Lobbying Lawmakers
Lobbying isn't just for high-priced industry representatives; it's something anyone can do. In fact, few things impress lawmakers more than citizens willing to pay them a personal visit. Whether it's to discuss local issues or national topics, meeting with elected officials — from representatives in Congress to the state legislators or county supervisors — can influence policies that affect RI NOW’s issues.
You don't have travel to DC to meet with your elected officials because they return to their home districts regularly, usually on weekends and during national holidays. However, you do have to travel to the state house in Providence to meet with your state legislators. Legislators also often hold town meetings to solicit constituent views. These are opportunities for you, as an individual or representing a group, to influence policy. If your issue is specific to your community, you can meet with local officials, such as city council members and county supervisors, to discuss how to help in your area.
There is no single "right" way to lobby. While following general guidelines, you should also trust your own personal style when meeting with public officials. While the prospect of lobbying legislators or proposing laws may seem daunting, it's really a pretty simple process. Remember — a lawmaker's job is to listen to the concerns of his or her constituents.
Your visit should accomplish both short- and long-term goals. Short-term goals may include persuading your lawmaker to vote on the pro-women side of an issue, to co-sponsor a family-friendly bill, or to oppose legislation that would hurt civil rights. Long-tem goals might include developing a relationship with an elected official and his or her staff and educating them on the issues.
When you meet with elected officials, you present two messages. The first is substantive and specific, such as: "Please support SB 2123, a bill that would repeal spousal notification for abortions" or "Please oppose SB 2144, a bill that would prohibit the use of public funds for abortions."
The second message is more broad and political; you deliver that message simply by walking through the door. That there are constituents willing to take the time to present their views in person is a powerful message and one that lobbyists cannot hope to match, no matter how knowledgeable they are on the technicalities of an issue. While it helps to know the substance of an issue, constituents are not expected to know every detail of a piece of legislation. It's always okay to say, "I don't know the answer to that question, but I'll get back to you." In the meantime, the other message — the political message — gets delivered.
Here are a few tips on how to set up a meeting with a state legislator or in a lawmaker's district:
Getting an Appointment:
A personal visit is perhaps the most effective method of transmitting your message as it allows both of you to connect names with faces. In communication afterward, you will have established yourself as a known concerned constituent.
Call the state legislator's office, or congressional legislator’s district office, and request a meeting. For a congressional legislator it’s best to do this during the recess, when your legislator is home. Many lawmakers are in their districts from Friday to Monday, as well. The appointment secretary will want to know what the meeting is about. Limit your agenda to only a couple of items, or better yet, one topic. Polite but firm persistence through regular contact with the office is essential. If you can't get an appointment during the time you requested, express your disappointment — and immediately request a firm commitment for the next time the legislator is available or back home.
If you don't know who your congressional delegation or state lawmakers are, look in the white pages under U.S. and state government, call your public library, or go to http://www.firstgov.gov/ or http://www.congress.org/.
Planning an Effective Meeting:
Lobbying in a small group is optimal. You may want to have at least one spokesperson represent several organizations to strengthen the impression that you speak for many constituents. Work with local coalitions with representatives from other groups and constituencies, including other women’s organizations, faith leaders, and business owners.
Before the meeting, get your group together and decide who will say what. If possible, prepare a brief fact sheet about the issue and letters from your groups that you can leave with the legislator and his or her staff. Be sure to list the names, addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses of each person in your group.
Expect your meeting to be brief. Find out in advance from the lawmaker's staff how much time you'll have and be sure to cover your key points early on. Ask the legislator for specific action: "Senator Miller, we urge you to support SB 2173 to repeal spousal notification for abortions."
Try to find a local angle. How does this issue affect people in your community? Divide your agenda so that everyone in your group has a chance to speak. Remind everyone to begin and end by focusing on the specific action you'd like your representative to take: "Thanks for meeting with us, Senator Miller. What is your position on SB 2172, a bill repealing spousal notification for abortions?" Ask for the legislator's business card before you leave so that you can follow up on the meeting.
Meeting Etiquette:
Be on time and dress conservatively. Whatever your feelings about the virtues of sartorial self-expression, it's just good sense to avoid distracting or detracting from your message with radical fashions while meeting with lawmakers. Best to abide by the old adage, "When in Rome, do as the Romans do."
