Our Record

Founding Partners Brad Epperly and Dustin Miller formed CWL Group in 2024 to continue providing excellent advocacy service for clients at the Iowa Capitol. Lobbyists at CWL Group are experienced in drafting legislation, advancing priorities, providing guidance through the administrative rules process, and assisting in political event planning.

 

Question #1: How would you define a successful legislative session for The Partnership?

Success in state-based advocacy is about setting the right expectations and executing on opportunities in the process. The first step is to help develop priorities that represent and support the needs of the Greater Des Moines Partnership (The Partnership) membership. The Partnership has many interests within the membership, but our team can help assist in the priority development process to avoid pitfalls and identify opportunities.

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It is challenging to determine success as simple metrics, as passage or defeat of legislation does not tell the whole story of the organization’s advocacy efforts. Passing legislation that

positively impacts The Partnership’s featured priorities is a goal, but we believe being a trusted advisor for legislators throughout the legislative process is what leads to consistent and enduring success of a government affairs program. Presence at the Capitol when legislation is passed does not demonstrate success. Working a bill through the legislative process to enactment utilizing Partnership staff and CWL Group to develop relationships and reliance on our collective expertise by legislators and the Governor to understand the impact on The Partnership community builds long-term sustainable success.

 

Question #2: What would your strategy be to move a featured priority to a signed bill by the Governor?

Successful passage of legislation is extremely complicated as there are a variety of factors working at the same time including policy, process, people and politics. The first step goes back to question #1, identifying policy changes that would provide a positive change for the membership. The next step is to identify any opposition, both advocacy groups and legislators, and be mindful of their issues when drafting the legislation. The manner in which a bill is drafted is vital to its potential for success. Legislative sessions are hectic and short, and if a bill is not artfully drafted it can get bogged down in the process early and fail to advance. In conjunction with the drafting process, a strategy should be developed within the process: identifying potential floor managers and an appropriate and favorable committee. Prior the start of session, the legislation should be brought to the identified committee chair to provide feedback on why the legislation is important and give the chair the opportunity to ask questions and make recommendations. This also includes an analysis of the people involved, including committee leadership and members. Finally, The Partnership advocacy staff and legislative counsel must work together to analyze whether there may be political hurdles such as the tied issues in the past of angel investment and rural economic development.

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Question #3: How do you typically address conflicts of interest? Do you foresee any conflicts by working with The Partnership?

Epperly and Miller are both attorneys who take seriously their ethical duties, so any conflict is handled through the rules of professional conduct. These rules consider lobbying the practice of law when done by an attorney and CWL Group manages conflicts accordingly. First, CWL Group has represented its existing clients for one to two decades depending on the client. If a new client is being considered, CWL Group gives extensive consideration of the potential for future conflicts with existing clients. Forecasting what bills and even amendments may be filed in the future is challenging, but CWL Group analyzes all the areas that could come into play before accepting new representation. CWL Group will not take on a new client if there is conflict with an existing client.

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In the event of an unanticipated conflict between two existing clients, CWL Group will communicate the issue to both clients and the clients then make the determination to either waive the conflict or insist. If neither client is willing to waive the conflict, CWL Group would not engage on the legislation for either client. CWL Group would assist in sourcing out the work on the particular legislation to another trusted lobbyist without a conflict and the retainer reduced to accommodate.

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CWL Group does not foresee any conflicts by working with The Partnership. CWL Group currently represents the Iowa Chamber Alliance, Ames Chamber of Commerce, and Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce. Many of the priorities and advocacy efforts of these groups align, making CWL Group the best equipped to represent the Greater Des Moines Partnership and coordinate advocacy coalitions where appropriate. CWL Group’s client list was curated intentionally over nearly a half of a century to ensure the avoidance of conflicts.

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Question #4: Why is your organization a good fit for this work and why would The Partnership and our organization’s mission benefit from your team?

CWL Group primarily represents business organizations and trade associations that advocate for common sense legislation that will promote economic development and a strong business climate in Iowa. This includes continued advocacy for the Iowa Chamber Alliance for over 25 years combined. Dustin Miller and Brad Epperly have lobbied on behalf of the Iowa Chamber Alliance, have a proven reputation for being experts in TIF, economic development incentives, tax reform, and workforce issues. The Partnership and Iowa Chamber Alliance have a history of successful collaboration. CWL Group is the best equipped to continue to foster that collaboration and assist both organizations in achieving policy goals.

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We believe that we have transformed the way governmental affairs services are delivered at the Iowa Capitol over the past eight years. What used to be a singular approach of lobbyist and client, CWL group created a team approach to achieve success. This started by utilizing each other’s substantive knowledge and skills for the issues and people involved in each piece of legislation. The team approach then took another step forward with the creation of the position developed and expanded by Casey Nickel. What started as a communications and reporting position, Casey has taken her position as Director beyond what anyone conceived. Her skills, knowledge of the process and relationships provide CWL Group clients with a governmental affairs package that is responsive to the client’s needs. Where once clients all got the same basic report, they now receive information, guidance and assistance in conformity to fit their organization’s structure well beyond the basic legislative advocacy product.