A Day in the Life of a Big I KY Lobbyist

Most of you reading this are successful insurance agents. Enterprising business owners who proudly employ Kentuckians and help your customers protect themselves, their families and property from financial loss. By all accounts, a very noble profession. One your mother would be quite proud of.

But this article isn’t about you. It’s about me, Dustin Miller... and I’m a lobbyist. And, thanks to some not-so-ethical individuals, my profession is not one that is noted for being particularly noble. But I am trying to change that.

What does a lobbyist DO? I recently presented at 5th Grade Career Day, I was a fill-in because the local veterinarian had an emergency (nobody was more disappointed than the kids to see me). I realized in the first few minutes (after the disappointment washed over the students) that I had to answer the question...What does a lobbyist do? The dictionary says a lobbyist is a person who takes part in an organized attempt to influence legislators. Clear enough, but thought I needed something more descriptive, particularly for 5th Graders. Which led me to the meme below:

I hope you enjoyed that! It makes me laugh. But, it is the simplest way to describe the lobbying profession.

So what does that look like on any given day? I really do sit in a lot of meetings and listen to a lot of regulators and other lobbyists testify to committees, while I listen attentively for legislators’ reactions and votes. But, there is a lot more to it and with the General Assembly currently in session here is a better picture.

6 AM The average day starts with my phone buzzing (this will be a common theme) with emails, texts and phone calls. The correspondence ranges from emails from our Big I Kentucky President and

CEO, Tara Purvis, asking me about a bill that was filed the day before. If I am on my game, I knew the bill was going to be filed or the sponsor told me to expect they were going to file the bill. This happens rarely and I get into my texts to find out if the bill sponsor or lobbyist for the industry can provide me some details.

Drive Time My commute is consumed by the latest audiobook from a favorite author James Lee Burke, Michael Connelly, or Malcom Gladwell. I rarely get to enjoy them, as my phone is buzzing and I end up on the phone all the way to the Capitol. Mostly with legislators about bills or to schedule meetings for myself or my clients that are visiting the Capitol, lobbyists -- some friendly and some foe -- to discuss bills that I am negotiating, and my teammates to see who’s covering what meeting now that three legislative appointments have been rescheduled.

Arrive at Capitol I arrive at the Capitol straight into the Big I’s legislative breakfast to mix and mingle with Big I members and their legislators. This is KEY. If am a more effective advocate for YOU when legislators associate me with the Big I. That way, they know when I come to see them about a bill on behalf of the Big I, really I am coming to see them on your behalf. The connection that Big I members have in their local community is a huge advantage for our advocacy efforts. So get to know your legislators!!!

Post-Breakfast Juggling I leave the breakfast and try to figure out how I am going to attend two committee meetings at 10 and Noon, make legislator appointments at 10:45, 11, and 11:30 all while trying to see a list of about 10 legislators that I don’t have appointments with, but need their votes or to talk to them on various issues.

Fortunately Prentice Harvey, your other Big I lobbyist and my business partner, is there to bail me out!

Pause Everything goes on pause for 15 minutes while I take a call from House Banking & Insurance Committee Chairman and Big I Member Bart Rowland. He informs me that he has heard there may be an issue that is problematic for the Big I. His position as Chairman is good for the Big I and our members. He understands what you do in your offices and how important it is for consumers and he is able to work through his position as B&I Chair to protect our industry. So I listen closely about his take on the issue and how I can be of assistance providing message points or research from another state to bolster his opposition to the bill.

AmGUARD • EastGUARD • NorGUARD • WestGUARD

YOU! Thank

HAPPY NEW YEAR to our agents, policyholders, employees, and friends who made this past year a successful one for Berkshire Hathaway GUARD. We look forward to working with you again in 2020!

APPLY TO BE AN AGENT AT:

WWW.GUARD.COM/APPLY/

Twitter Time A quick look at Twitter. This happens throughout the day and if I am looking at my phone I am trying not to ignore people sitting in the meeting or walking down the hallways at the same time. Twitter allows me to see what legislators, the Capitol press corps, and my fellow lobbyists are tweeting about and what is on their mind. I have been unsure about the dawning of the social media age, but it is an invaluable tool to get on the fly news as well as context about legislators, regulators and lobbyists that I am working with. It is a lot to process, but I do my best.

