An Inside Look At Playing Politics
FAQ About Getting Involved in Public Policy From a Legislative Employee
Why should I care?
Because you’re the Public, silly, and the policy that politicians create makes laws that affect YOU.
OK, I care now. But I have no time, I have kids to study for, exams to feed, and my job drives me crazy.
In about 10 minutes a day, you too can, not only have abs of steel but get involved in your local government.
Why should I care about my local government? Don’t I have a national one that is more important?
Sometimes, local laws can effect you more than national ones (anyone who’s even driven to Connecticut to buy grain alcohol for a jungle juice party knows what I’m talking about), and realistically, your local politicians have a lot more to lose if they piss you off than the national ones do. They are usually also more connected to the issues that specifically effect your community. That’s why different states have different laws, because local people/businesses in the state spoke up about what they wanted or didn’t want.
This is not to say you shouldn’t contact your national representatives about issues before Congress.
So wait…what?
State laws, local concerns- your city or state representative
National issues, bills/resolutions before congress- your national representative.
How do I know if I have a local or national issue?
Quick and dirty- if it’s an issue that you and your friends can do something about and plan at your local bar, it’s local; but if you and your cross country friend both can’t do something about it and plot on your long distance phone, it’s also local. If you and your cross-country friend can plot about it then it’s national.
You can also think about it this way- who does this issue effect?
OK OK I got it now. So now I’m motivated. What do I do now?
Find out who your local politicians are.
But wait, people scare me, and I don’t know who to call to figure it out.
I can’t imagine that there’s a state out there that doesn’t have a website. Just type “(your state) state legislature” in Google and you should get there in a couple of clicks. There should be a listing of state representatives and which areas they represent (some websites may even have a helpful map). If you open up that handy giant yellow book that you reach for to either hold up that table with the uneven leg or to get a number to the local pizzeria; in the beginning of the book there might be a local number to dial to get state info. If it is convenient, you can take a walk down to your state legislature (or office of your state representatives) and get a list of all the legislators and what committees they are on.
So, how many of these local legislatorcritters do I have?
You may have many: state senator, state representative, city council member, or other local representatives. If you live in their assigned district you are their CONSTITUENT.
Okay so now I have the names of these people- and their phone numbers and emails, so now what do I do?
Okay, now you need something to say to them. You may already have an issue in mind. You might have an issue that is REALLY local (your street needs a STOP sign) or you might want the state to take up that whole medical marijuana thing. Or you may have a specific piece of legislation that you want them to support or kill.
If you do decide to call, you should immediately identify that you are a constituent- if you live in the district. I'm going to be honest here, your opinion will count a little more. Also make sure you give the staff people your address and phone number. I promise, you won't get stalked, or harassed or anything, they just need that information to mail you a response to your statement. PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU CHECK TO SEE WHAT DISTRICT YOU ARE IN. Redistricting happens, and you may be inadvertently calling the wrong office if you have old information.
Legislation? How do I know what legislation they are voting on?
Go back to that handy (your state) state legislature website- most have searches by subject.
Okay so now I found some legislation- what now?
Find out several pieces of information about the piece of legislation:
-Who introduced it?
-What subject matter committee(s) it is referred to
-Is there a hearing scheduled (if not, and you want the bill heard, you need to contact the introducer and the committee chairs)
If there is a hearing scheduled, there should be a HEARING NOTICE somewhere on the website. Read the notice and find out when the hearing is, and who to contact to submit testimony.
What if I miss the hearing date?
If the bill passes there will be a floor vote (all legislators voting on the measures that passed the committee(s))- at that point you can contact your local legislator to support or not to support the legislation.
Testimony? What the heck is that?
Testimony can be anything (pictures, words, figures, petitions) that shows that a person or group of people supports or does not support the particular legislation. The best testimony is short, specific, to the point, clearly shows the position of its author and gives some evidence to support the position. Get your testimony to the indicated place as soon as possible- mail, fax and some legislators even accept email testimony. Testimony really does make a difference in whether legislation passes or not- especially at the local level.
