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Legislative Action in the States: What We’re Watching in 2018
As we head into the new year, state legislatures across the country will soon convene for their legislative sessions. With the exception of four states that are not in session in 2018 – Texas, South Dakota, Montana and Nevada – legislatures will resume starting in January through the beginning of April. (To see a full…
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Giving Back
Last January, one of our founding partners came across a story in a local paper: An elementary-school toy drive in the District’s fifth ward had left teachers and local leaders scrambling for presents after an outside fundraiser failed to deliver. Last year, when teachers showed up to collect the gifts, they found most of the…
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Cybersecurity: A Threat Or An Opportunity?
While cybersecurity is nothing new, its recent, rapid growth is undeniable. Hackers who were once infantile are now so sophisticated that they can steal personal identify information from millions of people in one hack. Every country, every sector, and every company has now realized the importance of cybersecurity. This means that America will need to…
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NAFTA Renegotiations: A Tale Of Two Capitals
As the next key phase of discussions between the NAFTA participants takes place this week in Washington DC, there is much uncertainty about the outcome of these negotiations. Can negotiators agree upon a deal to update the twenty-three-year-old accord? Will President Trump consent to their terms if they do? Will what we now expect from…
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The Art Of The Pitch
Pitching reporters – aiming to get a tailored message across to a target audience – is one of the most vital facets of public affairs campaigns. A pitch is your initial means of communicating your argument, insight, scoop, etc. If your pitch is a dud – meaning it lacks newsworthy, compelling substance – it will…
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Legislative Action in the States: Part Three
As we head into the fall, an additional five state legislatures – Alaska, California, North Carolina, Oregon and Washington – have adjourned for the year, bringing the total to 43. Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin are still in session. On trend with our earlier blogs, the outcomes (both in diversity…
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Returning from Recess III: America First Put To The Test
As we head into the fall, and towards the end of the fiscal year, Congress is already back in Washington with a packed agenda. If April recess brought the economy to the foreground, August recess was sure to bring a government spending plan front and center. However, while rewriting the tax code and raising the…
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Mergers & Acquisitions: Why You Must Think Politically
Governing is hard. It’s no great secret. Any student of American history knows our nation’s founders structured the federal government to be a slow, deliberative body on purpose. But in a time characterized by partisan gridlock, some may wonder: Is it still important to have a government affairs strategy? If Congress can’t get anything done,…
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What You Didn’t Realize Was Hidden In The Tax Code
We’ve seen an alarming string of news stories about women in the workplace being treated differently than their male peers – from Google’s diversity memo crisis to offensive statements directed at high-profile board members. The fallout of those incidents has spiraled into many cultural conversations and facets of blame. But if the goal is to…
