In This Issue
•    Managing political risk
•    It’s all politics in 2008
•    Homegrown opportunities to defend the homeland
•    Saving Energy
•    Government funding is now available
•    Congressional and political dates to remember
•    Cherrin to appear as a U.S. political analyst on Canada’s A Channel. 
•    Reputation management: Protecting your reputation on and off-line
•    Where law, policy, media and public opinion collide

Managing political risk

Historically the job of a lobbyist was to keep government from doing anything that would hurt a corporation.  In fact, lobbyists have been described as “the people you hire to protect you from the people you elect.” 

Today, government has a more significant impact on business and the role of a lobbyist has evolved. Government risks are unpredictable and far reaching.  While they may affect industry they can paralyze an individual company.

Companies hire lobbyist for many reasons:
•    To protect the company from bad legislation;
•    To secure government funding; and,
•    To create a competitive advantage.

Relationships however, remain the center of any government relations strategy.  Depending on the issue and objective, a comprehensive strategy includes:

-    Legislative monitoring       
-    Political advocacy
-    Trips to Washington           
-    Grassroots advocacy
-    Media relations                    
-    Economic analysis
-    Coalitions building             
-    Issues management

We have a lot to celebrate on behalf of our clients and want to thank each of you for an exciting and successful year.  In 2007:

•   Secured language in the 2008 Defense Authorization bill to destroy and dispose of sensitive military equipment through direct     meetings with Members of Congress, and staff.

•  Changed the content of legislation away from border crossings and onto the transportation and logistics environment in the state     of Michigan as a result of active participation in legislative working group sessions.

•   Secured stories and interviews in publications such as : The Christian Science Monitor, Crain’s Detroit Business, dBusiness, The     Detroit Free Press, The Detroit News, and The Wall Street Journal.* (Through North Coast Strategies, a subsidiary to CLG.)

We look forward to working with you and representing your interests in Congress, the legislature, the media and various administrative and regulative agencies.  We wish you a happy, healthy and wonderful New Year!

Best,
Dan Cherrin


It’s all politics in 2008 -- The presidential election will dominate the agenda

With the final major pieces of legislation passed by Congress shortly before the December recess now signed into law, including: a major overhaul of our nation’s energy policy; a $555 billion spending package; student loan relief; a minimum wage increase; a trade agreement with Peru; a one-year “patch” to the alternative minimum tax; and, a seven-year renewal of a terrorism-insurance program, Congress will return to an election-year agenda that includes more energy and global warming legislation, an economic stimulus package designed to bolster consumer confidence, and new health care initiatives.  Democrats will continue efforts to force President Bush to change his Iraq policies. In a lame-duck year the President will have a difficult time advancing his agenda.

Regarding health care, Democrats are interested in increased research investments at the National Institutes of Health and other agencies, moving toward universal adoption of electronic medical records for all Americans and ensuring that there is “universally accessible, personalized care’’ for everyone. 

In terms of the economy, look for long-term investments in rebuilding physical infrastructure in the United States, such as our roads and bridges.  In addition, legislation will be introduced to help people hurt by wage stagnation, aid borrowers hit by the subprime mortgage crisis and assist local and state governments whose tax bases have been hurt by the real estate slump and home foreclosures.

With the Iowa caucus now behind us, and the field of candidates already narrowing, politics will continue to dominate Congress’ agenda. As a result, the issues now become political.  Therefore, in approaching Congress it is important to:

•    Remain aware of the politics behind the issues;

•    Be sensitive to the various election issues and campaigns of those with whom you come into contact;

•    Try to tie your issue to the “hot issues” of the campaign;

•    Advocate for issues Members of Congress could champion or brag about during the election; and,

•    Use the campaign as an opportunity to further promote your issue.

Homegrown opportunities to defend the homeland

     Homeland security remains a priority of Congress. Congress continues to address our nation’s most pressing security needs, working to implement many of the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission and those made in HR 1. New emphasis will be placed on protecting our ports and our rail and transit systems. For example, under the FY 08 appropriations bill, state and local communities will receive additional funds for preventing and responding to terrorist threats and natural disasters. Aviation security will be strengthened with improvements to baggage and cargo screenings and a requirement that TSA double the amount of cargo screened for explosives on passenger aircraft.   Critical investments also will be made into border and immigration security and providing for record numbers of border patrol agents. Funding also will be available through a variety of grants for port security, law enforcement, and transit programs. 

Funding by way of grants and general appropriations also will be available for: border security, biometrics, reader technology, facial technology, and dispersed sensors (gas/fire).  Implementing US VISIT, REAL ID, and the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiatives will continue to remain an issue for DHS.

Saving energy:
Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007
    
It is in the highest national security interests of the United States to develop renewable energy sources.  As a result, the President signed into a law a comprehensive energy bill that is intended to move the United States toward greater energy independence and security, increase the production of clean renewable fuels, protect consumers, increase the efficiency of products, buildings, and vehicles, and promote research on and deploy greenhouse gas capture and storage options.

