Zone Defense

It was Friday, the last few hours of Congressional session before adjourning for a month when the call came. A coalition of communications clients had gotten a tip that a problematic legislative item might be introduced late that night prior adjournment. Within minutes we confirmed the threat was very real. The powerful Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee planned to introduce a piece of legislation detrimental to our client in a bill that would be approved that night.

They needed an effective strategy that would address the immediate legislative threat and avoid offending the Chairman.

We developed a dual set of tactics:

1. Alert the Chairman of another committee with shared jurisdiction over this issue to voice concern about approving the legislation
2. Notify members in the minority party who may wish to raise objections to the legislation and prevent approval

Within three hours of the initial email, the threat was quelled. The item was removed by the majority leadership.