| Governor's Expectations of Agencies |
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To: Agency Legislative Coordinators
From: Teresa Miller, Governor's Legislative Director
January 16, 2008
DAS will coordinate bills impacting multiple agencies, including:
- Taking the lead on ironing out differences between agencies.
- Coordinating testimony (to avoid duplicate testimony).
- Fiscal Impact Statement Coordination – the Governor’s Office will work with DAS to set a clear policy around fiscal impact statements for next session taking the lead on ironing out differences between agencies.
- Agencies will work out differences on legislation before a legislative hearing. We will not have two or more agencies providing contrary testimony on the same bill. DAS will be the primary contact on bills impacting more than one agency.
- Remember, we all work for the Governor. This means:
- When providing testimony, do not use the word “oppose” when discussing an agency position on a bill unless you have cleared it with the Governor’s Office.
- Do not take a position in support of a bill unless you have cleared it with the Governor’s Office and it is included in the Governor’s budget.
- Unless you have been instructed by the Governor's office otherwise:
- Show up and testify with your concerns about a bill and work with legislators and interested parties on amendments to alleviate your concerns.
- The Governor should be your last resort. In general, do not count on a veto.
- If a bill is on the Governor’s agenda as a top priority, we expect agencies to treat it as such. The agency director should testify on such bills.
- Agencies are expected to work together. We all need to be on the same page. We all work for the same person. This means agencies don’t speak for or blame other agencies in a committee hearing. If you have a problem with another agency, work it out ahead of time.
- Agencies must have Governor’s approval to introduce bills. We have a bill review process. Many of your bills will be approved to go forward; some will be denied. There will be an appeals process for denials. But, if your bill is ultimately denied, agencies will not go around the Governor’s process to introduce bills.
- Agencies should contact stakeholders during the interim to start building coalitions for the next legislative session.
- When developing legislative concepts affecting other agencies, work with these agencies as you draft the concept.
- When you plan to testify on a bill, make sure you have given appropriate heads-up to interested legislators and organizations.
Legislative Director - role
- During session, Teresa will focus on the Governor’s priority bills. If your agency has a bill that falls into that category, we will work together closely, with your policy advisor. If your bill does not fall into that category, you will work with your policy advisor on the bill.
Governor and Chief of Staff - role
- We will strive to be as clear with you about the Governor’s position as we can be. Particularly for priority bills, we don’t want to be surprised, and we do not want to surprise you. As there will be multiple conversations between the Governor, Chief of Staff, Legislative Director and legislators – particularly legislative leadership, we will seek to inform you as soon as possible if there are changed circumstances or alterations in the Governor’s position on legislation. If there is a clear position on a bill by the Governor, that position can only be changed by communication from the Governor, Chief of Staff or Legislative Director.
Other Issues
Bills with Revenue Implications: As you provide legislative concepts to DAS, I would also like a copy of any agency bill with revenue implications. These bills will obviously be important as we begin developing the Governor’s budget.
Publications
If your agency has a publication (internal newsletter):
- If you want help distributing to legislators, I would be glad to work with you.
- I would like to be on your distribution list.
The Governor wants agencies to bring forward LC drafts that promote the Governor’s agenda. In developing legislative concepts, the focus of the agency should be (in the following order):
- Governor’s priorities and LCs that further the Governor’s agenda
- Legislation required to meet agency needs ($ requests, technical changes)
- Legislation desired by the agency (policy changes, etc.)
As we work on the Governor’s agenda for the 2009 legislative session, we will provide more specific direction to agencies to assist in legislative concept development and budget preparation. In the meantime, one of the continuing priorities of the Governor is to make it easier for businesses to interact with state government. The Governor encourages agencies to come forward with bills simplifying licensing requirements, combining permits and improving state agency rule-making processes to help accomplish this goal.
- What can I do for you?
- How can I get you more connected to the Governor’s Office?
- What information do you need?
- How should we work together moving forward?
- How often should we meet?
- Should we meet in smaller groups?
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