Communication is key While standing in the legislators office lobby waiting for an appointment to discuss an insurance bill, I draft message points, amendment language, or action alerts for Tara to consider sending on an issue of importance to the Big I. Tara and her team do a great job of communicating with members about what is going on in Frankfort and to focus the myriad of bills and issues down to those of specific interest to members. Further, when we can’t move or stop a bill of interest the Big I is great about asking for you to call, text, and email your legislators. The Calvary!!! The better you know your legislator before you reach out to them on a bill the more impactful your contact with them will be. Just know it is the air support that we need on issues sometimes and we greatly appreciate it!!!

2 PM The House and Senate usually convene at 2 pm. If I don’t have a bill being voted on the floor of either Chamber it is a time for a Diet Coke and a protein bar... you will notice I missed lunch. Then, it is off to meet with industry groups on bills. The Big I participates with the Kentucky Insurance Council. The KIC meeting brings together lobbyists from lots of insurance companies and other insurance trade groups. This is an opportunity to gather feedback on the various insurance bills that have been filed and to discuss lobbying strategy.

4 PM It’s still early in the session so the floor actions in the House and Senate are short and so members get back to their offices by 4 pm and this is a prime time for me to talk to members on various bills. Some for, some against, but all are important.

Relationships Matter Normally things wind down at the Capitol in the early evening and I either head home or to a reception one of my clients is having that has brought their local association members to Frankfort. Again these relationships matter, so I will go and visit just like I did at the Big I breakfast in the morning.

Newsletter Prep I usually arrive home in the evening where I will then peruse 400 news articles selecting the top ones for 5 newsletters that I publish nightly. Then I look at the day’s bill filings, read the bills and track them on our bill tracking software and alert Tara to any that may have been recently filed that will impact insurance agents. All while binge-watching The West Wing for the 20th time. Then I sleep...

A Note About Lobbyists Though the meme (page 7) and my opening remarks carry on the negative societal view of my profession, it is the only job I have ever wanted or ever done. I am sometimes introduced in Frankfort as “the only person I ever met that actually wanted to be a lobbyist.” I am not a former legislator or the son of a prominent politician. I enjoy being a lobbyist and work hard to represent my clients as best as I can in a way that would make my Mother proud. Lobbyists are not lucky charms - my mere representation of the Big I doesn’t make us successful. I am just the honest front man trying to help explain what you do to help your customers.

I am fortunate to have an understanding spouse, Laura, and two boys, Davis and Blake, who don’t mind that I disappear from January to April of every year.

Dustin Miller is a Partner with Government Strategies, LLC in Frankfort. He began his career handling Government, Community and Media Relations for State Farm Insurance. He has represented clients before the General Assembly from various sectors including regulated utilities, insurance, health care and education since 2003. He served on several boards during Republican and Democrat Administrations including the Healthcare Transparency Committee and the Governor’s Earthquake Council.

Stay in the Know Check out our Legislative Bulletin every Monday to stay up-to-date on bills affecting our industry. Not receiving them? Email Nikki Robins at nrobins@iiak.org

DATE/TIME SEMINAR NAME CE CREDITS February 24 @ 1 pm March 23 @ 1 pm April 27 @ 1 pm Agency Management Based E&O and Ethics 3 February 5 @ 3 pm March 4 @ 3 pm April 1 @ 3 pm Annuity Basics and Where They Fit 1 February 19 @ 11 am March 18 @ 11 am April 15 @ 11 am Business Auto Claims That Cause Problems 2 February 5 @ 11 am March 4 @ 11 am April 1 @ 11 am Business Fraud Protection 1 February 21 @ 11 am March 19 @ 11 am April 17 @ 11 am Certificates of Insurance – Emerging Issues and Other Stuff that May Scare You! 3 February 14 @ 2 pm March 13 @ 10 am April 10 @ 2 pm Commercial Lines Claims That Cause Problems 2 February 25 @ 1 pm March 31 @ 1 pm April 28 @ 1 pm Commercial Property Endorsements That Can Make You Money! 2 February 6 @ 10 am March 5 @ 10 am April 2 @ 10 am COPE – Property Underwriting and Effective Loss Control 2 February 7 @ 2 pm March 4 @ 2 pm April 3 @ 2 pm Data Privacy Insurance 2 February 5 @ 10 am March 4 @ 10 am April 1 @ 10 am Directors and Officers Liability Insurance 2 February 10 @ 1 pm March 9 @ 1 pm April 13 @ 1 pm Double Trouble - Certificates of Insurance and Business Auto Endorsements 2 February 10 @ 10 am March 9 @ 10 am April 13 @ 10 am E&O Risk Management – Meeting the Challenge of Change (6 hour course) 6 February 25 @ 10 am March 24 @ 10 am April 28 @ 10 am E&O Risk Management – Meeting the Challenge of Change (Part 1) 3 February 26 @ 2 pm March 25 @ 2 pm April 28 @ 2 pm E&O Risk Management – Meeting the Challenge of Change (Part 2) 3 February 13 @ 3 pm March 12 @ 3 pm April 9 @ 3 pm Estate Planning Basics 2 February 5 @ 11 am March 4 @ 11 am April 1 @ 11 am Ethics and Business 3

