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If you want lawmakers to represent your wishes in the policy making
process, they need to hear from you. The fundamentals of
contacting lawmakers are reasonable, simple and easy
to do. The following principles can be applied to
letters, phone calls and personal visits:
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Be brief and to
the point.
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Identify yourself
and how you and members of WPEA will be affected by
what's being proposed such as a new law or an addition
or cut in the budget.
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Be clear about what
you want. Know the bill number that's being
discussed and specifically what you want the
lawmaker to do. Check periodic
Legislative
Updates or call the lobbying staff if your
not sure.
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Let them know what
you agree and disagree with and why, and if
possible, offer an alternative.
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Establish yourself as
a resource. Let them know how to reach you for
further information, clarification or help.
Phone
Call Basics
You can make a
difference by calling the legislative hotline number or
calling legislators' offices directly.
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Remember, call
on your own time and do not use state resources - breaks, lunch time, before or
after work or on weekends.
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The toll
free number,
1-800-562-6000,
is available from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through
Friday and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays.
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Tell the
operator your name, address, phone number, your
message and the three legislators in your district.
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You can
also leave messages for other legislators, like key
committee chairs and members who are not in your
district.
Tips for
E-Mailing Your Representative
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Don't
use your service at work. While you may be composing
the e-mail on your lunch break and incurring no loss of
state resources, legislators have no way of
knowing that and are very sensitive about the use of state
resources for lobbying. Use
your personal e-mail account or check with your local library to see
if they have internet access.
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Only e-mail
YOUR representatives and senator. Spamming the
legislature will reduce the effectiveness of your e-mail.
Include your full name, address and phone number at the
top so legislative staffers know they're looking at mail
from a constituent.
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Write the
message in your own words. Explain how legislation
would affect you personally. Don't just forward or copy
information.
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All the
usual rules of
e-mail apply. Be polite, proof read for
grammar and double check spelling.
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Legislative
Leadership
Governor
Christine Gregoire
(306) 902-4111
www.governor.wa.gov/
contact/default.asp
Senate Majority Leader
Lisa Brown
(360) 786-7604
brown.lisa@leg.wa.gov
Senate Minority Leader
Mike Hewitt
(360) 786-7630
hewitt.mike@leg.wa.gov
Senate Ways and
Means Chair
Magarita Prentice
(360) 786-7616
prentice.margarita@
leg.wa.gov
House Speaker
Frank Chopp
(360) 786-7920
chopp.frank@leg.wa.gov
House Majority Leader
Lynn Kessler
(360) 786-7904
kessler.lynn@leg.wa.gov
House Minority Leader
Richard Debolt
(360) 786-7896
debolt.richard@
leg.wa.gov
House Appropriations
Chair
Helen Sommers
(360)786-7814
sommers.helen@
leg.wa.gov
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