Posted: 2/22/2010 4:59:31 AM EDT
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From my past experience with both state and federal:
Be short, concise, accurate, and pleasant when you contact them. They don't want to hear from an upset voter - EVEN IF YOU HAVE DAMN GOOD REASON. Don't alienate them. They are going to tell you what you want to hear more often then not and forget what you say to them UNLESS you contact them again and again. Then they may dismiss you as a radical and do what they wanted to do anyway. And if they promise to introduce legislation, stay on them to find out what they did. Check out everything they say because what they tell you they did may not be accurate. And if you are persistent enough they may tell you to write the bill and they will introduce it. It's just a way to get rid of you. Most everyone will not write a bill and the legislators know that. That is just one way they get rid of you. Contact them via email, phone calls, etc. Always ask for a face to face. ALWAYS FOLLOW UP ON HOW THEY VOTE OR WHAT THEY DO ON AN ISSUE. If they go against what you wanted or what they told you, contact them and TELL THEM THEY DID THE WRONG THING. Don't threaten them with switching your vote, just tell them how really displeased you are with them. Have others do the same thing. Then vote against them in the next election. The only sure way you can influence a legislator is with money. It seems like the more money and power you have, the more influence you will have with an elected official. Sad but so very true, both nationally and locally. |