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Click here for an everyday guide to lobbying.
LOBBY YOUR REP OR SENATOR IN PERSON IN HARRISBURG OCTOBER 19, 20, OR ANY OTHER DAY.
- Start Here: http://www.legis.state.pa.us/ and type your County and Zip code into the "Find Members By" box at the upper right corner. You get a list of the reps and Senators serving your zip code, your county, by Township or Borough.
- Click on your rep or Senator's name. Up comes their web page with their Harrisburg phone number. That's the number to call. Jot down the office address and email address while you are there.
- Call the number. Make the appointment with your rep or Senator's
secretary for the afternoon or at 9 AM on October 20 if possible. If you
can't get one for October 20 but can come another day, you can make an
appointment for that day instead.
NOTE: Call early, as early as possible. Once these reps and Senators figure out that it's rally day, some might "fill up' their appointment book with other stuff for the day. Kathie made hers on 9/16 for 12:30 PM Oct 20 with Eichelberger and got in.
Get the office location directions.....and don't forget, this is a working person who lives in Pennsylvania and might be having health care insurance problems. Talk to them about your mission. - Send us an email: Once you have made an appointment, send Kathie an email at jkhend@hughes.net and let us know what you have arranged. We will coordinate. If you have questions like where the office is in the complex, ask (not that we will know right away!). Mention specifically: If you have an appointment when is it, who it is with, the office address, whether you expect to speak to the rep or Senator personally, and your experience in dealing with the secretary.
- Provide Information. If successful in getting an appointment the secretary will ask for some information: ...Your Name, Address, Phone #, e mail ...Why you want to see the Rep or Senator ("about supporting the Family and Business Security Act of 2009, HR 1660 or SB 400") ...How many people will be coming with you (round up as many as you can, make an estimate if necessary if you haven't finished rounding up others yet; it's OK to go alone and more fun if you have a group. As we are coordinating, we can help make sure that if others are signing up for the same rep or senator they get the same time slot). ON OCTOBER 20
- Gather and take the following: When coming to Harrisburg intending to
lobby, whether successful in getting an appointment or not:
- a letter stating your request for support mentioning the Family and Business Health Care Security Act of 2009 HB 1660 / SB 400 specifically. (Kathie can help with that if you like.)
- a copy of your county's data showing how much taxpayers in your county can save in one your (go to http://www.healthcare4allpa.org/counties.htm and print. If you need help with this: Kathie at jkhend@hughes.net. The savings are at the bottom in boldface, dollars.
- the Pamphlet (Kathie can mail a few out if she has them)
- a camera so you can take a group picture along with any "Single Payer" or whatever signs along with the rep, senator, or maybe just standing around his or her entrance office door. You can send a copy of that picture to the rep along with whatever thanks are appropriate afterward in an email or snail mail. Email address are available at the same website where you got the phone number. Send this with a press release to your home paper as well. Contact Kathie for information on Press releases if you like at jkhend@hughes.net.
- rally signs bring and show them off your to people and in pictures.
- petition signatures deliver the original signatures (make copies to keep) you have collected on forms you can get at the website (make sure any SB 300s are corrected to SB 400s) from fellow citizens in your area. And of course.......be creative and bring whatever you think might help. Walk in on crutches, wear a hospital gown, maybe.
- At the office, with or without an appointment, talk to the elected one or if not possible the secretary, deliver any letters, spreadsheets, and petitions you have, get the picture with the rep/Senator with your group or just the group. Tell them what you think: Anything goes. You got there so you probably have some strong feelings. Let it rip...politely.
- .......Your personal or another's horror story and how Single Payer would have solved the problem without all the suffering and financial stress,
- .......point out the boldface on the front and inside of the pamphlet... good talking points there.
- .......why you think healthcare is a right instead of a privilege,
- .......whatever you figure will catch his memory when it comes time to vote on the bill.
- .......Keep saying "The Family and Business Security Act" and if you have letters have the SB 400 and HR 1660 prominently displayed.
- .......Being polite but not too subtle at this point goes. Don't worry, the elected one will take whatever you have to say politely, but there is no point in being confrontational. No one will shout "liar' in your face!
- .......Thank the man or woman and go when they have said they must move on three times. Leave your stuff, take you signs.
- Back Home: ASAP send a letter of thanks if you met with them, or regretting that you came when they were too busy to see you, include the picture. Send your paper a report with the picture, too. A copy of the county data again would be great, circle the savings number, and pencil in a note about how you would really like to save all this money. Send another pamphlet if you have one.
REMEMBER... these are ordinary people who wanted to be representatives and they got elected. Sometimes they act very dignified and important, but it's a cover for the insecurity all whose job depends on the vote experience. They feel guilty when they accept campaign contributions from health care insurance companies, but they hide the crime from themselves, figuring they are so good for the people regardless of the level of their sellout that they can justify it. It's our job to make sure they personally hear voices of those who vote. So, just go there and let it happen. Tell them whatever you want to say about health care and the bill, the Family and Business Health Care Security Act. Just keep saying it over and over and over...you get the point!
Questions: Kathie at jkhend@hughes.net or 717 485 3386
Click here for a pdf copy of the October 20 Lobbying GuideEveryday Lobbying!
Personal Lobbying: What to Say and How to Say It
Do you want to know who to call in Harrisburg to fix the healthcare crisis in PA? Wouldn’t you like to tell the politicians who are blocking healthcare reform to get off their elected backsides and do their jobs? We can all start by reaching out and touching the 29 esteemed members of the House Health and Human Services Committee (HHS). They are resolutely ignoring the best healthcare reform legislation in a lifetime, HB1660, and a study that is likely to prove how beneficial single payer will be to the Commonwealth.
What we have here is a short guide to calling these representatives and reminding them of their duty. An average call (we’ve timed it) takes just three minutes, and it’s easier than you think. If people like you call just one HHS member a day –or a dozen- we’ll be on the way to sane healthcare in no time. Download a copy of this guide here.
You - "Hi, my name is XXX, and I have a question for Rep. XXX. Would I be able to speak to Rep. XXX, or leave a message with you?"
Them - "Of course! The Rep is not in / is busy at the moment, but I'd love to take a message. What was your name again?"
You - "Thanks. My name is XXX, and I understand there is a bill in the Health and Human Services Committee called HB1660. It is a bill proposing comprehensive, single payer healthcare for every Pennsylvania citizen. I know June is budget month. We're trying to get $100,000 to do an independent, non-partisan (not bi-partisan, non-partisan) economic impact study on HB 1660. California had a similar bill in their house, and when the economic impact study was completed in 2005, it showed that implementation of the bill would have saved the state over $8 billion in 2006 alone. This is an opportunity for Rep.. XXX to not only provide every single PA citizen with quality health coverage, but also to save the state potentially billions of dollars. This is not a liberal issue, and this is not a conservative issue. This is an issue of equality and fiscal responsibility. I hope we can count on Rep. XXX's support for this budget item."
That's it! If you’re a little nervous about personal lobbying, this “canned” language should help you begin. It’s always better to make the call your own, using your own (polite) language to urge these politicians forward. Let’s all make something happen in Harrisburg!