|
Contacting
Your Legislators
compiled by Mrs. Kathy Jordan
Does the thought of calling or writing
your
State Senator scare you?
Not sure what to say when those urgent legislative
alerts come through?
Not even sure who your legislators are?
Contacting our representatives about important pending laws is one
way we can exercise both our freedom and our responsibility as citizens
of the United States. A few minutes of our time today can safeguard
both our and our children's future. U.S. Representative Dick Armey
once said that as few as five letters on a single issue will get
the attention of your legislator.
To
take some of the mystery, and the accompanying "fear of the
unknown," out of the process, here are some "do's"
and "don'ts" for contacting your legislator.
DO:
· Write legibly. It sounds so basic, but legislative
staffers say it is amazing how many letters are unreadable.
· Mention the bill number. You can look up California
state bills by author or number or search by subject at http://www.leginfo.ca.gov.
You can search for federal bills by number, author, or title at
http://thomas.loc.gov/
· Be specific. Only mention one issue per letter.
· Contact your own elected official. It is good to contact
these officials before you have a problem to establish a friendly
relationship. Occasionally a legislative alert will recommend you
contact members of a certain committee rather than the representative
from your district. In that case, mention their committee membership
as the reason for your contact.
· Be brief. One typed or two handwritten pages maximum.
· Be courteous. Use the correct forms of address. (See
attached) Use the proper address. Show the respect due his/her office.
· Be personal. Use your own words and tell how the
issue will affect you and your family or community.
· Be informed. Get the facts from a reliable source
such a Roy Hanson's Family Protection Ministries, Christian Family
Schools of San Diego, or Home School Legal Defense Association.
Our LHEF alerts come from these sources. Include newpaper clippings
or magazine articles when possible.
· Be timely. Many alerts require immediate (same day)
action. Keep your addresses handy so you can respond quickly.
· Point out your expertise or experience when relevant
· Say thank you if the official votes correctly.
· Be tenacious. Ask questions which require specific
answers. Keep a copy of your letter or record of your call and follow
up.
DON'T:
· Make negative comments or be disrespectful in any
way.
· Use form letters.
· Be a "pen pal." Save you contact for issues
that really matter to you (after an initial friendly "get-acquainted"
call or visit).
· Fail to write for fear of doing it "wrong."
If you are polite and sincere, you can't go too wrong.
· Necessarily identify yourself as a home educator. Use
the approach suggested in the alert. You may write or call as a
private school educator, a parent, or a concerned citizen, as well
as a home educator.
When You Call:
You will probably reach a staff member in the legislator's office,
especially if the legislature is in session. During a session, these
staffers may be answering hundreds of calls a day, so be prepared.
· State your name and the number of the bill about which
you are calling.
· Mention that you are in the legislator's district (if appropriate).
· State whether you want your official to vote for or against
the bill and briefly state why.
· Mention the points in the "do" list above, if
applicable.
· Ask how your legislator plans to vote.
· Thank the staffer for their time.
5
Elements of a Good Letter:
· "Because" paragraph. Why are you writing?
· Give qualifications. "As a successful educator
for ___ years…", "As a parent of elementary school
age children…"
· State how the bill will affect you personally.
· Use support information if possible.
· State how you would like him to vote.
Forms
of Address:
President George W. Bush
The White House
Washington, DC 20500
Dear
Mr. President:
Very respectfully,
Vice
President Richard Cheney
The White House
Washington, DC 20501
Dear
Mr. Vice President:
Sincerely yours,
Senators
The Honorable (first and last name)
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510
Dear
Senator (last name):
Sincerely yours,
Representatives
The Honorable (first and last name)
House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515
Dear
Congressman or Congresswoman (last name)
Or Dear Mr., Mrs., or Miss (last name)
Sincerely yours,
The Governor
The Honorable Gray Davis
(Use address on list)
Dear
Governor Davis:
State
Senators
The Honorable (first and last name)
(Use address on list)
Dear
Senator (last name):
State
Assembly Members
Assemblymember (first and last name)
(Use address on list)
Dear
Assemblymember (last name):
Federal Legislators
Zip
Codes: (Some zip codes - marked * - split legislative districts.
To determine your representative, go to www.hslda.org
and type in your zip + 4 or check your voter registration card.)
