{"id":966,"date":"2024-02-11T00:55:49","date_gmt":"2024-02-11T00:55:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.kscadvocates.com\/?page_id=966"},"modified":"2024-02-28T20:46:31","modified_gmt":"2024-02-28T20:46:31","slug":"government-affairs-advocacy","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.kscadvocates.com\/practice-areas\/government-affairs-advocacy\/","title":{"rendered":"Government Affairs &#038; Advocacy"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"966\" class=\"elementor elementor-966\" data-elementor-post-type=\"page\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-28ac02c3 elementor-section-content-middle elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"28ac02c3\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-background-overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-28fa0077 elementor-invisible\" data-id=\"28fa0077\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;animation&quot;:&quot;fadeInUp&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-71c0fa8f elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"71c0fa8f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.21.0 - 08-05-2024 *\/\n.elementor-heading-title{padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title[class*=elementor-size-]>a{color:inherit;font-size:inherit;line-height:inherit}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-small{font-size:15px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-medium{font-size:19px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-large{font-size:29px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xl{font-size:39px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xxl{font-size:59px}<\/style><h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Government Affairs &#038; Advocacy<\/h1>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-3db441db\" data-id=\"3db441db\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6567c526 elementor-icon-list--layout-inline elementor-align-right elementor-mobile-align-center elementor-list-item-link-full_width elementor-invisible elementor-widget elementor-widget-icon-list\" data-id=\"6567c526\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_animation&quot;:&quot;fadeInLeft&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"icon-list.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<link rel=\"stylesheet\" href=\"https:\/\/www.kscadvocates.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/elementor\/assets\/css\/widget-icon-list.min.css\">\t\t<ul class=\"elementor-icon-list-items elementor-inline-items\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item elementor-inline-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">Home<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item elementor-inline-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-chevron-right\" viewBox=\"0 0 320 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M285.476 272.971L91.132 467.314c-9.373 9.373-24.569 9.373-33.941 0l-22.667-22.667c-9.357-9.357-9.375-24.522-.04-33.901L188.505 256 34.484 101.255c-9.335-9.379-9.317-24.544.04-33.901l22.667-22.667c9.373-9.373 24.569-9.373 33.941 0L285.475 239.03c9.373 9.372 9.373 24.568.001 33.941z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">Government Affairs &#038; Advocacy<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-27117296 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"27117296\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-background-overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-130ba67e elementor-invisible\" data-id=\"130ba67e\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;animation&quot;:&quot;fadeInLeft&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2bedfc08 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"2bedfc08\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Our government impacts us every day. Businesses work with the State and local governments in myriad ways \u00adfrom contracts for services to regulation of product<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-2e50c467 elementor-invisible\" data-id=\"2e50c467\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;animation&quot;:&quot;zoomIn&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-55fe431d elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"55fe431d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.21.0 - 08-05-2024 *\/\n.elementor-widget-image{text-align:center}.elementor-widget-image a{display:inline-block}.elementor-widget-image a img[src$=\".svg\"]{width:48px}.elementor-widget-image img{vertical-align:middle;display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1365\" src=\"https:\/\/www.kscadvocates.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/KSC-Photos-2021-MF-9725-websized-1-2048x1365-1.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-668\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.kscadvocates.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/KSC-Photos-2021-MF-9725-websized-1-2048x1365-1.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.kscadvocates.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/KSC-Photos-2021-MF-9725-websized-1-2048x1365-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.kscadvocates.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/KSC-Photos-2021-MF-9725-websized-1-2048x1365-1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.kscadvocates.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/KSC-Photos-2021-MF-9725-websized-1-2048x1365-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.kscadvocates.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/KSC-Photos-2021-MF-9725-websized-1-2048x1365-1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-2f0be41 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"2f0be41\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;gradient&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-607e355\" data-id=\"607e355\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-35663bc elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"35663bc\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-9116f1e elementor-invisible\" data-id=\"9116f1e\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;animation&quot;:&quot;fadeInLeft&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4ba85e8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4ba85e8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.21.0 - 08-05-2024 *\/\n.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-stacked .elementor-drop-cap{background-color:#69727d;color:#fff}.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-framed .elementor-drop-cap{color:#69727d;border:3px solid;background-color:transparent}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap{margin-top:8px}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap-letter{width:1em;height:1em}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap{float:left;text-align:center;line-height:1;font-size:50px}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap-letter{display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t<p>Non-profits and other organizations are the same. From social services to funding, government action plays a major role. Lastly, causes and movements seek to shape our society through laws and government action. We all interact with government.