Slowleak
Juvenille at Sea
Registered: 12/31/04
Posts: 145
Loc: Kent, WA I don’t want to come off like I think I’m some kind of expert… I’m not. I didn’t spend the night in a Holiday Inn Express but I did spend yesterday on the Capitol campus. In speaking with several genuine experts (who are on our side) in response to some of my communications, I learned there are certain things we can do to increase the effectiveness of communications with our elected officials.
For the purposes of these communications we should attack the legislation not the perceived author. In general, as soon as it becomes a personal attack the focus goes in the wrong direction. Although many legislators may not like some of their peers, or their tactics, they can’t and won’t do anything about it; in fact they circle the wagons to protect their own (the next time it might be them under attack). I think Salmo G experienced some wagon circling yesterday.
Senator Jacobsen is a very powerful man and he can and does control a lot of legislation. It is fine to point out the committee that produced or modified the legislation, but not the individuals. It was also pointed out that often times we do not really know whose name is on the amendment so we may be inadvertently attacking the wrong person. Having said that, a properly placed quote regarding the Chairman's desire to “neuter” the Commission might be well received.
Unfortunately, the same thing goes for the Treaty Tribes. Attacking the tribes will not get us very far because the legislature can’t or won’t do anything about them either.
Lobbyists, on the other hand, appear to be fair game and there’s no bag limit.
Legislators are elected officials and, as was pointed out yesterday, if a thousand constituents are on the “wrong” side of an issue and only one is on “right” side, the elected official will follow the votes. So we need to focus on the legislation and why we support or oppose it; short and to the point with two or three bullets is more effective than long and ranting; those tend to find their way to the delete button or round file.
However you choose to do it, DO keep those emails, letters and calls coming; it is VERY evident they are working.