You can also testify in person if you can make it to the statehouse on the date the bill is heard.
Why would I testify if I support the bill? Won’t it just pass on its own?
No, it won’t. There are many people/groups/corporations that may testify in opposition to the measure. There may be politicians that don’t see the need for the bill b/c it doesn’t affect their district, so if no one shows up it seems as if no one cares, and they can just kill it reasonably if no one shows up.
What if I call the wrong people, will they think I’m a total dumbass?
No, with any luck they will help you get to the right person. Try to explain what you are trying to do.
But I get all these email petitions- doesn’t that just do the job?
At a national level, it probably does something. However writing a personal letter, fax or email or calling your national representatives is probably more effective.
So, for example, you email your state legislatorcritter a form letter that 2 million other people are emailing, all you will succeed in doing is closing down his/her email account so he/she cannot work. Even if s/he is sympathetic to your particular opinion, you can tell why this would annoy him or her.
The best way to let your feelings known about Issue X is to send, by snail mail or fax, a letter making your case. It will get read and it won't make it impossible for the legislatorcritter to do their work. You will probably also get a personal response, if the staff is doing their job. If you don't get a response, you might try calling the office to see if your letter/fax was received.
Please note that I am NOT telling you NEVER to email your legislatorcritter. Email is great, and if you have a personal problem or issue in your district it is one good way to go. (i.e. the power plant is polluting my backyard, police not responding to my calls, violation of civil rights at a specific location, etc, as long as the issue is VERY SPECIFIC to you) However if you are joining in a mass campaign (especially a national one), it's not the best idea. I am also NOT telling you NOT to join campaigns emailing NATIONAL Senators and Representatives- they have the IT infrastructure to handle it. Us at the state level, sometimes yes, many times no.
But office staff scares me, what if they don’t help me?
They are supposed to help you. That’s their job. They are responsible for making sure that their boss looks great to the outside world. Make sure you identify yourself immediately as a constituent and tell them where you live and your phone number. Again, they aren’t going to stalk you, they just need that information to write you a personal letter and get back to you if necessary. You can also ask to speak to the person in the office that handles constituent issues- most likely you aren’t the first person to want to comment on the issue.
Yeah, but what can my state/local legislator really DO for me other than either move or kill legislation?
Honestly, not much. They can write letters, they can direct you to the appropriate department- they can help you "cut the line" with state and federal offices. They are not the police and they are not your personal vendetta squad. Some of them may have been lawyers in the past, but they are not going to act in that capacity here. They may give you legal advice, but they cannot represent you. If some organization pissed you off, and you want their help, they will write a letter that says something like this:
Dear Organization that Pissed You Off,
Ms/r. (insert your name here) has informed me that you have totally made his/her life really suck by not doing (insert something they were supposed to do here). I believe that Ms/r (insert name here)'s request is reasonable, and I believe that you should comply in a timely manner. If you have any questions, or wish for my assistance in this matter, please contact me.
Sincerely,
Your Legislatorcritter
That's it people. They won't beat up your noisy neighbor or get your money back from some dude who sold you a lemon. They will help you find the help you need through state organizations that do what you are requesting (former: police department latter: consumer protection) and support your actions if they are reasonable, but it is up to YOU to do something about your problem.
If you have questions, call the staff in the office of the legislatorcritter. That's why they are here- they don't bite, we may have to call you back if they are crazy busy, but they would rather that someone call and ask a question and have their opinion go farther b/c they are using methods that are possible to process.
If you have time, you can also ask to meet with your legislatorcritter- but be prepared that you may not get an appointment for weeks.
But wait, I have this interstate issue involving opossums and your FAQ didn’t help me.
Some issues are more complicated. This is just a place to start.
Other Hints:
Do your research on what legislatorcritters are on the committee that has your piece of legislation. If you send your letter to people who are not on the committee (unless they are your particular Senator/Representative), you are probably wasting your time. (Although, obviously not in the instance of a full Senate/House vote.) It's kind of like asking someone in Arkansas to vote for a candidate in California. They may totally agree with you but they can only vote in Arkansas.
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