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-28ab6c2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"28ab6c2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Lobbying<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7aa3793 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"7aa3793\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>We lobby on behalf of causes, organizations, and businesses. We combine our knowledge of public policy, the legislative process, and the political landscape to produce viable and durable legislative solutions. Our attorneys have developed and managed bills in the General Assembly and before local legislative bodies. Our attorneys work together on lobbying efforts to leverage their experience. Our attorneys include a former member of the General Assembly, former Assistant Attorney General, and experienced practitioners who have a deep familiarity with Maryland law.<\/p><p>We are available to lobby for particular legislation, regulations, and executive action. We can assist with each step in the development of new law. We can draft legislative proposals, testimony, and analyses. We can help create roadmaps to steer legislation, regulations, or executive action to success. We can help develop coalitions, public outreach, and grassroots support. We are available to monitor, on behalf of organizations and businesses, legislative activities that may bear on them.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-24b2335 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"24b2335\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">MPIA \/ FOIA \/ Open Meetings Act<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-59276f5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"59276f5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>We assist individuals, causes, organizations, and businesses to get the information they need from government. Maryland\u2019s Public Information Act (\u201cMPIA\u201d) gives the public the right to access government records without unnecessary cost and delay. The law applies to all three branches of Maryland state government as well as local government entities. The MPIA is similar to the federal Freedom of Information Act (\u201cFOIA\u201d) which applies to federal executive branch agencies and independent federal regulatory agencies. The MPIA grants individuals the right to review the available records that are disclosable and to obtain copies of those records. It does not require an agency to answer informational questions or to create a record. The FOIA provides that all federal agency records are accessible to a requesting individual unless there exists a specific exemption from the requirement.<\/p><p>We are available to indentify information and records, craft appropriate requests under the MPIA or the FOIA, and to follow the request through satisfaction. We can litigate if the government entity either challenges the request based upon a recognized exception in the law or fails to send the documents in a timely fashion or at all. Our attorneys have made thousands of requests in a variety of settings and for myriad purposes.<\/p><p>Maryland\u2019s Open Meetings Act (\u201cOMA\u201d) was enacted in 1977. Under the law, if a public body is meeting and the subject matter is covered by the OMA, the body must meet in open session. While the OMA sets out exceptions to this general rule, the exceptions themselves are to be \u201cstrictly construed in favor of open meetings of public bodies.\u201d We are available to help organizations and businesses ensure the OMA is honored by government entities through compliance actions and litigation.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f19e119 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"f19e119\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Referenda & Election Law<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a32bb58 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a32bb58\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>We work on behalf of causes and organizations advocating for and against the referendum of laws and charter amendments, and other electoral matters. We assist from inception to election day. We advise on the formation of entities and compliance with election and advocacy laws. We also help clients develop a comprehensive strategy to accomplish their goals.<\/p><p>We represent clients before the Maryland State and local Boards of Election. When necessary, we litigate election related disputes before Maryland\u2019s courts.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fef358b elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"fef358b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Regulations & Administrative Law<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fc49490 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"fc49490\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>We challenge government overreach and press for sensible regulations. State regulations and agency rules affect businesses, organizations, and causes in profound and important ways. Regulations that overreach are illegal. Regulations that accomplish their goal can be invaluable. Agencies wield significant power beyond making regulations and rules. An agency determination, action, or investigation can have a profound impact.<\/p><p>We advocate for consistent and fair treatment by government.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4761535 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"4761535\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Public Finance<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-10d3756 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"10d3756\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>We know public finance. We help businesses and organizations understand government spending. From pension systems to procurements, our attorneys know how to examine, understand, and, if necessary, challenge financial decisions of government.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Home Our government impacts us every day. Businesses work with the State and local governments in myriad ways \u00adfrom contracts for services to regulation of product Non-profits and other organizations are the same. From social services to funding, government action plays a major role. Lastly, causes and movements seek to shape our society through laws [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":127,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kscadvocates.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/966"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kscadvocates.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kscadvocates.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kscadvocates.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kscadvocates.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=966"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.kscadvocates.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/966\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1738,"href":"https:\/\/www.kscadvocates.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/966\/revisions\/1738"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kscadvocates.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/127"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kscadvocates.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=966"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}