Frustrated by a perceived lack of legislative will? So are thousands of other people. But those who see political progress do so because they understand -- and use -- a crucial equation: In politics, patience + people + persistence = passage.
Political Success Hinges on Perseverance, Timing, Relationships
By Leslie Champlin
• San Diego
11/18/2005
It's a formula that was unanimously touted by physician legislators, legislative staff and others here during the Nov. 11 - 12 AAFP State Legislative Conference. Family physicians, they said, must develop personal relationships with legislators and their staff members, repeatedly educate them about family medicine's issues, and persist, persist, persist.
Winners in the political arena "have patience," said Stephanie Vance, founder of AdVanced Consulting, a political consulting company in Washington. "Build relationships with legislators over time. Build a network for grassroots support over time. Persistence pays off."
FP Joey Hensley, M.D, of Hohenwald, Tenn., representative to the Tennessee legislature, agreed. "Physicians are impatient people," he said. "They're used to seeing a patient, diagnosing a problem and treating it. In politics, we see a problem and talk about it for 10 years."
Successful legislative efforts begin with a clearly defined goal that is supported by a strong grassroots network and that offers benefit to a large constituency, said Vance. In short, physicians will see more success if their grassroots advocacy goes beyond the medical community's interest and includes advocacy for patients.
Lawmakers hear a great deal about the problems plaguing health care, but very little about broad-based solutions, according to pediatrician John Rusche, M.D., state representative in Lewiston, Idaho. They'd prefer to hear solutions that provide benefit to a range of constituents.
"As a legislator, you have to see an issue from a lot of different viewpoints, and you have to consider a lot of different consequences" of a law, said Rusche. "The more you let a legislator see the big picture, the better chance you'll have to win."
Moreover, physicians should present their legislative agenda in a positive light, said FP Joe Hardy, M.D., a state representative from Boulder City, Nev. Advocacy groups who call for legislation designed to restrict or sanction others have little hope for success.
"If you have a punishment motive, it won't get anywhere," said Hardy. "If you have a reasonable motive, you'll have a better chance of passage."
Winners in the political arena "have patience," said Stephanie Vance, founder of AdVanced Consulting, a political consulting company in Washington. "Build relationships with legislators over time. Build a network for grassroots support over time. Persistence pays off."
FP Joey Hensley, M.D, of Hohenwald, Tenn., representative to the Tennessee legislature, agreed. "Physicians are impatient people," he said. "They're used to seeing a patient, diagnosing a problem and treating it. In politics, we see a problem and talk about it for 10 years."
Successful legislative efforts begin with a clearly defined goal that is supported by a strong grassroots network and that offers benefit to a large constituency, said Vance. In short, physicians will see more success if their grassroots advocacy goes beyond the medical community's interest and includes advocacy for patients.
Lawmakers hear a great deal about the problems plaguing health care, but very little about broad-based solutions, according to pediatrician John Rusche, M.D., state representative in Lewiston, Idaho. They'd prefer to hear solutions that provide benefit to a range of constituents.
"As a legislator, you have to see an issue from a lot of different viewpoints, and you have to consider a lot of different consequences" of a law, said Rusche. "The more you let a legislator see the big picture, the better chance you'll have to win."
Moreover, physicians should present their legislative agenda in a positive light, said FP Joe Hardy, M.D., a state representative from Boulder City, Nev. Advocacy groups who call for legislation designed to restrict or sanction others have little hope for success.
"If you have a punishment motive, it won't get anywhere," said Hardy. "If you have a reasonable motive, you'll have a better chance of passage."