In addition, it provides a series of grants to:

•    Establish refueling infrastructure corridors for gasoline blends containing specified ratios of renewable fuel or diesel fuel;

•    Research, develop, and implement renewable fuel production technologies in states with low rates of ethanol (including
      cellulosic biomass ethanol) production;

•    Develop infrastructure to support the separation, production, processing, and transportation of biomass to local biorefineries,           including by portable processing equipment;

•    Fund for bioenergy research and development, including the establishment of bioresearch centers that target biofuels; and
      loan guarantees for renewable fuel facilities;

•    Enhance low carbon fuel research; and,

•    Advance biofuels production.

In addition, the U.S.-Israel Energy Cooperation Act (USIECA) establishes a multi-year program of grants for joint projects at the basic research level between U.S. and Israeli academic institutions, and at the applied research and development level between U.S. and Israeli companies.  Grants will be available for:

- Solar energy           - Biomass energy                - Energy efficiency    
- Wind energy           - Geothermal energy            - Wave and tidal

For example, Israeli skills in solar energy can help produce hydrogen fuel; their skills in biotechnology can improve the conversion of cellulosic waste into ethanol and methanol; and their skills in chemistry, engineering and nanotechnology can improve the efficiency of fuel cells.

With the major issues resolved in 2007, Democrats now want to create a cap-and-trade system for carbon dioxide emissions and enacting renewable-energy standards.

In Michigan, Governor Jennifer Granholm also has made it her priority to develop the state’s alternative energy industry and the Michigan Legislature is considering legislation to set a renewable portfolio standard (RPS).


Government funding now available

     Despite changes in the earmarking process, Members of Congress will still submit a variety of requests from their districts, ranging from the development to new technologies. Requests are due in February and March for the next fiscal year.

The federal government administers a variety of programs for the development and commercialization of new technologies and for a variety of nonprofits, including, but not limited to:

•    Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) -- The IMLS provides grant and appropriations funding for cultural            non-profits such as museums, libraries, symphonies, operas, zoos, and more. Dollars are offered through competitive grant rounds and can also be accessed through congressionally directed earmarks.

•    National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) -- The NEA offers grants for artists and art organizations in dozens of fields such as literature, sculpture, expressive dance, and more. Dollars are awarded for a range of activities including art-related research, learning, and publications.

•    Department of Defense (DoD) – The DoD has funds available for new technologies, medical research, and items to assist in the war effort.

•    Department of Homeland Security (DHS) – The DHS is currently seeking products that can detect explosives, screen baggage, people and commerce, protect privacy.

•    Department of Energy (DOE) – The DOE funds new technologies for projects related to alternative energy, energy saving and anything that could lessen the our dependence on foreign oil.  The Department of Agriculture also has funding available for alternative energy projects and research.

Cherrin to appear as a U.S. political analyst on Canada’s A Channel. 
    
Daniel Cherrin, President of North Coast Strategies, often appears as a guest political analyst on Canada’s A Channel, The Inquiry.  Cherrin next appears this Sunday and will talk about the Iowa caucuses, New Hampshire primary, Michigan Primary and anticipated outcome.  In addition, Cherrin, along with Professor Peter Ferguson of the Centre for American Studies at Western Ontario University, will analyze the impact the U.S. elections will have on Canada. Cherrin will appear again on the A Channel on the evening of the Michigan primary.  The Inquiry airs weekly in Windsor, London and Ottawa, Ontario. For more information see www.achannel.ca.

Reputation management: 
Protecting your reputation on-line

With millions of websites and more than 50 million blogs, chances are someone is talking about you on-line.  Go ahead and search your name or company on Google, You Tube, Yahoo or AOL.  To manage your reputation on-line it is important to monitor the web and see what others are saying about you and your competition. After monitoring the net you will be in a better position to either respond when appropriate, integrate your own content or just ignore it.  Ignoring negative comments is perhaps the best strategy depending on the situation as responding adds fuel to the fire and the blogger will continue to write about you based on your response.   

The best strategy to manage your reputation on-line, includes:

-- Constantly adding fresh content to your site that keeps people coming back and adds to your search engine rankings;

-- An effective SEO  strategy; and,

-- Good PR both on-line and off.

We also recommend finding a few reputable blogs that cover your industry and perhaps company.  For example, there are a handful of reporters that now have their own blogs or blogs posted on the media outlet’s website.  Then, develop relationships with the bloggers, and become an active participant to avoid anything negative appearing about you and your company on-line.
Where law, policy, media & public opinion collide

Companies today face increased challenges from government at a local, state and federal level.  North Coast Strategies provides government relations and strategic counsel to corporations and trade associations and helps clients navigate through the political, legal and regulatory arena.

North Coast enables clients to analyze the ways in which government action or inaction affect their business and provide strategic counsel where law, politics and policy converge.  North Coast offers a powerful combination of legal, political and regulatory experience with key contacts within the legislative and regulatory arena at the local, state and federal levels, in the United States and Canada.