|
| |
Click here to
contact your legislators!
Tips for Contacting your Legislator
Letters and telephone
calls--especially from voters in a legislator's own district--really count.
These tips are designed to help you make your point in the most effective
manner, which includes being polite, respectful and saying "thanks," even when
the legislator disagrees with you.
GENERAL TIPS:
-
Be brief and to the point, candid
and personal.
-
Use specific facts and examples to
illustrate your point. You are an expert on what is happening in your
neighborhood, jobsite, and/or local schools. Be certain about documentation.
Include details pertinent to the issue.
-
Legislators want to know how their
votes affect constituents.
-
If you're asked a question and don't
know the answer, simply say so and offer to get back to them.
-
Don't assume that legislators are as
well-informed as yourself. Explain the situation, tell them what you think and
ask them for their position on the issue.
-
Letters or calls about a specific
piece of legislation should include the bill number.
-
Be friendly. Being rude, sarcastic,
or threatening accomplishes nothing.
-
Be proactive. Put a date on your
calendar for an anticipated reply. You may need to contact the legislator again.
WRITING LETTERS:
-
A one-page letter on a single
topic is best. Be brief and specific. Write one page with a short
opening and two to three paragraphs on the subject.
-
Be certain that your name, address,
and phone number are included. Type or write legibly.
-
Don't send form letters or postcards.
They are not as effective as a well-written, personal letter. Use
your own words. Be sure to include your own thoughts on the issue.
-
Address your legislator as
"Representative" or "Senator.
CALLING YOUR LEGISLATOR:
-
Identify yourself to the person
who answers the phone. Be sure to say that you are a constituent in the
legislator's district.
-
Be issue-focused.
-
If the legislator is unavailable,
give the staff member your message.
-
Be appreciative, but also solicitous
of a reply.
MEETING YOUR LEGISLATOR:
-
If you're planning to visit the
Capitol, let your legislators know when you'll be there and try to schedule
an appointment to meet with them.
-
You can schedule an appointment to
talk to a legislator by calling his or her office. Be sure to identify yourself
as someone who lives in the legislator's district.
-
During the session, legislators get
busier and have less time to spend in their offices. You may be asked to meet
with him or her before or after a committee hearing.
|
