Government Relations Report

When I was eighteen, I enrolled in a course called “The History of Western Political Theory” during my Freshman year of college. I lasted four days. Was my shortlived involvement due to one of my classmates uttering the words “jurisprudential analysis” and “apathetic plurality” (in the same sentence, no less)? Possibly. Was it because I was eviscerated by the Professor, during a clumsy and ill-conceived attempt to charm, when I called her “Mrs. Clark” instead of “Dr. Clark” (an offense so multi-layered that, in hindsight, I’m practically impressed with my teenage ignorance)? Perhaps. Or was it because the unfamiliar terminology, acronyms, public figures, and idioms flying around during class discussion made my head spin and led me to the conclusion that I’d bitten off more than I could chew (an experience I now identify as a forerunner to my first year working with Dave Goch, during which I understood maybe 60% of what he said to me)? It’s conceivable. Whatever the case, I dropped the course and took “Sociology of Deviance” instead. It seemed like a more natural fit, anyway.

GR Engagement in an Age of Political Skepticism

by Amy Schoppman NMEDA DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENT RELATIONS

that, while I may work in politics, I personally understand that politics can seem inaccessible, indecipherable, frustrating, amorphous, inconsequential, petty, pretentious, [insert additional unflattering adjectives…]. Basically, it’s not for everyone. I recently attended a US. Chamber of Commerce seminar on government affairs and advocacy that referenced two thought-provoking statistics that helped me realize this aversion to politics is particularly prominent in the Association world: (1) 84% of Associations “find it challenging to get members involved in Government Affairs/Advocacy” and (2) 52% of Association members Richard)—in this magazine and elsewhere. While I find some comfort in knowing that I’m far from alone, I will never not find it perplexing that members (of any Association, not just NMEDA) actively decline to participate in Government Relations (GR) efforts that would impact their businesses, their customers, their employees, and/or their lives. Everything NMEDA’s GR team does is for the benefit of the automotive mobility industry, our membership, and the clients that our membership serves. Whether you’re a Republican, a Democrat, an Independent, a Libertarian, a Transhumanist, a Moonie (in which case I would genuinely Everything NMEDA’s GR team does is for the benefit of the automotive mobility industry, our membership, and the clients that our membership serves.” “

“are unsure about their Association’s Government Affairs/Advocacy process and priorities.”

Let’s first address “The 84 Percent.” I have previously expressed my stance on NMEDA member engagement— with apparently palpable frustration, based on the feedback I received from Richard May (I’m better now, love to have a conversation with you), or align yourself with some other political affiliation, I think we can all agree that political efforts advantageous to our industry are, generally speaking, “a good thing.” For this reason alone, I ask readers to (re)consider involvement in NMEDA’s GR activities.

It has certainly occurred to me that the reticence, reluctance, or refusal of “The 84 Percent” to participate in GR efforts may be connected to the second statistic mentioned above—that 52% of Association members are “unsure about their Association’s Government Affairs/ Advocacy process and priorities.” The fastidious linguistics enthusiast that haunts my left brain isn’t entirely sure how “unsure” (ha) is being defined here—are members “unsure” because they are unconvinced of a particular GR effort’s usefulness? Are members “unsure” because they are uninformed about GR process and priorities? Or are members “unsure” because they are unconfident that they possess the expertise or ability to contribute to (or simply tolerate) GR efforts? Let’s address all of the above:

Unconvinced NMEDA’s GR Team develops and periodically revises a policy platform consisting of a limited number of issues having a significant impact on our members. In other words, we pick our battles wisely. The first major battle—like, Crazy Frozen Lake Battle from Season 5 of Game of Thrones—was passage of the Veterans Mobility Safety Act. We were ultimately victorious and are currently working with the Department of Veterans Affairs—which tends to move slower than the slowest of wights in The Army of The Dead—to finalize the law’s implementation. If you are unconvinced of the utility and benefit of VA updating its nearly 20-year-old guidance document for the Auto Adaptive Equipment Program—an update that will include minimum product and installation provider standards as well as increased VA staff training in order to produce consistent nationwide policy enforcement—well, I’d say you’re as stubborn as Cersei. (OK, that’s the final GOT reference.) Will VMSA implementation triple a dealer’s or manufacturer’s sales overnight? Probably not. But if sales are your sole priority, I encourage you to consider the merit and propriety of improving automotive mobility outcomes for disabled veterans and improving the unclear, inconsistent, and profoundly frustrating approval/payment process routinely encountered by our dealers. Your sales may not increase, but your sanity will at least have a chance of survival.

Speaking of the payment process: while our Past Due Invoice Program has resulted in dealers receiving long-overdue payments from VA, I am dissatisfied with the insufficient amount and sporadic frequency of those late payments. And because everything NMEDA’s GR Team does is in furtherance of maximum benefit to our industry, our members, and the clients that our members serve, we decided to prioritize the issue of

VA’s Prompt Payment Act violations. Following a series of meetings and discussions with Members of Congress and VA Committee staff, the issue has since moved up VA’s chain of command, directly to the head of the VBA (Veteran’s Benefits Administration), who is currently being pressured from multiple angles to address it. To put it bluntly: we’re going to get you paid. If that’s not useful then I have seriously overestimated my understanding of basic business principles.

Uninformed I’ll take “Uninformed” for $600, Alex.

Answer: Weekly emails, monthly GR reports, social media, quarterly magazine, GR Committee, conference education sessions, calling (813) 264-2697, and emailing Amy.

What are methods by which members can become and remain informed regarding NMEDA’s GR efforts?

Unconfident Oh, you’re apprehensive about politics considering the current hyper-partisan climate and recordlow dissatisfaction with government and the very real possibility of uncomfortable conversations/ fractured relationships/physical injury if you express an opinion? Join the club, friend. Times are strange but the good news is that NMEDA doesn’t hold, initiate, or promote political conversations in its GR communications. I will never discuss impeachment, debates, primaries, or media bias with you (unless you’re Sam Cook or, for whatever reason, you actually want to have such a discussion). The luxury, for NMEDA members, is that our issues aren’t

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technically “political”—they appeal to an array of ideologies, they are non-controversial (in that they don’t encompass “culture war” aspects), and NMEDA will work with anyone interested in developing common sense solutions to the challenges facing our industry, our members, and the clients our members serve.

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In comparison to my previous articles, this one is symbolically as brief as my time spent in “The History of Western Political Theory” (fun fact: I ended up with a degree in Politics & Public Policy, including—wait for it—a political theory concentration). Perhaps, like I did, you will eventually reconsider your standpoint on politics and your involvement in NMEDA’s GR efforts. If you give it a try and decide you dislike it, you can quit after four days. I’ll understand.

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For informa�on and to become a dealer, contact Randy. RandyK@clockmobility.com 800.732.5625

est. 1986

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 y’s                                                    

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with EZ Lock App

WHEELCHAIR DOCKING SYSTEM

BL-6290 1 piece base system

EZ-8202 2 piece base system *smaller profile *variable heights

MRC-51T Manual Release Cable (recommended)

TOUCHPAD One button with LED lights

VOICE FEEDBACK NOTIFICATION*

“READY” “STOP” “WARNING” “CHAIR UNLOCKED” “LOCK RE-ACTIVATED” “SOLENOID MALFUNCTION” Chair LOCKED Chair NOT LOCKED Lock DEACTIVATED Please Roll Back System Ready Service Required “PLEASE TURN OFF IGNITION TO UNLOCK CHAIR”

Red - (STOP) wheelchair not locked Yellow - (WARNING) deactivated Green - (READY) wheelchair locked