I was on a tele-town hall (provided by Americans for Prosperity, Tim Phillips hosted) with Congressman Mike Pence and over 14,000 other activists in the country. The topic was health care, the hot topic in politics today in America. First let me say, I've been on hundreds of these calls over the past year, and this call was the most inspiring that I've ever participated in on any level. Just when I was ready to give up, thought I couldn't make a difference and that my opinion didn't matter, Mike Pence gave me the boost I needed. One comment that the Congressman made really lifted my spirits, it is up to us, the American people what will happen on health care. Pence does not believe that Nancy Pelosi and the Democrats have enough votes to pass the current legislation or they would already be voting on it. We still have time to make our voices heard, so don't give up and get discouraged!
Congressman Pence explained to the callers what was happening on health care legislation and how to be effective in contacting your Congressman. The "tips" were interesting and I hope you will implement them, I sure will be using them to convey my opinions to my Congressman, Chet Edwards (even though I don't think he really cares what I think, if I can encourage others to join me I believe we'll make a difference together).
I've captured most of Pence's and Phillips recommendations (and expanded on a few with advice I received from Congressional staffers who wish to remain anonymous):
- Contact your Congressman first and foremost, they weigh their constituents opinion more heavily than those living outside their districts. If you have friends or family living in someone else's district, encourage them to contact them directly.
- Email your entire contact list, encourage them to contact their Congressman, even if they have never done it before, NOW is the time! Make sure you ask your friends and family to do the same.
- If you are not big on emailing your friends and family, CALL them and encourage them to contact Congress and ask them to contact their friends to do the same.
- Visit your Congressional office in person!
- Write letters to the editor of newspapers using your Congressman's name, and do this often. Apparently most all Congressmen had "news clippings" services; and while some do not read their emails they DO read those clippings from the press.
- Congressmen have staffers who monitor blogs and comment sections on blogs (and news outlets). Those comments also wind up in Google Alerts... so, if you blog, make sure you use your Congressman's name and if you don't blog, go and comment about your opinions and again, use your Congressman's name.
- Congressional staffers also keep "cheat sheets" on the number of phone calls, faxes and emails that the Congressmen receive on different issues. Pence also reminded us that even when staffers are rude or act like your opinion doesn't matter, it's an act. Your opinion DOES matter, matter of fact, he believes it is the only thing that DOES matter!
- Call local talk radio programs, and again, use your Congressman's name.
- Post on message boards, Facebook and Twitter about your Congressman, their opinions and yours. Many of the Twitter posts show up in Google Alerts. If your Congressman has a fan page on Facebook, join it and comment on it often (politely, don't get in "wars of words" with those you disagree with politically).
- Traditional mail takes 2-4 weeks to reach your Congressman's office desk. If you hand write letters FAX them when possible when a vote is going to the floor.
