OKLAHOMA CITY – Over the course of human history, people have had the tendency to revolt against authoritarianism. Whether you are reading certain scriptures in the Bible, studying history in school, or even catching up with the news, demanding change in policies with the government has been a constant.
In trying to change policy directly with government officials, that action is called lobbying. Most people think of individuals who are hired by a client to encourage policymakers to take a specific direction through making a law. These professional lobbyists register with the government and represent clients who want a policy change. They bring a knowledge of the issue and why the lawmaker should vote for the concept. These individuals often engage in the elections of candidates who will support the mission of their clients.
Citizen lobbyists can be individuals who visit the Capitol to promote an issue which would solve a problem. We often see associations such as health programs visit on specifically organized days at the Capitol to raise awareness. There is no registration for these individuals as they are not being paid to represent the interest.
You can also see other types of people engage in changing policy. Activists are the folks you see on television carrying protest signs at rallies or, of late, forming encampments to promote a policy direction. While these individuals are not effective at directly instigating change in a political stance, they hope their work will raise awareness and build support for that change.
Advocacy is anoth-er form of promoting change in government, and advocates often are methodical with how to promote their work. They do their best to educate policymakers about problems and offer solutions. They spend time and effort to collect data and break it down into understandable language in the hope this will bring about policy changes for the mission they are undertaking.
Through my thirtyplus years in and around government, I have seen each of these types of promotion be successful. We had a teachers’ rally at the State Capitol eight years ago that saw thousands of Oklahomans spend days promoting different positions. With that effort, you had activists who marched, advocates who sat with policymakers to share data, and lobbyists who worked to get certain lawmakers to vote for the changes desired. Ultimately, most did not get all that they wanted, but many did see desired changes occur.
As we close the Second Session of the Fifty-Ninth Oklahoma Legislature on May 31, I can say it was not nearly as fiery as previous years, but there were some interesting moments. Last week, Gov. Kevin Stitt, Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Treat, and House Speaker Charles McCall reached an agreement on the 2025 Fiscal Year Budget. It will be voted on this week in the Legislature and sent to the governor for signature.
In this final week, I have hope there will be a scramble to pass legislation which has been lingering and awaiting a compromise on the budget. Still at hand are bills which would end corporal punishment for some special needs students in public schools, a tax policy which would incentivize businesses to provide or assist with childcare for their employees, and dozens of other good concepts.
If these bills are not heard, there is always next year. It is sad that this attitude is recurring, but that is how the slow process of change in government happens. If there is something you desire to see changed, in government, it is time for you to reach out to your own lawmakers and ask for those policies to be adopted. Become the lobbyists, activist or advocate that is needed to see Oklahoma become a better home for children.
