COP on the Hill: Stories from the week of January 16, 2015

Stories from the week of January 16, 2015

Shhh! Don’t tell anybody” The House staffer had just presented to the Grover Group and was headed out the door. We met by the elevator, I introduced myself, he asked for our input on reducing spending, exchanged cards and away he went. This has happened twice more since January first.

Sitting at the VIP table at Grover’s, folks must think I am important. I’ll never tell.

Finally, a good team: one of my meetings this week was a strategy meeting regarding just marijuana legislation. For the first time since we met five (5) years ago – where I pushed to adopt the strategy of a complete MJ repeal bill – the groups were together again. I am happy to report this team is not only the best ever (COP, DPA, MPP –now has two full-time federal lobbyists—one for Dems and one for Rs—NICA (Nat. Industrial Cannabis Assoc), EVERYONE is competent and hard-working.

We have many long hours and months of work ahead but it is just wonderful to be part of such a team. I am absolutely not a Lone Ranger anymore.

This week’s raw data:

1690 Presentations to Congressional staffers..  04 this week

53 Radio Interviews..  1 this week

4 meetings this week

•   COP stats since inception: August 2009

105 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, etc.     0 this week

11 Conversations (five minutes or longer) with Member of Congress..  0  this week

• 20 major conferences attended..   (United Nations drug conf, CPAC, LULAC, NRA, CBC, ASA, DPA, Dem & Repub. Presidential conventions., National Review,  etc) 0 this week

54 brief chats with Members of Congress..   00 this week

• 81 interviews and reports in minor media = blogs, cable TV, weekly papers, etc..    0 this week

80 published letters to the editor (value per MAPINC in free publicity: $79,000).. 0 this week

38  Appearances on major TV networks..this week (Fox, ABC, CBS, NBC, Univision, BBC)…0 this week (BBC)

• 28published interviews in major (daily) newspapers or magazine…this week

      *   2 editorials in daily papers mentioning Howard’s efforts & in support of COP position

• Weekly attendance at Grover Norquist’s Wednesday brunch attended by 150 conservative leaders.   Named the “Grand Central Station of the Conservative Movement.”
• Consider being a member of COP at $30.00 or more per year.   All contributions are tax-deductible.  30 dollars buys all the copy paper COP uses in one year.   Law Enforcement’s voice in opposition to current policy is vital on the Hill to achieve a repeal of federal prohibition.  COP provides that voice.    …