Tools for Legislative Action
An Encouraging Primer to Legislative Action
Whether or not you actually voted for your Representative or Senator, you are their constituent and their job is to represent you. As a constituent you have the right—and some would say the responsibility—to let them know what you want them to do on any issue or bill. You do not have to be an expert or have lots of information on the situation. All you have to do is tell them what you want them to do. Communicating with your legislator is very important and can be critical at specific points in the legislative process. You can make an appointment to visit them, you can call them on the phone, or you can write to them.
There are two main reasons to communicate with legislators:
To educate your legislator on your issue/bill. This kind of broader education is best done "off season" or early in the legislative session. Be in touch with other groups working on the issue to access knowledge about your legislator and educational materials, and to coordinate with overall strategy.
Face-to-face meetings can be among the most effective ways to launch this kind of educational effort, and you should ask if the aide who heads up this issue is also available. Letters can also be effective. When you are conducting a call or visit that is educational in nature, you can ask them what they think of the bill, or how they plan to vote on it - then LISTEN! (You may learn something, and politicians like everyone else like to be heard!). Ask what they need to make up their mind. You can offer to get them additional information.
If you don't like their position, ask courteously what might persuade them to change their mind. If they ask you tough questions or bring up issues your are not prepared to address, don't be afraid to say "I can't answer that one, but I will find out and get information to you", and then be sure to follow up.
To communicate what you want your legislator to do on a bill.
Through letters, postcards, phone calls, faxes, or personal visits, this kind of communication is especially effective just before a vote (throughout the process, from committees to the floor). Be brief and specific. Just before a vote, the legislator has likely already heard the arguments and positions on the issue, and now they're tallying pro and con opinions.
Many thanks to Citizens for Midwifery for material adapted from their web site. Click here to go there for a lot of other great information and contact to others in your community who are interested in birth issues.
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