1. When, why and how did you become a lobbyist?

When I was practicing in the clinical field at GT Univ Hospital, I was too busy to attend a meeting on political action and in absentia, I was elected the Chairman of the PAC for the DC Nurses' Association. In an effort to gain greater visibility for the nurses, I talked a RN into running for City Council in DC; while she lost, we made history and the nurses gained tremendous recognition. The work got out, and I was asked to serve as the Association Exec for legislation with the Maryland state organization for registered nurses.

As I may have said to you before, the best experience that I have brought to the role of lobbyist is my 17 years as a psychiatric nurse. What other experience would one need in the midst of a high anxiety, fast moving, psychotic environment?

It has been a tremendous experience to be able to change health policy and therefore improve the well-being of consumers and providers of health care. There are very few places that one can effect such change and have fun doing it.

2. What is your day as a lobbyist like?

My day starts with massive communications of email usually at home before the day starts for most. During the legislative session which in in process from January to April, I head for the office, review the mail, like everyone else, and then set out to make "rounds" in both the House and Senate offices. Being able to just stop in and speak with people in a casual way creates good will and credibility. The legislators like to know that you care enough to come by and see them and the staff. In the process of eye to eye chat, I can establish trust and credibility.

The formal floor sessions start ant 10 am and I am usually listening to the proceedings on my computer in my office while I prepare for testimony and hearings which take place in the afternoon.

Usually no time for lunch, so I gather up my clients, handouts, and get ready to see a couple of legislators before the hearings begin at 1 pm. If I am lucky, I can suggest a few questions for them to ask the opponents of a bill that we don't want passed.

Hearings can last until 8 pm and so there can be lots of time to negotiate with others about similar interests, and to see legislators when they leave the hearing rooms for aa break. While waiting to testify, I have often changed my testimony so as to appeal to the level and focus that the Committee members are taking. It is always a team approach with my clients being with me and being sensitive to the tenor of the day. If ever the hearing is so late that my clients have to leave, I stay and testify without them.

Evening used to be filled with socializing and fancy dinners; now the only way that one can do such socializing is to take an entire committee out for dinner. This is an expensive prospect but a few times a session my clients will participate in such an evening. Usually I entertain the legislators with a dinner at the Annapolis Yacht Club; My clients often invite many of their members of their association and we have a great opportunity to talk and enjoy new friends.

The MAA has chosen to get to know your legislators by sponsoring the Hearing day which has been highly successful and achieved the same end.

3. What exactly do you do for MAA?

My efforts are directed at identifying the most expeditious and futuristic solutions to the problems that your organization either has or anticipates having. I interpret the direction that the State is taking in changing health policy and analyze its effects on your practice. I look for non legislative and non controversial solutions that will prevent you from having to seek legislative resolution.

Legislation should be the last resort for problem solving; If I can take advantage of the leverage that my legislative friends can use, then the problem can get solved without doing battle here in Annapolis.

I review all of the legislation, sometimes up to 3-4000 bills in health care each year, analyze their potential effect on your practice, anticipate their strength and potential for passage, and develop a strategy for addressing each bill that warrants action.

I talk with the legislators and other lobbyists who have interests in the same arena, meet with them to decide if and what action will be taken, develop alliances, and then set the strategies into action.

When all of the action is over, everyone who participates in the process is exhausted. It is about that time that I start thinking about the next year; Much can be gained by starting to plan for the upcoming year just after the session is finished; there are legislators who want to win and are highly motivated to attempt the resolution again and that is the time to get commitments for the upcoming year.

Planning and the process of getting others involved and supporting my cause takes up the Interim period. If I do my homework, I can always be successful.