Keep your friends close but the bureaucrats closer, to paraphrase the Godfather.

If you can reach agreement before the bill hearing, a united front and some compromise amendments will increase your chances of passage.

The alternative could be a bloated fiscal note exaggerating the cost of implementing your legislation.

A letter that commits the agency to the policy your legislation would impose could achieve your public policy goal, making the bill unnecessary.

At one meeting today, I said I would ask the committee chairman to schedule our bill in March, to give us time to work things out.

At another meeting, I committed to offering an amendment delaying my bill’s effective date, consistent with the agency’s timetable.

Sometimes a meeting will provide intelligence on an opponent’s likely argument.

“Please put your concern in writing,” I requested, followed by “I appreciate your coming to see me before the bill hearing.”