Articles

01Jun

Missouri Threat to Government Surveys Defeated

Legislation that would have restricted telephone survey research by or for a Missouri state government agency has been defeated.

Rep. Scott Fitzpatrick's H.B. 1485 would have expanded the definition of “telephone solicitation” in RSMo Section 407.1095, such that telephone calls, faxes, and text messages for the purpose of “participation in informational surveys by any state agency or party acting on behalf of a state agency” would have been treated the same as telemarketing, and subjected to the restrictions of the state do not call registry. Had the legislation been approved, it would have increased the cost of Missouri state government agencies’ research efforts and jeopardize the representativeness and reliability of that research. It would also have stigmatized all other bona fide research and hurt participation in non-government research studies.

The Marketing Research Association led a coalition with the American Statistical Association and the Association of Public Data Users, corresponded with relevant Missouri legislators, and successfully advocated against H.B. 1485. The bill died with the closing of the state legislative session.

About the Author

Howard Fienberg

Based in Washington, DC, Howard is the Insights Association's lobbyist for the marketing research and data analytics industry, focusing primarily on consumer privacy and data security, the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), tort reform, and the funding and integrity of the decennial Census and the American Community Survey (ACS). Howard has more than two decades of public policy experience. Before the Insights Association, he worked in Congress as senior legislative staffer for then-Representatives Christopher Cox (CA-48) and Cliff Stearns (FL-06). He also served more than four years with a science policy think tank, working to improve the understanding of scientific and social research and methodology among journalists and policymakers. Howard is also co-director of The Census Project, a 900+ member coalition in support of a fair and accurate Census and ACS. He has also served previously on the Board of Directors for the National Institute for Lobbying and Ethics and and the Association of Government Relations Professionals. Howard has an MA International Relations from the University of Essex in England and a BA Honors Political Studies from Trent University in Canada, and has obtained the Certified Association Executive (CAE), Professional Lobbying Certificate (PLC) and the Public Policy Certificate (PPC). When not running advocacy for the Insights Association, Howard enjoys hockey, NFL football, sci-fi and horror movies, playing with his dog, and spending time with family and friends.