• Home
  • Article V
  • Hot News!
  • Resources
  • How to:
  • Texas Lege
    • Need Your Help!
    • Hearing for HCR 49 on Thursday April 9
    • Need Hearing for SCR 2- ACTION NEEDED
  • Events
    • Committee Hearing for HCR 49
    • Funeral for Democracy
    • Delivering Letters to Senator Ellis and Rep. Thompson
    • July 4th Patriotic Rally
    • 2014 Texas Democratic Convention
    • 2014 Texas Republican Convention
    • McCutcheon Rapid Response Events
    • Money & Justice Forum
    • Move to Amend Convergence 2013
    • Lobby Day, March 2013
    • Rally at the Capitol Jan 19 2013
  • Contact
    • Join
Phoning a Legislator about an Issue
Picture
Why phone:
  • Calling lets legislators know what you (and the public in general) are thinking
  • May encourage legislators to take the action you want
  • Reassures legislators if they agree with you and are getting negative feedback
  • They are elected to serve us, so let them know what you want
  • One call is worth 50 emails because you are taking the time.

When to phone:

  • When an issue is “ripe”, such as when a vote is imminent
  • A letter takes considerable time to get through the inspection process and may take up to 2-3 weeks to be processed. When time is critical for an important decision/vote/event calling is immediate.
  • When legislators’ aides will not have time to read all the emails before an imminent vote/action
  • During their office hours (allow for time zone if calling D.C. – 2:00 Central is 3:00 Eastern)

How to prepare:

  • Find the name and number of the bill, and write it down. Every bill has a number
    • Every bill has a number
                *    S.R. means it is a Senate Resolution – Call your Senator about this one
                *    H.R. means it is a House Resolution – Call your Representative about this one
    • Every bill also has a name
    • Make sure you know what’s in the bill and understand what it’s supposed to do.
  • Decide what you want the legislator to do (vote for/against the bill? co-sponsor?)
  • Think about why you want the legislator to take the action you are requesting
    • How will it affect you, personally? (Or family, or a friend)
    • How will it affect your local community?
    • Write this down, either as notes or as 1 or 2 sentences – no more.

How to call and be heard:

  • Call the D.C. or Austin office; keep trying if the line is busy
  • First, identify yourself: “Hello, my name is _________, and I live in ________. Could you get a message to ______?”
  • At this point aides will say something like, “Of course. What is your zip code?” They may possibly even ask for a street address. This is to verify that you are a constituent. Give the information asked for. Then the aide will say something like, “What message did you want to give to _______?”
  • Identify the issue first. “I’m calling about (name and number of the bill), and I think it is important because (give your reasons, referring to your notes if you need to).”
  • “I would like for ____ to _________.”
  • If you are told that _____ agrees with you, convey your thanks and support.
  • If you are told that ____ does not agree with you, express you disappointment courteously.
  • Don’t burn bridges; you may find them useful tomorrow.
Picture
phoning_your_legislator.pdf
File Size: 23 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

For web-site questions, concerns, additions, subtractions, re-arrangements, raves, pans, or just to say 'Hi', contact Rochelle or Mike
website provided by Leafolia