If you’ve ever sent a letter or an e-mail to your Senator or Congressional Representative, you have experience with lobbying Congress. And Donald E. deKieffer has written a book that seeks to help you lobby more effectively. deKieffer, a Washington insider with over three decades of experience working our nation’s capital argues that any citizen who is concerned about a particular piece of legislation or legislative priority can be an effective lobbyist and that the much decried "special interests", which everyone it seems wants to curtail and restrict, are really just people like you and me, working together to petition the government regarding their legitimate concerns. I’m not sure whether I agree with deKieffer’s assesment, but I certainly learned a lot from reading his book.
While there is some information in this volume that would be of real use to anyone simply planning to write a letter to his Congressman, the book is presented a complete, step by step guide for the leader of an organization that wants to lobby Congress about a specific bill or legislative priority. In detailing all of the work required to mount a successful lobbying campaign, deKieffer does make clear that one really does need an organization and numerous people to share the work load. He also seems to assume that as the leader of your group you will be Washington based, as many of his suggestions require physically going to various DC offices in person.
These caveats aside, deKieffer does an excellent job of walking the reader through creating a lobbying plan and a resource book (and why these preliminary steps are SO important), through identifying and working with allies, attracting and working effectively with allies both on and off "The Hill", working with Congressional staffs and agency bureaucrats as well with members of Congress, providing a precise map for the intricate waltz required to effect legislative change.
Unless you are the head of or intend to create a large organization around your issue, the chances of your using this book as a practical manual are remote, but the volume may be of genuine interest to anyone wishing to better understand how the United States Congress really works.
Tags: Book Reviews, Books, Citizen's Guide To Lobbying Congress, Donald deKieffer, politics, United States Congress
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February 24th, 2008 at 9:37 pm
I regular write my congress people and senators when I get mad. It is kind of like a throwaway statement. I say exactly on what is on my mind. To my surprise, I have gotten responses on numerous occassions. Be clear, state your position, and do not be afraid. It is well worth doing.