by Margie Caswell, April 2009

Lobbying is the practice of influencing decisions made by public officials. This can happen at all levels of government. Your influence can guide legislation or affect regulations at a federal agency. It can take many forms: letters, emails, faxes, phone calls, personal meetings, letters-to-the-editor, opinion pieces, attending public forums, and more. Technological advances are adding to the ways citizens can attempt to influence decisions/regulations.

APPLICABLE TO ALL FORMS OF INFLUENCE

1. Prepare by knowing officials’ present and past sponsorship of bills and votes. Know the pressures they are likely getting from constituents and their general viewpoint on issues.Utilize special interest groups which have their own informative action newsletters and web sites.
2. Timing: Strategic times to contact an official are: when an issue is pending before a committee and just before or after the official votes.
3. Begin by acknowledging the official for a vote or action you appreciated, whenever possible.
4. Focus on one issue per communication.
5. Be specific, clear, brief, and personal when explaining the issue, its importance, its ramifications, recommending an action, and your reasoning. Do not just talk about a general topic or have long philosophical debates. Your personal message may carry more weight than a group’s message which may be well known.
6. Be positive, constructive, polite, friendly, professional, knowledgeable, enthusiastic, sincere, and have a sense of humor. Don’t be arrogant, argumentative, or threatening.
7. Be helpful by providing new ideas or articles from professional journals containing up-to-date information with the key points highlighted.
8. Include your contact information: Name, address, phone numbers, and email.
9. Thank officials for their time and interest.
10. Develop grassroots organizations before a crisis, so they can be ready for action.

MONITORING IS HALF THE PROCESS

Let legislators and officials know voters are watching their actions.

1. If they will vote yes, ask them to co-sponsor the bill or talk others into voting yes. If they voted yes, send them a thank you and share how they voted with your colleagues.
2. If they are a swing voter, educate them to vote with your position.
3. If they will vote or voted no, tell them you are disappointed and ask them to explain their vote.

PERSONAL MEETINGS WITH OFFICIALS

Face-to-face contacts with officials or their staff develops personal relationships and are the most effective ways to influence officials’ position on an issue. Visit national legislators when they are home during a recess.

1. Make an appointment in advance. Some officials require written requests. Use a letterhead, if possible. If the official is not available, meet their assistant who is often very knowledgeable and influential.
2. Take a broad-based delegation (5 is ideal) to the meeting and designate a chair and a spokesperson for each point of the topic.
3. Be on time.
4. Listen and gather information on your official’s view on an issue.
5. Leave 1 – 2 pages of material summarizing the key points of your position.
6. Photograph your group with the official and post it on your web site.
7. Follow up by providing the official any requested information and ask for follow up correspondence from the official.
8. Thank the official for his or her time. Send a written thank you note with a repeat of your request for action and an understanding of what commitments were made.

PUBLIC HEARINGS OR FORUMS

In public meetings keep your questions / statements short and specific with references to bills or reform efforts. Do not argue, but instead meet privately later.

TELEPHONE (Contact section has numbers and addresses)

1. Be persistent that you are a constituent who wants to discuss a particular issue with the Legislator or their representative.
2. Speak clearly and slowly.

LETTERS, FAXES, AND EMAILS

1. Personal letters to an official are given more weight than form letters, a name on a petition, or group-generated emails.
2. Keep it to one page, if possible. Include your address and phone number on the letter as envelopes are thrown away, and sign your name legibly.
3. Use a personal or group letterhead, if available.
4. Letters-to-the-Editor or Opinion Pieces will inform thousands of people about an issue or legislation. It might even inspire an editorial on the same subject. Be sure to stay within the length limit.
5. Mail to the U.S. Capitol is irradiated, so can be delayed 2 to 4 weeks.
6. Advocacy group web sites have preformatted messages that help you send informed messages to the correct officials. Try to edit these messages to be more personal.

BILL TO LAW PROCESS

A bill is introduced, assigned to a committee for study and rewrites, and committee hearings are held. Committees clear a bill for debate on the floor and action. Bills that have been amended in either house go to a conference committee. The conference version of the bill must pass both houses again. The President or Governor signs or vetoes the bill. Vetoes are overturned by a 2/3 vote in both houses.

The information in this article was compiled from information by The League of Women Voters, The Friends Committee on National Legislation, the UUA Peace Network, Hearts and Minds Network, the Colorado REA, and the American Thoracic Society.

FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE CONTACTS

US Capital Switchboard (202) 224-3121

www.senate.gov (Check votes, committees, and bills plus contact form)

www.house.gov (Check votes, committees, and bills, plus contact form)

COLORADO LEGISLATIVE CONTACTS

The Colorado REA prepares a pictured Legislative Directory every year that is mailed in the REA magazine. Separate it out and keep. Your maximum influence comes with your own legislator.

Sen. Mark Udall
317 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510
202-224-5941
(Committees: Armed Services, Again, Energy and Natural Resources, and National Parks)

Local Office:
8601 Turnpike Dr., Westminster, CO 80031
877-768-3255
Fax 303-650-7827

Sen. Michael Bennet
702 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510
202-224-5852
Fax 202-228-4083

Local Office:
11 Old Town Square, Suite 260
Fort Collins, CO 80524
970-224-2200
Fax 970-224-2205

COLORADO STATE LEGISLATIVE CONTACTS

www.leg.state.co.us
Colorado State Officials, Senators and Representatives:
200 E. Colfax
Denver, CO 80203

Senate Democrats: 303-866-4865
Senate Republicans: 303-866-4866
Toll Free Senate: 888-473-8136
Senate or House Committees: 303-866-3521
Toll Free House: 800-811-7647

SPECIFIC CONTACTS FOR RED FEATHER LAKES, COLORADO

Rep. Betsy Markey, District 4
1229 Longworth Building, Washington, DC 20515
202-225-4676
Fax 202-225-5870

Local Office:
123 N. College, Suite 220
Fort Collins, CO 80524
970-221-7110
Fax 970-221-7240

Senate District 15: Kevin Lundberg
303-866-4853
kevin@kevinlundberg.com
Committees: Health and Human Services, Local Government, Energy, and Judiciary

House District 49: B.J. Nikkel
303-866-2907
repnikkel@fmail.com
Committees: Health and Human Services, State Veterans and Military Affairs