Communicating with your state legislators

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Communicating With Your State Legislators

A Presentation for

CVOs, CEOs and Senior Association Staff

YMCA of the USAGovernment Relations and Policy

Source:www.cramer-assocs.com

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YMCA of the USAGovernment Relations and Policy

We build strong kids, strong families, and strong communities.

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YMCA of the USAGovernment Relations and Policy

We build strong kids, strong families, and strong communities.

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Founded in London, England on June 6, 1844.Established in the United States on December 29, 1851 in Boston.

Currently in every State in the Union.The largest child care provider in the Nation.

561,909 Volunteers.509,022 Program Staff.51,987 Board Members.

2617 Associations in the US.

Source:YMCA of the USA, Feb. 2007

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561,909, 50%

509,022, 45%

51,987, 5%

Voluneers

Program

Board2007 YMCA Participants at a

Glance

YMCA of the USAGovernment Relations and Policy

Source: YMCA of the USA, February 2007

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The United States of America:50 States = 50 State Senates + 49 State Assemblies

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State Legislators at A Glance

• According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, as of the 2006 session there were 7318 state legislators in the United States.

• More statistical data:– 3941 Democrats– 3310 Republicans– 67 Independents

• Average age is 53.

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Legislators by Political Party(Source: National Conference of State Legislatures 2006)

67

3941

3310 Independ

Democrat

Republican

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State Legislative Data(SOURCE: National Conference of State Legislatures 2006)

• In 37 States both houses are controlled by same party– 22 Democrats– 15 Republicans

• In 1 State, the unicameral legislature is nonpartisan

• Of 50 Senates – 25 controlled by Democrats– 22 controlled by Republicans– 2 tied between Democrats and Republicans– 1 is nonpartisan

• Of 49 House of Representatives/Delegates/Assemblies– 29 controlled by Democrats– 20 controlled by Republicans

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Legislative Control by Party(SOURCE: National Conference of State Legislatures 2006)

1

15Nonpartisan

Democrat

Republican

22

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State Senates by Party Affiliation(SOURCE: National Conference of State Legislatures 2006)

25

12

22

Nonpartisan

Democrat

Republican

Tied

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House of Representatives/Delegates Control by Party Affiliation

(SOURCE: National Conference of State Legislatures 2006)

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20

DemocratRepublican

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Methods Used to Communicate

• Person to person.

• Telephone calls/trees/banks.

• Letter individual/campaigns/preprinted.

• Email.

• Internet.

• Public Forums.

• Accidental.

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Person to Person

• Increasingly rare.

• May be planned or accidental.

• If planned (appointment) be prepared to wait. Once in a meeting be as brief as possible while still staying on task.

• The key elements are follow up (in writing and email) and the prospect of future meetings.

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Telephone Contacts

• With the Legislator vs. Staff.• Remember to clearly state your name and

contact information for follow up.• Remember to get the name/title of the

staffer with along with date & time.• Telephone “trees” are when one person

calls and then contacts two other people to also call on the subject and then the calls expand proportionately.

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Telephone Contacts, cont.

• Telephone “banks” like minded people assembled at a “bank” of telephones, usually with a prepared text who call the same number i.e., legislator or a pre-selected list of people to contact and ask them to contact a legislator in favor or against a proposal.

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Remember: They Work For You!

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Letter Contacts

• Still, in 2007, the method with the most impact. It represents “real” effort to communicate.

• Security concerns may impact the deliverability of letters (post 9/11/01).

• With sufficient volume, easy to overwhelm the recipient into believing that public opinion is tilted one way or another (even if it isn’t).

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Letter Contacts, cont.

• Letter “campaigns” provide for personalized letters written by individuals who are provided with “talking points” to be included in the letter to the legislator. They require more coordination/education so that the message is clear and consistent.

• Preprinted letters usually provide for the inclusion of sender’s name and address. Otherwise, they convey the same message. Least effective of the 3 types mentioned.

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Not satisfied: Remember something called elections?

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100 Senators. 435 Representatives.5 Delegates. All are elected by the people.

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Email Contact

• Increasingly email is replacing traditional ink and paper or snail mail as the mode of communication.

• Although there is a greater chance that your email may not be read by the legislator (spam filters, staff, technology) it is vastly superior because it offers instant instant communicationcommunication with hard copy capabilities.

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Internet Contact

• Many websites have contact pages that can be filled out and then sent electronically.

• While you have the instant ability to contact, the negatives remain…specifically whether or not the legislator will personally see your comment.

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Holding Public Office is a Privilege, Not a Hereditary Right!

We settled that one in 1776. Period.

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We still settled that one in 1776. Period.

Don’t undo what was paid for with the blood of heroes.

Holding Public Office is their Privilege, Not their Hereditary

Right!

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Public Forum Contact

• This occurs when you attend a public forum in person where the legislator is a participant.

• You either ask a question, thereby becoming part of the forum itself or else see the legislator before, during or after the event and get “their ear.”

• Remember to follow up and get their card or the staffer’s card who may be with them.

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Accidental Contact

• Accidents do happen…they don’t live in isolation

• Church

• Shopping

• Restaurants

• Daily Life

• Community events (sports, theater)

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Points to Remember

• They (Public Servants) work for you.

• Be brief.

• Be polite or at least civil.

• Be precise in what you want of them.

• Give them a timeline/deadline when it is needed.

• Provide them with multiple methods of contacting you (mail, email, telephone).

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“Caring, honesty, respect and responsibility.” More than our core character values. They are the essence of the contract between our elected officials and the American people. To uphold these, safeguards the Republic for her and the future.

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YMCA of the USAGovernment Relations and Policy

We build strong kids, strong families, and strong communities.

Thank you for attending this presentation.