… personal stories matter more than cards or emails. In person visits were ranked at 81% effective, while the next closest means, individual letters, were only 59%. Those form postcards we love to send? Only 7%. On the other side of the graph, legislators gauge public opinion the most by events they attend (see below for legislative delegations), personal letters/emails/faxes/ or calls.
This information is from a story I cannot link, but the gist of it is our legislators do not pay much heed to volume emails, cards, and faxes. Click here for a legislative study graph that shows related info. What matters to them is someone talking to them about how the law affects them.
I saw this first hand when Vice Chair Baer and I were speaking to members about our issues last session- the RFID driver license language was removed after I made a personal connection with the bill’s sponsor and educated him in his office about the dangers of RFID. Does this work every time? No way- just ask me about Brad Drake (R-DHSMV). But as the linked graphic shows, personal contact is what matters to legislators.
We can start by attending legislative delegations after the election. Can’t afford to travel to Tallahassee? These are held in your county, and are attended by every politician that represents someone in your county. It’s easy to ask for time to speak to them. I’ve done so at several on the REAL ID issue. Likewise, when your legislator is not in Tallahassee (this would usually be anytime other than the 60 days of session), they are in their districts. For most of us, this is within our county, but for others it may be a bit of a drive to meet with them. Get to know their staff member- for he or she is the gateway to speaking to the legislator.
Lobbyists do not send mass emails or faxes. They are in fact “boots on the ground” for their issue in personal contact with legislators. While not many in the constitutional/Tea Party movement seem to care for lobbyists, it is this activity that influences legislators much more so than form emails, cards, and faxes. Lobbyists were ranked at 27% in the above study. In my opinion, it is essential we have at least one David to the hundreds of Goliaths there from organizations that represent the opposing side of our issues. This can take place most effectively during session when critical information needs to be relayed, but it is also very important prior to session so we can get a foot in the door to get legislation filed.
In 2013, I am serving as TTPN’s Legislative Action Committee Chair. As most know, I’m also an unpaid lobbyist for the Florida Campaign for Liberty due to a lack of donations. We have a number of challenges ahead of us for 2013. The start is in July at our legislative planning meeting in Gainesville. We will determine there the few issues we want to focus upon for the 2013 session. Your participation and input are needed not only to your legislators, but also at this meeting.