US
House of Representatives
92115*,
92105*, 92106, 92111, 92123, 92124*, 91942*
Rep. Susan Davis (D-CA 49th)
1st-term Democrat from California.
Web Site: www.house.gov/susandavis
E-mail: susan.davis@mail.house.gov
Phone: (202) 225-2040
Fax: (202) 225-2948
Capitol Hill Address:
1517 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-0549
District Office Information Phone: (619) 291-1430
Fax: (619) 291-8956
Address:
2150 W. Washington St., Ste. 210
San Diego, CA 92110
92115*,
92105*, 91913, 91941*, 91945*, 91977*, 91910, 92114*
Rep. Bob Filner (D-CA 50th)
5th-term Democrat from California.
Web Site: www.house.gov/filner
E-mail: Contact Via 'Write Your Rep.'
Phone: (202) 225-8045
Fax: (202) 225-9073
Capitol Hill Address:
2463 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-0550
District Office Information
Phone: (619) 422-5963
Fax: (619) 422-7290
Address:
333 F St., #A
Chula Vista, CA 91910
92115*, 92021, 92071 (Santee), 91941*, 91935, 91945*, 92040*, 91977*,
92114*, 91962, 91942*, 91978, 91963
Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-CA 52nd)
11th-term Republican from California.
Web Site: www.house.gov/hunter
E-mail: Contact Via 'Write Your Rep.'
Phone: (202) 225-5672
Fax: (202) 225-0235
Capitol Hill Address:
2265 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-0552
District Office Information Phone: (619) 579-3001
Fax: (619) 579-2251
Address:
366 S. Pierce St.
El Cajon, CA 92020
92127,
92071, 92126, 92040*, 92124*
Rep. Randy Cunningham (R-CA 51st)
6th-term Republican from California.
Web Site: www.house.gov/cunningham
Phone: (202) 225-5452
Fax: (202) 225-2558
Capitol Hill Address:
2350 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-0551
District Office Information Phone: (760) 737-8438
Fax: (760) 737-9132
Address:
613 W. Valley Pkwy., #320
Escondido, CA 92025
92674
Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA 48th)
1st-term Republican from California.
Web Site: www.house.gov/issa
E-mail: congressman.issa@mail.house.gov
Phone: (202) 225-3906
Fax: (202) 225-3303
Capitol Hill Address:
1725 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-0548
District Office Information
Phone: (949) 496-2343
Fax: (949) 496-2988
Address:
629 Camino De Los Mares, Ste. 204
San Clemente, CA 92673
US Senate
Sen.
Dianne Feinstein (D-CA)
3rd-term Democrat from California.
Web Site: feinstein.senate.gov
Phone: (202) 224-3841
Fax: (202) 228-3954
Capitol Hill Address:
331 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510-0504
District
Office Information
Phone: (415) 393-0707
Fax: (415) 989-3242
Address:
One Post St., #2450
San Francisco, CA 94104
Sen.
Barbara Boxer (D-CA)
2nd-term Democrat from California.
Web Site: boxer.senate.gov
E-mail: senator@boxer.senate.gov
Phone: (202) 224-3553
Fax: (415) 956-6701
Capitol Hill Address:
112 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510-0505
District
Office Information
Phone: (415) 403-0100
Fax: (415) 956-6701
Address:
1700 Montgomery St, #240
San Francisco, CA 94111
Your
State Assembly Member is:
92127,
92021- Crest, 92071, 91935, 92040, 91962, 91906, 91963
Assemblymember Charlene Zettel (R-CA 75th) 2nd-term Republican
from California.
Web Site: www.assembly.ca.gov/acs/makebio.asp?district=75
E-mail: assemblymember.zettel@asm.ca.gov
Phone: (916) 319-2075
Fax: (916) 319-2175
Capital Address:
5164 State Capitol
Sacramento, CA 94249-0001
District Office Information
Phone: (858) 385-0070
Fax: (619) 385-0179
Address:
15708 Pomerado Rd Ste N-110
Poway, CA 92064
92105*,
91910*
Assemblymember Juan Vargas (D-CA 79th) 1st-term Democrat
from California.
