Contacting Legislators - There are currently four
ways you can easily contact a legislator: telephone, fax, email and postal mail. Click on
one of the links below to find out who your legislators are and how to contact them.
- Phone - For anyone who can call Nashville locally, the easiest
number is the direct office line. This will go straight to the legislator's office,
usually to a secretary. If you cannot call Nashville locally, the state has an 800 number.
Dialing (800) 449-8366 will connect you to an automated switching computer where you
can enter the legislator's 5 digit extension [1 + the last four digits of their number].
If you don't know the legislator's extension, you can select the "directory by last
name" and enter the legislator's last name and be given the 5 digit extension.
- E-Mail - You can find the e-mail addresses for your legislators
by clicking on the links above.
- Postal mail - As always, you can write the legislators at their
Nashville offices. We make this really easy for you, through our Legislative Issues Letter Generator
tool.
Persuading Legislators - Regardless of the method you choose to
contact a legislator, it is important you keep some basic thoughts in mind during your
communication.
- Civility - First and foremost - be polite. Our elected officials
are there to respond to our needs and wishes, but they will be more inclined to do so if
our requests are civil and polite.
- Salutation - Unless the legislator is a personal friend, address
them by the title of their office. For most legislators, this will be either "Rep.
Lastname" or "Sen. Lastname". The two exceptions to this are the Lt.
Governor and the Speaker of the House. They should be referred to as "Lt. Gov.
Lastname" and "Speaker Lastname" respectively.
- Brevity - Letters to elected officials are like résumés. They
each receive so many it is important to quickly make your point and leave. As a rule,
don't go past one page. Explain why you are writing, ask for the legislator's support and
thank them for their help. Always make specific reference to the bill, (by house or senate
bill numbers, about which you are writing. It is appropriate to ask for a written response
regarding their position(s).
- Telephone contact - As with letters, telephone calls should be
brief - it is important to quickly make your point. Although it is appropriate to ask to
speak to your legislator, generally you will only be able to talk with their secretary or
an assistant. Give them the bill numbers that you are interested in, ask the status and
whether they are supporting the bill(s). If they are not supporting a bill on which you
are wanting their support, it is okay to ask for an explanation of their position. It is
also appropriate to follow your telephone contacts with brief written correspondence.
- Civility - Finally - be polite. We enjoy a good relationship with
many legislators, and others disagree with our positions, but we will never win our goals
without a dedicated, polite effort. Contact them often, but remain polite.
Be Informed - One of the most important tools that you need when
you contact your legislator or your legislator's office is accurate information. You
should know the bill numbers for the bills that you want to talk about. You need to know
what the effect of the bill will be. You need to know whether your legislator is a sponsor
or co-sponsor of the bill and, if they are not a sponsor, who the sponsor is. You need to
know the status of the legislation, e.g., which committee is currently hearing the bill.
You need to know which legislators or lobbyists are opposed to the bill and why. Your
ability to intelligently communicate and discuss your concerns and interests with your
legislator is important. |
