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Professor Donald Matthews’ process is intensely symbiotic aggressive legislative agenda
pathbreaking “U.S. Senators and What matters to the unique to the industry.
Their World,” which explored, propane industry (and other The propane industry’s
for the first time, the norms stakeholders) is how to take trade association, NPGA, has
and folkways of the United these congressional factors and something that many industries
States Senate and pulled back themes and fashion a strategy do not have—it has PERC,
the curtain on the behavioral that blends advocacy with which is both resource and
aspects of the Senate and the leadership for the benefit of its constituency. Together, these
rules, written and unwritten, members and constituencies. two organizations could form
that guided policy and political one of the most formidable
behavior. Written in the early Pillar One: public policy business
’60s before Capitol Hill advocacy Congressional Staff development partnerships on
and influence became a major The congressional policy Capitol Hill and in the federal
industry, Matthews’ work process is almost entirely staff- agencies. The essence of their
became a template to study the driven, thus, forging long-term respective structures suggests
other aspects of the legislative ties with congressional staff is a powerful policy relationship in
process—including the influence, a critical advocacy norm for the offing—both facilitated by a
norms, and folkways of stakeholders. Trade associations strong grassroots constituency.
congressional staff. almost reflexively set up Both NPGA and PERC have
The congressional literature member meetings for their compelling and consistent
on staff influence is now long members, and these meetings mandates—the need to sustain
and deep—one part descriptive, are not without consequence. existing markets, and the
two parts behavioral, and is They are an important marker in imperative to identify future
based largely on an examination assessing grassroots sentiment, markets.
of determinative behavioral but, except for the photo op, they NPGA, by necessity, needs
variables related to members of have little consequence when to maintain staff relationships
Congress, constituencies, issues, policy decisions are made in the in the House and Senate, but
and political circumstances. back staff room and presented there is a dynamic here as
The patterns suggest advocacy to the member. In fact, many well—not all staff influence is
strategies that are relevant to members defer to their staffs on created equal. This more than
trade associations, companies, policy matters. That level of trust likely has a constitutional basis.
and other stakeholders who is almost always sustainable if House members are more
advocate. What emerges is a and when that staffer becomes grassroots-oriented with the
conceptual list for discussion: a lobbyist in the future. Former ongoing pressures of being up
Hill staffers are hired as lobbyists for reelection every two years.
• The legislative process is because companies, consulting Their immediate imperative is
essentially staff-driven firms, and trade groups know political, not policy. This needs
• Member meetings are largely who has the ear of the member to be factored into any meeting
symbolic, but an important and who actually is driving the with a House staffer. Very few
rite of constituent passage legislative process. have the time or inclination to
• Staff influence reflects Senate Trade associations are, out pursue a policy agenda. The
and House culture and has of necessity, changing in order Senate is far different. Insulated
some constitutional basis to survive and remain relevant by the apparent security of a
• Senate staff are largely on Capitol Hill. The old tried- six-year term, senators and their
policy-driven and-true photo op meeting staffers are freer to pursue policy
• House staff are driven isn’t enough to add value— and develop the relationships
by immediate grassroots different advocacy tools need with stakeholders that can help
pressures to be deployed. For propane, drive that agenda.
• Senior committee staff have that is a given. The industry In the world of congressional
more power and influence has developed an impressive staff, the role of committee
than most members of grassroots network over the past staff is supreme. Committee
Congress 20 years. What it needs now is staff not only have power over
• The private sector to use that network to drive an the congressional agenda,
stakeholder/committee staff but they also shape it. In most
16 Propane Magazine September/October 2020
