Major technology association follows CMOR lead, focuses on state lobbying

Tech Group Will Expand State Lobbying Activities
by Andrew Noyes

The technology industry group AeA is expanding its state lobbying operation. CEO Chris Hansen made the announcement as he met with member companies in California to identify at least five additional states as targets.
AeA will increase the money spent on state lobbying to $6.2 million, which Hansen said is approaching half the operating budget. "It is the most substantial part of our budget," he said.
The new state lobbying budget is about a half-million dollars more than last year and will be put toward contracting lobbyists in five states, hiring staff to advocate on environmental issues and starting an online information-sharing network on state issues impacting the tech industry.
The AeA Information Network will let members compare what various states are doing on tech issues, and also slice and dice information according to issues.
During a conference call, Hansen said the additional shift into states is based on both a trend and what members were demanding.
"There are a lot of federal legislative proposals, but there's less actually happening," he said. As he met with more member companies after becoming CEO, Hansen said he was told that they wanted AeA to increase its focus on state legislative and regulatory issues.
Jim Wall, Microsoft's regional government affairs director, said strengthening the state program is a good move. "It is clear that Chris Hansen understands the importance of this program to Microsoft and AeA's other member companies," Wall said.
AeA currently has 20 lobbyists working in a dozen tech-oriented states to help members learn what is happening and connect with key legislators. AeA is most active now in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania and Washington. It has not decided which five states to add to its lobbying targets.
While AeA has had regional lobbying offices for decades, other national tech associations are starting to expand regionally as well. The Information Technology Industry Council and TechNet are planning to join together on state lobbying issues, according to a tech lobbyist.
"We're still going to be doing federal work, very targeted on the big things our members need," such as the research and development tax credit and other competitiveness issues, Hansen said. But he said that a focus will be trying to complement what other tech associations and advocates are doing.
"It's not about the trade associations but the people we represent," Hansen said. "We're not going to put money into replicating what other people are doing and doing well."

- Tech Daily PM, 1-24-08