"Politics is perception and the public’s
perception of
what is important changes daily and largely controls
the action of public officials."
Businesses and individuals often have needs that cannot
be addressed adequately through the courts. Some clients
have needs that can only be addressed through the
legislative and executive branches of government. Some
clients need representation before the General Assembly,
or agencies of the local, state or federal government.
Regardless of our clients’ governmental relation needs,
we at BQS are always anxious to assist them in any matter
affecting their relations with the government. During
legislative sessions our attorneys maintain a daily
presence at the Legislature to monitor and lobby pending
legislation. We will, if the situation so dictates, meet
with legislators and their respective staff, prepare
information to submit at the subcommittee hearings, draft
proposed legislature or amendments, negotiate with those
adverse to our clients’ interest, and work alone or with
others to draft legislation.
In addition to credibility and a standard of
non-conflict of interest, the attorneys in the
governmental relations division of Berry, Quackenbush &
Stuart, P.A. provide the following services:
Lobbyist Functions
| 1. |
Direct Legislative Contact: This includes
developing an effective lobbying and governmental
relations program to include not only access to
individuals and networks, but the ability to obtain
the information for a client in a timely manner.
Although the "good ole boy" system is slowly giving
way to a more sophisticated form of communication,
lobbying continues to require seasoned and
experienced representatives who possess the
knowledge of the players and the process. Simply
put, effectiveness in lobbying is the ability of a
lobbying team to quickly contact legislators or
staff members regarding issues affecting the client
and then make an intelligent report on the contact.
Bipartisan capability is another essential
ingredient to success in South Carolina Government.
BQS is carefully positioned so that we can contact
any legislator or staff person, regardless of their
party affiliation.
|
| 2. |
Legislative Monitoring: We monitor all relevant
legislation, and proposed rules and regulations
considered by the General Assembly, the Executive
Branch and pertinent State Boards and Commissions
which may affect a particular client. Periodically, we
send a listing of these monitored items to the client
for review, comment and instruction. From this list
the client directs our attorneys to either intensify
lobbying efforts or simply continue to monitor same.
|
| 3. |
Committee Monitoring: There are several
standing committees whose activities are of particular
import to our clients, and for this reason, BQS will
continue to monitor these committees’ activities
closely. Among the more noteworthy are the following: |
|
| a. |
Senate Committees
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| |
| 1. |
Senate Finance Committee (if dealing with
monetary matters) -
(subcommittee usually
assigned) |
| 2. |
Senate Judiciary |
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|
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| b. |
House Committees |
| |
| 1. |
House Ways and Means Committee |
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| c. |
Executive Branch |
| |
| 1. |
Budget and Control Board |
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|
| 4. |
Working During
the Legislative Interim: South Carolina’s
General Assembly works on a two year legislative
session, running from the second Tuesday in
January to the first Thursday in June of each
calendar year. BQS will provide the following
services during the interim: |
|
| a. |
Legislative Year-End
Report: There will be a legislative
year-end report covering the following: |
| |
| 1. |
Monitored
Legislation: The report will
review monitored legislation which
came before the General Assembly
during the previous year. In addition,
the report will contain an assessment
of the viability of this legislation
for the coming year and a recommended
course of action to pursue during the
interim and following legislative year |
| 2. |
Legislative
Summary: The report will also
contain a legislative summary
discussing the most visible and
volatile issues of the next year and
the current political climate
approaching the next year. |
| 3. |
Special Issues:
Not all the issues monitored or
lobbied by lobbyists are legislative
in nature. In some cases, there are
special issues, and the report will
contain a section which deals with
these issues specifically. |
|
| b. |
Committee Monitoring:
Monitoring relevant committee activities
will represent a great part of BQS’s work
during the interim. |
| c. |
Legislative Contact:
It is during the interim that a
substantial portion of legislation is
drafted and support coalitions organized.
For this reason, BQS will be just as
aggressive in contacting public officials
and staff during this period as it is during
the session. Making early contact
enables our clients to be in a more
advantageous position to help shape the
legislation which will ultimately be
introduced. |
| d. |
Legislative Preview -
Interim Reports: Generally, the House
and Senate will allow prefiling of
legislation. When allowed, there will be
constant reporting of relevant prefiled
legislation to our clients by BQS. It is in
this prefiled legislative review that
problems or opportunities can be anticipated
and pursued. In addition to prefilings,
BQS provides its clients with a political
synopsis for the upcoming session. This
document is essentially an updated overview
of the political climate in South Carolina
which includes: |
| |
| 1. |
Important legislative
issues likely to be considered that can
have a direct or indirect impact on our
clients. |
| 2. |
A political analysis
which considers: |
| |
| a. |
Party Make-up of
government; |
| b. |
Power structures
of government; |
| c. |
Elections, etc.,
and |
| d. |
An assessment of
what the specific client can
expect to face during the coming
year. |
|
|
|
| 5. |
Monitoring
Proposed Regulations: BQS monitors the
State Register for items relevant to our
clients. When possible, BQS can either arrange
for presentations to be made to the appropriate
committee or draft written comments on the
proposed regulation. Regardless, most of the
drafting of proposed regulations takes place
during the legislative interim, and we keep our
clients advised on any and all activities in
this regard. |
| 6. |
Strategic
Planning and Legislative Consulting: While
the monitoring and direct lobbying activities of
BQS are extremely important to effective
legislative representation, the strategic BQS
planning and consulting experience that our
Governmental Relations Division offers will be
essential to the success of our clients’
legislative agenda. Services such as
coalition building, grassroots organization and
the development of messages and materials
designed to promote or oppose legislation will
be an integral part of BQS’s role in protecting
our client’s rights. |
| 7. |
Drafting and
Research: One of the most important
legislative services BQS provides for its
clientele is that of research and legislative
drafting. Members of our governmental relations
division have been former legislators, senators,
assistant Attorney Generals, mayors, council
members, and General Assembly personnel who have
years of experience in drafting legislation and
crafting language for amendments and budget
provisos. |
| 8. |
Continual
Communication: BQS maintains constant
contact with our clients on all issues which are
relevant. For this reason, BQS keeps our clients
informed on all political issues which could
ultimately have an impact. |
| 9. |
Politics: An
essential ingredient for any legislative agenda
is a thorough knowledge and understanding of the
political climate that exists in South Carolina
and the nation. We pride ourselves on our
knowledge of local and national trends, public
opinion, the effect of elections and how they
influence public policy issues. We enjoy sharing
our insights with our clients. |
Our COMMITMENT
Berry, Quackenbush & Stuart is involved with state
government every day. We know how to find the legislators
and their staff and the staff of various agencies and
committees. We know where the meetings take place. We know
the personalities and the "players without a scorecard."
We are skilled at making the necessary presentations. We
are pleased to have our clients visit in Columbia,
however, we pride ourselves in being able to effectively
represent a client’s interest whether or not the client is
personally present.
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