Contacting members of a committee when they don't represent you

[Creeping Incrementalism]

I've long wondered--when a bill is currently in a committee, and we are asked to contact members of that committee--why would those legislators care (more than a little bit) if I am not a constituent?

[Librarian]

Politicians won't.

Representatives will.

I've had exactly that reaction from many legislators, and the automated 'you are not in my district, here's how to find your very own representative' is particularly galling.

It should be readily apparent to all the elected legislators that the laws they consider might affect all Californians, thus every Californian should have input.

Over the years, two that stick out in my mind as sensible were Quentin Kopp, and somewhat astonishingly, Jackie Speier. That doesn't mean either agreed with me, but I repeatedly got specifically responsive replies to my letters from each.

[creekside]

I've long wondered--when a bill is currently in a committee, and we are asked to contact members of that committee--why would those legislators care (more than a little bit) if I am not a constituent?

I have had the best experience with talking to a committee member's legislative staff when I have something to contribute -- a useful argument, pointing out a power bloc that will be threatened, and/or referring to past campaign contributions. Wish I could do that last more often . . .

Otherwise we're tying up the phones and sending a message, pencil marks on a daily tally list. It's still worth doing.

[Meplat]

Money is the mothers milk of politics. Anyone can contribute to a candidate. You can (theoretically) only contribute one vote, but you can contribute a lot of dollars. Make sure they know that you know that.

I've long wondered--when a bill is currently in a committee, and we are asked to contact members of that committee--why would those legislators care (more than a little bit) if I am not a constituent?

[6172crew]

Paul Payne told me to tell them I have to right to contact then if the law they are proposing effects me.

One of Scotts desk jockeys tried to hang up on me when they took .mil off the handgun exemption list and I had to let her have it, never caught her name but was probably AM before she moved to the doj.

[glockman19]

I always give the zip code of the district office i'm calling and my first name.

[HowardW56]

I have never received a response from Ted Lieu, and I live in his district...

He doesn't give a damm what anyone's opinion is, other than his own.

[Paladin]

When a rep. is a member of a committee, while they are on that committee they are acting on behalf of their entire chamber (either Senate or Assembly in CA). They are thus acting on behalf of ALL CALIFORNIANS and thus ALL CALIFORNIANS can contact all of them to express their wishes.

Don't let them get away w/blowing you off saying you're not in their district. That only matters when calling them about something coming up for a floor vote. If they do blow you off, report them to the chairman of that committee (actually their staff), and they'll set that committee member straight!

I had to do that a few years ago when an anti refused to take my call. Kept hanging up immediately when they heard my voice when I called back. Called the committee chairman, explained the situation saying refusing to take the call turns us from a democracy to a oligarchy. They said they would contact that committee member the next day. When I called that committee member the next day, a different staff person answered the phone, was very apologetic, said the other staff member had be corrected, and said they'd pass my opinion re the proposed legislation on to the committee member.


Funny thing is that committee chairman was a hard-core anti! Even he knew what boundaries are not to be broken....

[goober]

When a rep. is a member of a committee, while they are on that committee they are acting on behalf of their entire chamber (either Senate or Assembly in CA). They are thus acting on behalf of ALL CALIFORNIANS and thus ALL CALIFORNIANS can contact all of them to express their wishes.

Don't let them get away w/blowing you off saying you're not in their district. That only matters when calling them about something coming up for a floor vote. If they do blow you off, report them to the chairman of that committee (actually their staff), and they'll set that committee member straight!

^THIS

[SimpleCountryActuary]

I have never received a response from Ted Lieu, and I live in his district...

He doesn't give a damm what anyone's opinion is, other than his own.

I live in his district and he ignores me. I even sent him a letter telling him he was the only elected representative who had not responded and that even Richard Nixon (actually his staff) answered my letter.

Lieu needs to be unelected. Too bad we live in Berkeley South.

Best!

(from Mar Vista, and I can actually see the "Mar" once in a while, i.e. the Sea)

[HowardW56]

I live in his district and he ignores me. I even sent him a letter telling him he was the only elected representative who had not responded and that even Richard Nixon (actually his staff) answered my letter.

Lieu needs to be unelected. Too bad we live in Berkeley South.

Best!

(from Mar Vista, and I can actually see the "Mar" once in a while, i.e. the Sea)

I went to a town hall meeting he sponsored in Redondo Beach, so I could challange him on it. He didn't bother to show up, just sent a staffer...

[vantec08]

If you laid big bucks on some candidate not representing your district and he/she was elected, I GUARANTEE you would have inside, unpublished phone access.

[SimpleCountryActuary]

If you laid big bucks on some candidate not representing your district and he/she was elected, I GUARANTEE you would have inside, unpublished phone access.

Not with Lieu. Before when discussing a pension issue with a staffer that Lieu ultimately agreed with, I offered to help with a fund raiser. No interest.

U.S. Senators, regardless of party, yes.