Game Faces Stay On In The Offseason

For legislators, the General Assembly is a part-time job, and more than half the year, the capitol is empty. But for full-time lobbyists, some of the most important work happens when the legislative session concludes.

The period from now until February — known as the offseason, when legislators are out of session – is a critical time for lobbyists. Clients need briefings on law changes. Next session’s issues need analysis. The planning and preparation lobbyists do over the next few months can make or break their year once lawmakers return.

“The issues don’t go away; it’s the time they can take action that does,” said Patricia LeShane of Sullivan & LeShane. “It’s been a full-time legislature forever if you ask me, and there are more and more issues that the state governments are involved in.”

LeShane is not alone in her assessment.

“We are just as busy during the offseason as we are during the sessions,” said Linda Kowalski of the Kowalski Group. “There are always things to be done for our clients.”

Currently, Kowalski said she is working with state agencies and her clients to make sure everyone is up to speed on laws passed during the most recent session. She is in constant contact with her health care clients, such as Community Health Centers Inc. and the Connecticut Association of Optometrists, to update them on insurance information, she said.

But even as they keep one eye on what has already happened, lobbyists must also stay focused on the upcoming 2008 legislative session, which starts in February.

“It may seem early to get started on next year, but now is the time to prepare,” Kowalski said. “The state agencies have already submitted what their budgets and legislative priorities are.”

By getting the jump now, Kowalski believes she and her clients will be more apt to take advantage of issues and be successful.

“I can tell you from experience that when we are able to expect what’s going to be on the agenda, often times we’re better at getting our issues across,” she said.

Time To Regroup

Keeping in touch with current clients and maintaining regular meetings is another key for lobbyists looking for a successful 2008.

Christopher Cloud, of Camilliere, Cloud and Kennedy, believes that the regular meetings with clients are vital in the offseason and prefers those meetings take place in person.

“You want to sit down, map out strategies for the upcoming session and talk about things that didn’t get done last year,” he said. “A lot is done over the phone or the Internet, but it still doesn’t replace that face-to-face interaction.”

In the past week, Cloud said he had three meetings with clients. He also said that he likes to take time when the General Assembly is not in session to talk to legislators.

“It’s a lot easier to talk to them this time of year because they’re more relaxed. There’s not a bunch of people trying to get at them,” he said.

That’s not to say that lobbyists spend their entire summer and fall working towards the next session.

“If we have clients that have issues in Washington, we try to focus on those,” said Cloud. “A lot of our business comes from business development in the offseason. We have clients that are looking for help and we try to identify ways that we can help them.”

Additionally, Cloud said that there are also nonprofit organizations, fund-raisers and charity events that can keep anyone busy.

The offseason also provides an opportunity for lobbyists to take part in activities that time simply won’t allow when the session is in.

“I try to be very active in the community,” LeShane said. “I kind of backload all the work I do for boards so I can run around all summer and do it because they won’t see me from January to June.”

And of course, there is some time to relax.

“We play golf,” Cloud said. “Or at least I do.”

“Yep, it’s a strong vacation time,” LeShane said.