DATE/TIME SEMINAR NAME CE CREDITS February 5 @ 11 am March 4 @ 11 am April 1 @ 11 am Flood Program Overview - NFIP Then and Now 3 February 13 @ 2 pm March 10 @ 11 am April 9 @ 2 pm Home Based Business Exposures 2 February 6 @ 11 am March 5 @ 11 am April 2 @ 11 am Hot Topics in Personal Lines 2 February 13 @ 11 am March 13 @ 2 pm April 9 @ 11 am Liability Issues to Worry About – Indemnity Agreements and Additional Insureds 2 February 3 @ 10 am March 2 @ 10 am April 6 @ 10 am Long Term Care Insurance 2 February 28 @ 2 pm March 27 @ 2 pm April 24 @ 2 pm Personal Fraud Protection 1 February 5 @ 1 pm March 4 @ 1 pm April 1 @ 1 pm Personal Lines Claims That Cause Problems 2 February 28 @ 11 am March 27 @ 11 am April 24 @ 11 am Professional Ethics in the Insurance Industry 3 February 6 @ 1 pm March 5 @ 1 pm April 2 @ 1 pm Property & Liability Concepts - Comp. Cov. Series 2 February 18 @ 9 am March 17 @ 9 am April 21 @ 9 am Rental Cars: More Than Meets the Eye 2 February 18 @ 10 am March 15 @ 10 am December 20 @ 10 am Shake, Rattle, and Roll with it- Earthquake Basics 1 February 24 @ 11 am March 23 @ 11 am April 27 @ 11 am Those Kids and Their Cars! 2 February 15 @ 2 pm March 18 @ 2 pm April 15 @ 2 pm Top 5 Life Insurance Uses 2 February 19 @ 10 am March 18 @ 10 am December 15 @ 10 am What You Need to Know About Employment Law & Coverage 2 February 22 @ 1 pm March 26 @ 1 pm April 25 @ 1 pm Workers Compensation Beyond the Basics 3

House & Senate Committees on Banking and Insurance

HOUSE COMMITTEE - Chair - Rep. Bart Rowland* R - Tompkinsville - Vice Chair - Rep. Joseph M. Fischer R - Ft. Thomas

Rep. Terri Branham Clark D - Catlettsburg

- Members - Rep. Adam Koenig R - Erlanger Rep. Dean Schamore D - Hardinsburg

Rep. Deanna Frazier R - Madison

Rep. Jim Glenn D - Owensboro

Rep. Jim Gooch, Jr.* R - Providence

Rep. Kathy Hinkle D - Louisa Rep. Stan Lee R - Lexington Rep. Wilson Stone D - Scottsville

Rep. Derek Lewis R - London

Rep. Michael Meredith R - Oakland

Rep. Sal Santoro R - Florence Rep. Ken Upchurch* R - Monticello

Rep. Rob Wiederstein D - Henderson

SENATE COMMITTEE

- Chair - Sen. Jared Carpenter R - Berea

- Vice Chair - Sen. Rick Girdler* R - Somerset

Sen. Julie Raque Adams R - Louisville

- Members -

Sen. Morgan McGarvey D - Louisville

Sen. Tom Buford R - Nicholasville

Sen. Christian McDaniel R - Taylor Mill Sen. Dennis Parrett D - Elizabethtown

Sen. Albert Robinson R - London Sen. John Schickel R - Union

Sen. Brandon Smith R - Hazard Sen.

Reginald Thomas D - Lexington