Always remain polite while holding true to your convictions. Think of lobbying as an opportunity for you to express your perspective with integrity and passion. Remember your goal of building a long-term working relationship with a lawmaker.
Be sure to introduce yourselves at the outset of the meeting. Have your leader give a brief introduction about your organization or coalition. State up front your reasons for seeking the meeting.
Telephoning
The telephone can be an effective tool. Remind the legislator of any previous contact. If the member is not available, leave a brief and specific message referencing the bill number and the action you desire the legislator to take. Leave your name, address and phone number.
A phone tree can also be an effective tool. Sometimes, all it takes is just a dozen phone calls or a handful of letters to change policy.
Writing
Letters are important for the legislator and/or staff. The amount of mail on a particular piece of legislation frequently helps determine the legislators' approach to an issue. One well written letter will often prove more influential than a formal petition with many signatures or a stock letter. For this reason, it is generally considered better to express your opinion as an individual rather than as a member of an organization whose positions may already be well known to legislators. For examples of sample letters please visit our Tools and Resources section.
If the legislator can receive email, be sure to include your real name, address and telephone number.
Faxing is an immediate way to get your message out, especially to committees. You can also call the committee directly with your message, be sure to get their fax number at the same time.
Endless Pressure, Endlessly Applied:
Follow up your meeting with a thank-you letter or e-mail, along with any additional information you may have promised. Take the opportunity to build rapport with your elected official and his or her staff. If you don't get the response you want, keep trying. But don't be discouraged if you can't see eye-to-eye with your legislator on every issue; there's always another issue down the road. Persistence is key.
After the meeting, write down your thoughts about it. Be sure to note any questions the lawmaker or his or her staff may have had so that you can follow up. Keep this report on file so that you can refer to it when approaching that lawmaker on future issues. Lobbying lawmakers not only gives you an opportunity to express your views, but also allows you to gather political intelligence and build relationships for the future.
Lobbying lawmakers can be an empowering experience, and is a form of grassroots activism that has helped many animals. You have clout when you make your voice heard. Remember, speaking from the heart about your commitment to RI NOW’s core issues is your greatest strength.
(Adapted from BornFree United with API and the League of Women Voters Washington)
You don't have travel to DC to meet with your elected officials because they return to their home districts regularly, usually on weekends and during national holidays. However, you do have to travel to the state house in Providence to meet with your state legislators. Legislators also often hold town meetings to solicit constituent views. These are opportunities for you, as an individual or representing a group, to influence policy. If your issue is specific to your community, you can meet with local officials, such as city council members and county supervisors, to discuss how to help in your area.
There is no single "right" way to lobby. While following general guidelines, you should also trust your own personal style when meeting with public officials. While the prospect of lobbying legislators or proposing laws may seem daunting, it's really a pretty simple process. Remember — a lawmaker's job is to listen to the concerns of his or her constituents.
Your visit should accomplish both short- and long-term goals. Short-term goals may include persuading your lawmaker to vote on the pro-women side of an issue, to co-sponsor a family-friendly bill, or to oppose legislation that would hurt civil rights. Long-tem goals might include developing a relationship with an elected official and his or her staff and educating them on the issues.
When you meet with elected officials, you present two messages. The first is substantive and specific, such as: "Please support SB 2123, a bill that would repeal spousal notification for abortions" or "Please oppose SB 2144, a bill that would prohibit the use of public funds for abortions."
The second message is more broad and political; you deliver that message simply by walking through the door. That there are constituents willing to take the time to present their views in person is a powerful message and one that lobbyists cannot hope to match, no matter how knowledgeable they are on the technicalities of an issue. While it helps to know the substance of an issue, constituents are not expected to know every detail of a piece of legislation. It's always okay to say, "I don't know the answer to that question, but I'll get back to you." In the meantime, the other message — the political message — gets delivered.
Here are a few tips on how to set up a meeting with a state legislator or in a lawmaker's district:
Getting an Appointment:
A personal visit is perhaps the most effective method of transmitting your message as it allows both of you to connect names with faces. In communication afterward, you will have established yourself as a known concerned constituent.
