11. Everything you always wanted to know about California budget advocacy* (*but were afraid to ask) with Senator Sydney Kamlager

Lobbying is not “one size fits all”. As any savvy lobbyist will tell you, securing funding in the California budget is very different from working to get a policy bill signed. You must follow timelines and committees that are separate and distinct from the legislative process. All of this can be intimidating and confusing for advocates, which is why I’m thrilled to have Senator Sydney Kamlager, (D-30) on the podcast.

As the new Senate Budget Subcommittee #4 Chair, Senator Kamlager gives us an inside view of the process, nuances, and relationships that successful budget advocacy requires.

Her advice and “real talk” will help advocates navigate a complex and often opaque budget process.

Episode breakdown:

01:27 - Why you must prioritize the budget when advocating for any bills that cost the state money

03:13 - Appropriations committee vs the Budget - how the two tracks work

07:55 - Beyond the “Big 3”, why you should focus on the ensemble

12:41 - Pay attention to the politics

16:57 - How advocates can build momentum and get the support they need

21:40 - The unspoken truths of the budget process

Episode Transcript

Visit Senator Kamlager's Website: https://sd30.senate.ca.gov 

Follow Senator Kamlager on Twitter: @sydneykamlager

Hosted by Kristina Bas Hamilton, founder of KBH Advocacy.

Support the Blueprint for California Advocates podcast so we can produce more content like this.

Find me on Twitter at @kbashamilton.

This episode is sponsored by:

FastDemocracy is a streamlined and easy-to-use bill tracker that saves you time and allows you to focus on what really matters — advocating for policy. Visit fastdemocracy.com to learn more and don't forget to use the promo code BLUEPRINT.

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