Web Site: www.assembly.ca.gov/acs/makebio.asp?district=79
E-mail: assemblymember.vargas@assembly.ca.gov
Phone: (916) 319-2079
Fax: (916) 319-2179
Capital Address:
2188 State Capitol
Sacramento, CA 94249-0001
District Office Information
Phone: (619) 409-7979
Fax: (619) 409-9270
Address:
678 3rd Ave Ste 105
Chula Vista, CA 91910-
91945*, 92114, 92021-El Cajon, 91913, 91941, 91977*, 91942*
Assemblymember Jay La Suer (R-CA 77th) 1st-term Republican
from California.
Web Site: www.assembly.ca.gov/acs/makebio.asp?district=77
E-mail: Assemblymember.LaSuer@assembly.ca.gov
Phone: (916) 319-2077
Fax: (916) 319-2177
Capital Address:
2016 State Capitol
Sacramento, CA 94249-0001
District Office Information
Phone: (619) 465-7723
Fax: (619) 465-7765
Address:
8419 La Mesa Blvd., Suite B
La Mesa, CA 91941
92115*,
92111*, 92126*, 92124, 92105
Assemblymember Christine Kehoe (D-CA 76th) 1st-term Democrat
from California.
Web Site: www.assembly.ca.gov/acs/makebio.asp?district=76
E-mail: Assemblymember.Kehoe@assembly.ca.gov
Phone: (916) 319-2076
Fax: (916) 319-2176
Capital Address:
2158 State Capitol
Sacramento, CA 94249-0001
District Office Information
Phone: (619) 294-7600
Fax: (619) 294-2348
Address:
1010 University Ave., Suite C-207
San Diego, CA 92103
92674
Assemblymember Patricia Bates (R-CA 73rd) 2nd-term Republican
from California.
Web Site: www.assembly.ca.gov/acs/makebio.asp?district=73
E-mail: assemblymember.bates@assembly.ca.gov
Phone: (916) 319-2073
Fax: (916) 319-2173
Capital Address:
6031 State Capitol
Sacramento, CA 94249-0001
State Senators:
92127, 92021*, 92071, 91935, 92040, 91962, 91906, 91963
Sen. Jim Battin (R-CA 37th)
1st-term Republican from California.
Web Site: www.sen.ca.gov/battin
E-mail: Jim.Battin@sen.ca.gov
Phone: (916) 445-5581
Fax: (916) 327-2187
Capital Address:
3074 State Capitol
Sacramento, CA 95814
District Office Information
Phone: (760) 568-0408
Address:
73710 Fred Waring Dr., Suite 112
Palm Desert, CA 92260-
92105-4334, 91945-1809, 92114, 92021-4778, 91977*, 91910, 91942*
91913, 91941, 91945
Sen. Steve Peace (D-CA 40th) 3rd-term Democrat from California.
Web Site: www.sen.ca.gov/peace
E-mail: senator.peace@sen.ca.gov
Phone: (916) 445-6767
Fax: (916) 327-3522
Capital Address:
3060 State Capitol
Sacramento, CA 95814
District Office Information
Phone: (619) 463-0243
Fax: (619) 463-0246
Address:
7877 Parkway Drive, Suite 1B
La Mesa, CA 91942
92115*,
92111*, 92126*, 92124, 92105
Sen. Dede Alpert (D-CA 39th)
2nd-term Democrat from California.
Web Site: www.sen.ca.gov/alpert
E-mail: Senator.Alpert@sen.ca.gov
Phone: (916) 445-3952
Fax: (916) 327-2188
Capital Address:
5050 State Capitol
Sacramento, CA 95814
District Office Information
Phone: (619) 645-3090
Fax: (619) 645-3094
Address:
1557 Columbia St.
San Diego, CA 92101
92674
Sen. Bill Morrow (R-CA 38th)
2nd-term Republican from California.
Web Site: republican.sen.ca.gov/web/38/
E-mail: senator.morrow@sen.ca.gov
Phone: (916) 445-3731
Fax: (916) 446-7382
Capital Address:
4048 State Capitol
Sacramento, CA 95814
Governor:
Gray Davis (D-CA) 1st-term Democrat from California.
Web Site: www.governor.ca.gov
E-mail: graydavis@governor.ca.gov
Phone: (916) 445-2841
Fax: (916) 445-4633
Capital Address:
State Capitol
Sacramento, CA 95814
|