Call the state legislator's office, or congressional legislator’s district office, and request a meeting. For a congressional legislator it’s best to do this during the recess, when your legislator is home. Many lawmakers are in their districts from Friday to Monday, as well. The appointment secretary will want to know what the meeting is about. Limit your agenda to only a couple of items, or better yet, one topic. Polite but firm persistence through regular contact with the office is essential. If you can't get an appointment during the time you requested, express your disappointment — and immediately request a firm commitment for the next time the legislator is available or back home.
If you don't know who your congressional delegation or state lawmakers are, look in the white pages under U.S. and state government, call your public library, or go to http://www.firstgov.gov/ or http://www.congress.org/.
Planning an Effective Meeting:
Lobbying in a small group is optimal. You may want to have at least one spokesperson represent several organizations to strengthen the impression that you speak for many constituents. Work with local coalitions with representatives from other groups and constituencies, including other women’s organizations, faith leaders, and business owners.
Before the meeting, get your group together and decide who will say what. If possible, prepare a brief fact sheet about the issue and letters from your groups that you can leave with the legislator and his or her staff. Be sure to list the names, addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses of each person in your group.
Expect your meeting to be brief. Find out in advance from the lawmaker's staff how much time you'll have and be sure to cover your key points early on. Ask the legislator for specific action: "Senator Miller, we urge you to support SB 2173 to repeal spousal notification for abortions."
Try to find a local angle. How does this issue affect people in your community? Divide your agenda so that everyone in your group has a chance to speak. Remind everyone to begin and end by focusing on the specific action you'd like your representative to take: "Thanks for meeting with us, Senator Miller. What is your position on SB 2172, a bill repealing spousal notification for abortions?" Ask for the legislator's business card before you leave so that you can follow up on the meeting.
Meeting Etiquette:
Be on time and dress conservatively. Whatever your feelings about the virtues of sartorial self-expression, it's just good sense to avoid distracting or detracting from your message with radical fashions while meeting with lawmakers. Best to abide by the old adage, "When in Rome, do as the Romans do."
Always remain polite while holding true to your convictions. Think of lobbying as an opportunity for you to express your perspective with integrity and passion. Remember your goal of building a long-term working relationship with a lawmaker.
Be sure to introduce yourselves at the outset of the meeting. Have your leader give a brief introduction about your organization or coalition. State up front your reasons for seeking the meeting.
Telephoning
The telephone can be an effective tool. Remind the legislator of any previous contact. If the member is not available, leave a brief and specific message referencing the bill number and the action you desire the legislator to take. Leave your name, address and phone number.
A phone tree can also be an effective tool. Sometimes, all it takes is just a dozen phone calls or a handful of letters to change policy.
Writing
Letters are important for the legislator and/or staff. The amount of mail on a particular piece of legislation frequently helps determine the legislators' approach to an issue. One well written letter will often prove more influential than a formal petition with many signatures or a stock letter. For this reason, it is generally considered better to express your opinion as an individual rather than as a member of an organization whose positions may already be well known to legislators. For examples of sample letters please visit our Tools and Resources section.
If the legislator can receive email, be sure to include your real name, address and telephone number.
Faxing is an immediate way to get your message out, especially to committees. You can also call the committee directly with your message, be sure to get their fax number at the same time.
Endless Pressure, Endlessly Applied:
Follow up your meeting with a thank-you letter or e-mail, along with any additional information you may have promised. Take the opportunity to build rapport with your elected official and his or her staff. If you don't get the response you want, keep trying. But don't be discouraged if you can't see eye-to-eye with your legislator on every issue; there's always another issue down the road. Persistence is key.
After the meeting, write down your thoughts about it. Be sure to note any questions the lawmaker or his or her staff may have had so that you can follow up. Keep this report on file so that you can refer to it when approaching that lawmaker on future issues. Lobbying lawmakers not only gives you an opportunity to express your views, but also allows you to gather political intelligence and build relationships for the future.
Lobbying lawmakers can be an empowering experience, and is a form of grassroots activism that has helped many animals. You have clout when you make your voice heard. Remember, speaking from the heart about your commitment to RI NOW’s core issues is your greatest strength.
(Adapted from BornFree United with API and the League of Women Voters Washington)