Thanks to Council member Rhonda Staats for submitting this article.
Anyone who reads or listens to the news regularly knows that, from time to time, issues arise about which you would like to contact a lawmaker to express an opinion or champion a cause. Do you write a letter, send an e-mail, or make a phone call, or do you decide that someone more important or knowledgeable than you will be contacting that lawmaker to express your point of view?
Freshman civics class taught us that legislators are sent to the state or federal capital to do the people’s business, and they work for us. Consequently, they welcome our input and encourage contact from constituents. In my experience, legislators encourage contact from voters, and they do their best to respond to and/or express their appreciation that you care about an issue enough to take the time to get in touch. Everyone has the right to contact his/her local, state, or federal lawmakers, and it is surprisingly easy to do.
First, become familiar with the names of your local, state, or federal legislators. If you don’t already have this information, your local public library is a great resource. Simply call and request the reference department, and they will provide you with this information. The reference desk can provide the name, phone number, e-mail address, and mailing address of city, county, state, and federal officials. Each city and county in Wisconsin has its own web site, complete with a directory of personnel, which allows access to contact information for city and county government office holders.
On the state level, both the Wisconsin Assembly and the Wisconsin Senate have web sites through which you can find contact information for each legislator. These sites also link to each legislator’s home page. The web address for the Wisconsin Assembly is: www.legis.state.wi.us. The web address for the Wisconsin Senate is: www.wisconsin.gov/senate.
Contact information for our Wisconsin Congressmen and Senators is readily available by contacting the reference department of your public library. Again, you can access this information when you visit the House and Senate web sites, where you will find links to the home pages of our U.S. Representatives and Senators. The web address for the U.S. House of Representatives is: www.house.gov. The web address for the U.S. Senate is: www.senate.gov. Each U.S. Congressman has local offices throughout his/her district, and each U.S. Senator has offices in larger cities in Wisconsin.
Now that you have all this contact information, what is the most effective way to contact a legislator? All contacts are important when advocating for an issue. In general, the effectiveness of any contact is roughly proportionate to the effort you put into it. Effectiveness often results from a combination of e-mails, letters, phone calls, and personal contacts.
It’s not as hard to make personal contact with legislators as you might think. On the Federal level, attend listening sessions or events where the Congressman or Senator is present. Don’t be afraid to speak up regarding issues that are important to you. Show up often enough that the Congressmen know your name!
Wisconsin assemblymen and Senators spend the majority of their time in their districts, so it is easier to speak with them on the phone or in person. Come to Madison and visit them at the State Capitol, or attend public hearings on proposed legislation which are often held in various locations around the state. Provide testimony for or against proposed legislation and speak out on important issues. Make enough noise or contacts so your state Senator or Assemblyman knows your name!
Don’t underestimate the value and influence of legislative staff at both the federal and state levels. A major responsibility of legislative staff is to educate individual lawmakers regarding all kinds of issues and legislation. Particularly true at the Federal level, these staff members can relay your message and educate your representative or senator.
When it comes to issues of local importance, remember your local alderman or County Board member. These elected officials are often readily available for a phone conversation or face-to-face meeting. Attend City Council or County Board meetings as well as local public hearings, all of which include opportunities for you to provide testimony. Remember: individual citizens can most readily influence the course of local politics and legislation compared to making changes at the state or national level!
As Chair of the Council’s Legislative Committee, I encourage you to advocate for issues and causes that are close to your heart. As people who are blind/visually impaired, we are interested in numerous legislative initiatives. If possible, learn the bill number of relevant legislation when you e-mail, call, or write to lawmakers. Do your best to organize your message beforehand to make your advocacy or testimony concise and to the point.
You may find this whole process nerve racking at first, but practice and repetition will bolster your confidence and effectiveness. We have a right and a responsibility to add our voices to the legislative fabric of our city, county, state, and national legislatures! Let’s make our voices count. Start today, and take an active role in contacting your legislators.
