Reaching Out To Our Legislators

Reaching out to your elected officials, whether local or federal, require a few things for you to be most effective.  If you are advocating for or against a piece of legislation, you will be most effective if you know:

  1. The name and number of your bill
  2. Who the House and Senate sponsors are
  3. Exactly what the bill says
  4. Where it is in the process (i.e. Up for Committee Hearing next Wed 2:00PM, Just passed 2nd Reading, etc.)

You may use the Tools Legislative tab for hints on finding out this information.  Here are some other tips to effective legislative outreach.

  • Constituents are always more effective with legislators, although they will see other citizens as well.  Use VoteSmart.org to find out your elected officials using your 9-digit zip code.
  • Timing is everything – Its too late if the vote is over, too early if the legislator is not ready to start looking at that bill. Best day is the day before committee meeting, but some may not see you that close to a vote, so you'll want to ask their aide when it would be best to present yourself. It's easier to advocate with committee members than the whole senate or committee.
  • Leave your name, your organization, all your contact information and suggest the legislator contact you as she/he wishes
  • Respect the legislator's time and always remember to thank him/her at the end of any communication.

Emails and phone calls

  1. Personal emails much better than blast emails
  2. Blast emails better than nothing (may only be tallied by the legislator, has much less impact)
  3. Tell them who you are
  4. Address a particular bill or need
  5. Keep it short and to the point
  6. Thank the legislator

Letters to legislators

  1. Start with something personal but state your point early
  2. Support your point
  3. End with what you want the legislator to do - mention the bill by name and number
  4. Letters sent to Washington, DC may not get to legislator for 4-6 wks due to anthrax screening
  5. Letters to our capitol may get put in a pile that is eventually read, but sometimes too late for the action you are requesting.
  6. Use your own stationery and your own words - you can identify yourself with a group or simply write as an individual
  7. No more than one page

Personal Meetings with Legislators

  1. They will usually make a real effort to sit down with you - 30 minutes usually, often 8:30 AM or upon adjournment
  2.  They will want to know which bill you are wanting to talk about
  3. Rooms are small at the capitol, so limit the meeting to only four at a time
  4. Learn about your legislator before you go - many have a thorough website, others don't. However, information about the bills they are sponsoring is always obtainable
  5. Know what committees they sit on
  6. Its OK to bring a flyer or synopsis of the points you are trying to make
  7. It can also be effective to follow-up with a quick email or letter that thanks the legislator and reiterates your point

Town Hall Meetings

  1. Find your local state senator or representative and find out when they have their own town hall meetings
  2. Sign up for their newsletters on their websites
  3. Representative Joe Rice, Senator Linda Newell and Senator Morgan Carroll all have regularly scheduled Town Hall meetings with their constituents.  Many others do as well; a little research will go a long way.

Testimony at Committee Meetings

  1. Connect with groups and legislators supporting the legislation so you can find a niche for your testimony
  2. No more than 3 minutes (one typed page at 14 point)
  3. Prepare ahead, and be organized, but try to talk extemporaneously
  4. Sign-up can be on the day of the committee hearing
  5. Thank you, Mr. Chairman and members of the Committee, when you are called to testify. Follow the protocol you see with the first few witnesses
  6. Always be courteous. Emotional is OK, but do not attack anyone or anything.
  7. Try not to repeat what others have already presented.
  8. Bring enough copies of testimony for the number of legislators on that particular committee

Attend Party Meetings

  1. Concentrate on your own party
  2. Legislators are often present

Attend community action events organized by others groups

For example, at the CCHI Health Care Day of Action we got to lunch with legislators

Hang around the capitol with a purpose

  1. Industry lobbyists do this every day
  2. Consumer lobbyists are very welcome
  3. Find your legislator in his/her office or walking from the elevator or "upon adjournment"
  4. Always introduce yourself even if you think they know you
  5. Hand out card only if appropriate (they are inundated with cards and several prefer not to have them)

Flyers

  1. Keep it simple. Limit to one page.
  2. If you are trying to give information, include the key points in understandable language
  3. If you are trying to inform legislators of your group's position, identify the group, what you are supporting and a few bullet points about why you support it
  4. Legislators may be willing to distribute your flyer within their respective legislative chambers - but you will need to have the flyers signed by one representative, and then s/he will distribute to the house. Same process with senate.