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Thursday, October 25, 2007 - 1:30 PM
Room M 100 I
Getting Around Legislators or Getting Rid of Them: Lessons on When & How to Engage in Ballot Campaigns and Election Activity
Tracy E. Sabetta, BA, American Cancer Society, Ohio Division, tsabetta@cancer.org, Peter Fisher, BA, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, pfisher@tobaccofreekids.org, Jack Nicholl, American Lung Association of California, Center for Tobacco Policy and Organizing, jnicholl@verizon.net, Jennifer K. Laudano, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, jlaudano@tobaccofreekids.org, Paul Knepprath, American Lung Association of California, pknepprath@alac.org. Learning Objectives: Make decisions about when to go to the ballot Describe some lessons from two recent initiative campaigns Explain considerations and techniques involved in impacting the electoral process using tobacco as an issue
Key Points: Public policy change on tobacco issues is most often achieved via the legislative process, and this remains the preferred route. But the process can often be frustrating and on occasion that option will become unviable. When that occurs, what recourse do advocates have? We can turn directly to the voters, either to directly approve the policy via the ballot, or to change the policymakers themselves.
This panel will present the strategic thinking involved in deciding whether to pursue ballot campaigns when legislative progress appears unlikely and how strategic involvement in elections can contribute to changing public policy.
Learning Objectives: Attendees will learn how to decide when to go to the ballot, and some of the lessons from two recent initiative campaigns. In addition, they will learn some of the considerations and techniques involved in impacting the electoral process using tobacco as an issue.
Benefits: The latest thinking on alternative methods to achieve policy goals