Learning the ABCs of Policy

Following up on my first post responding to Erica Williams' assessment of the current state of youth organizing, I'd like to take a look at what she said about moving policy:

Policy is the Achilles heel of the youth movement. Yes, that's right. Basic policy work. And that’s a big, big, big, unfortunate heel. We were a room full of smart, passionate, incredibly talented organizers – 80% of whom didn’t know the process of a bill becoming a law. 90% of whom had no idea what a committee is, let alone who resides in which committee. I was shocked - these were some of the basics that I was introduced to at LCCR and were the foundation upon which all of my work is built, whether my job title includes the words field organizer (as it formerly did) or policy and advocacy (as it currently does), these are the basics of our nation's system that are fundamental to this work. I worry that this lack of sophistication and focus is the core of our marginalization not just as a movement but as a demographic of people.

On this, Erica and I are in total agreement. All of us came of age as activists during a period of Republican rule and at best a split Congress. With the exception of perhaps USSA, no youth org with a sizable list/constituency has successfully blocked, passed, or greatly contributed to policy at the federal level (Roosevelt Institution has had state-level and local successes). Yes, some groups ran campaigns in support of the passage of the College Cost Reduction Act, as well as the new GI Bill of rights, but it would be overstating the case to say that they were leaders in that fight, or that the legislation would have failed or gone unmoved absent their work on the issue.

When the Dingell/Waxman committee fight came up last month - the result of which would hugely affect the quality of legislation we will see in the next congress on energy and climate change - nary a peep was heard about it from youth organizations until literally the final day of the fight, when I heard that some green groups did back-channel lobbying on behalf of Waxman. For the most part, youth organizations seemed oblivious to a key fight on one of our signature issues. That needs to change and I see a few ways to make it happen:

1. Organizations with institutional knowledge about Congress (USSA, PIRGs, etc.), committees, and the legislative process should find a way to share that knowledge more broadly. My suggestion (biased as it is) would be to get two or three of these orgs to agree to post legislative and congressional updates here on Future Majority once a week. It would be incredibly valuable to have those organizations alert young leaders to the current playing field and go over the ABCs of congress.
2. Organizations that are working on a particular piece of policy should let others know that they are doing so. Such transparency will allow others with institutional knowledge provide assistance, while other orgs that may not have insider knowledge but can lend assistance in other forms can also join in. I'll take another page from the AARP and say that "divided we fail." But if we all work together to support one another, we just might make a dent in things.
3. Open up back channel communications between youth organizers and the legislative branch. Get a representative from the appropriate Congressional leadership offices in touch with young leaders/organizers, and build relationships between the younger members of congress and youth organizers. Friendly advisers on the inside, operating in good faith, can help get us up to speed quite quickly on the ins and outs of successfully lobbying the legislative branch.
4. Do the same for the Executive branch. Open up communications channels between the soon to be in office Obama Administration and young leaders so that we can provide feedback on legislation and learn about upcoming administration priorities.

These suggestions aren't going to make us all policy geniuses, and I don't think it necessary or even wise for youth groups to get involved on every single congressional fight. We're probably going to screw up and drop the ball on a number of occasions and we should recognize the limits of our influence and make sure we spend our political capital wisely. But I think following these suggestions will set us on a path toward becoming more effective, and respected, agents in the policy arena.