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Policy 101
The Roosevelt InstitutionJune 16, 2009
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The Progressive Movement
The Roosevelt Method
From Idea to Policy
Define the problem Assemble evidence Construct alternatives Review your criteria Project outcomes Confront the trade-offs Make a decision Tell your story
But first - who is this about?
Know your constituents Be genuine in your representation Message
Target audience Target goal
Why are you doing this? Be upfront about your goals and expectations Own your personal narrative (and keep it fresh in
your mind)
1. Defining the problem
What are your priorities? What does your
community need? How do current events
impact your agenda? Deficit/excess Defining your terms
What is a “green collar job,” anyway?
Louisiana bayou, post-Katrina
2. Assemble Evidence
Warning: do not get stuck in this stage
What kind of evidence do you need? Quantitative Best practices Qualitative/Testimonial Public Opinion/Polling Creative visualization
3 & 4: Alternatives & Criteria
Construct alternatives Start broad, then narrow You may end up with
something very different from your initial assumption
Simplify Package deal: Do your
recommendations work better together or separately?
Review criteria Is it equitable? Is it cost-effective? Is it legal? Is it politically
acceptable? Is it flexible? (Will it
adapt to change?) See policy prioritization
tool
5 & 6: Outcomes and Tradeoffs
Outcomes Play it all the way out How sustainable is your
plan? How long will you be in
control of the outcomes?
Tradeoffs Compromise, or be
compromised Look for ways to be
mutually supportive; you may find that the leverage you need is in a totally different place than you thought
Make a Decision
Before, during, and at the end of the process, always ask yourself this question: “Why hasn’t it been done already?” The answer to that question is the key to your
strategy when it’s time to implement your idea Build to Act
Tell Your Story
• Key Facts v. Talking Points• Active Voice = Actionable Idea• Be concise & creative
Real Talk
How things go down in politics Universal rules of politics
Be helpful Be brief Be honest Be humble Be persistent
Contact Us
Caitlin Howarth, Policy Director [email protected]
Kurston Cook, Field Director [email protected]
Thanks for being here!
