
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ELECTION UPDATES |
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On Tuesday, November 5, voters went to the polls to elect President and Vice President, Members of Congress, and the Minnesota House of Representatives, including one special state Senate election. Along with the Presidency, Republicans were able to gain a majority in the U.S. Senate by flipping key seats in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Montana and Ohio. Several seats in the U.S. House of Representatives are still too close to call. Republicans came into the election with a 220-212 majority in the House. While attention was mainly focused on the presidency, we are closely watching the state legislative races. This year, Minnesotans voted on races in the Minnesota House of Representatives and one seat in the Minnesota Senate (District 45), which was a special election to replace retiring Sen. Kelly Morrison, who stepped down to run for Congress. This was an extremely important race for both parties, with Republicans hoping to flip both houses. Coming into the election, Minnesota already had a unique legislative dynamic, with Democrats having a trifecta holding the Governorship, the Minnesota Senate with a 34-33 majority, and the Minnesota House with a 70-64 majority. Democrats ultimately were able to keep control of the Senate with DFL Senator-elect Ann Johnson Stewart winning 52% of the vote. Meanwhile, House Republicans needed to win four seats to take control — they managed to win three. Republicans won vacant seats in districts 26A and 7B (both previously held by DFLers), and in 18A newcomer Erica Schwartz defeated incumbent DFLer Jeff Brand. This brought a 67-67 tie between the parties. State law dictates that when a state legislative candidate wins by less than 0.5%, there is a publicly funded recount in that race. So, two races are automatically headed to a recount due to being too close to call. In District 14B, Democrat Dan Wolgamott won reelection by 28 votes, while in District 54A, Democrat Brad Tabke won reelection by 13 votes. What if there is a 67-67 tie? The last time this occurred in Minnesota was in 1979 — we had a peanut farmer in the White House and the number one movie in January 1979 was a re-release of Disney’s 101 Dalmatians. The Minnesota Secretary of State is charged with gaveling in a new House, and so that year, Secretary of State Joan Growe, acting as temporary presiding officer, presided over the tied body to perform basic business — but she could not name committee chairs or set committees. After five days, an agreement was reached where the Republicans would get the speakership and the DFL would chair the rules, taxes, and appropriations committees and get one vote majorities on those committees. Bills that got to the House floor almost always had bipartisan support, and members rarely missed committee meetings or floor sessions. But as with all stories that start off easy, the end gets a little more colorful. If you’d like to learn more on the whole story, you can find it here.
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Ewald at the Capitol: New Laws Go into Effect
Ewald at the Capitol – August 9, 2024
NEW LAWS NOW IN EFFECT Effective dates for laws passed during a legislative session vary. Some are specified to be effective immediately once a bill is signed by the governor. Most budget bills take effect July 1 to coincide with the start of the new fiscal year and most bills without an effective date take effect August 1. Some new laws that took effect on August 1 include:
These are just some of the many laws that took effect as of August 1. For all new laws taking effect, you can view a more complete list here. |
ELECTION UPDATES |
On August 8, Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris announced Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate and candidate for Vice President. This marks the first time since 1984 that a Minnesotan has been on a presidential ticket. The announcement came just two weeks after Vice President Harris announced her candidacy for president. If the Harris/Walz ticket wins in November, the following would take place:
Some additional considerations:
You can also see this interview with Minnesota Senate President Bobby Joe Championwhere he laid out what would happen if Gov. Walz wins and assumes the position of Vice President. As a reminder, voters will head to the polls in November to vote for several races — including President, U.S. Senator for Minnesota, all 8 members of Minnesota’s U.S. House of Representatives delegation, and all 134 Minnesota House of Representatives districts. The Minnesota state senate is not up for election this year, but a special election will be held in Senate District 45, where Kelly Morrison resigned the state senate to run for U.S. Congress in the Third Congressional district. Some important election dates to remember: June 28–August 12: Vote early by mail or in person for the August 13 primary elections August 13: Primary Election Day September 20 through November 5: Vote by mail or in person November 5: Election Day For more voting information such as how to vote, where to vote, and other questions you may have you can visit the Secretary of State’s website here. The Ewald Consulting Government Relations team has compiled a list of candidate filings. To find more detailed information in the races up for election, you can visit this candidate filings list. |