Pennsylvania Federation Of Sportsmens Clubs

Contacting your Legislator

"An informed and active citizenry is the lifeblood of a democracy."

It is important in a democracy that citizens help keep their legislators informed. In order to be true representatives of the people, legislators need to know the thinking of their constituents on those issues upon which decisions will be made, and the facts on which such thinking and conclusions are based. As a citizen, you can help insure good legislation on state and national levels by communicating with your elected representatives at the proper time.

Too many people never have any contact with those who represent them in government--whose vote may decide what price they will pay for the acts of government, sometimes in terms of dollars, or in changes in standards of living, or in regulatory inconveniences.

Find Your Legislator	House Game & Fisheries Committee
All Representatives	Senate Game & Fisheries Committee
All Senators
	House Judiciary Committee
Contacting Governor Ed Rendell	Senate Judiciary Committee

Senator’s E-mail	House Environmental Resources
Representative’s Email	Senate Environmental Resources

PERSONAL CONTACTS

Personal contacts can be a meaningful way to influence a legislator.

Before contacting any legislators, take the time to read all available background material on the bill or issue, which concerns you. Although it is obviously beneficial for you to know a great deal about the specifics of bills and issues, it is not essential that you know everything. The primary goal of your visit is to express your concern over a particular bill or issue.

Know when and where to contact a legislator. The best times to find a legislator in the district office are Thursday and Friday. (Session days are normally held on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday).

Occasionally, legislators will be able to see you if you simply walk into their office, but the best approach is to call ahead and make an appointment. Let the legislator know what you wish to discuss. If you cannot get an appointment, or if the matter is too urgent to wait for an appointment, do not hesitate to go to the office anyway. You may at least be able to talk to an aide, and you will have made them aware of your concern.

Letter Writing

A personal letter is usually the most effective way of contacting your legislator in Harrisburg.

If you are new at this letter writing, here are some suggestions on how your letter can be most effective:

1.	ADDRESS IT PROPERLY: Know your legislator’s full name and correct spelling. Examples:

STATE SENATOR

The Honorable (full name)

Main Capitol Building

P.O. Box XXXXXX

Harrisburg, PA 17120

Dear Senator (last name):

STATE REPRESENTATIVE

The Honorable (full name)
Room number and Building

Harrisburg, PA 17120

Dear Representative (last name):

2.	ALWAYS INCLUDE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS ON THE LETTER ITSELF (printed or typed). A letter cannot be answered if there is no return address or the signature is not legible.
3.	USE YOUR OWN WORDS. Avoid form letters and petitions. They tend to be identified as organized pressure campaigns and are often answered with form replies. One thoughtful, factual, and well-reasoned letter carries more weight than dozens of form letters or printed postcards.
4.	TIME THE ARRIVAL OF YOUR LETTER. Try to write to your legislator, and the chairperson of the committee dealing with a bill or issue, while a bill is still in committee and there is still time to take effective action on an issue. Sometimes a bill is out of committee, or has been passed, before a helpful, informative letter arrives which could have made a difference in the way the bill was written or in the final decision.
5.	KNOW WHAT YOU ARE WRITING ABOUT. Identify the bill or issue of concern to you. Thousands of bills and resolutions are introduced in each session. If you write about a bill, try to give the bill number or describe it by popular title, such as "The Whistleblowers Act" or "The School Code."
6.	BE REASONABLY BRIEF. Many issues are complex, but a single page, presenting your opinions, facts, arguments, or proposals as clearly as possible, is preferred and welcomed by most legislators.
7.	GIVE REASONS FOR YOUR POSITION. Explain how the issue would reflect you, your family, wildlife resources or sportsmen--or the effect on your community or our state. If you have specialized knowledge SHARE IT WITH YOUR LEGISLATOR. The legislator in determining the final outcome can use concrete, expert arguments for or against an issue.
8.	BE CONSTRUCTIVE. Explain what you believe to be the right approach.
9.	GROUPS AND INDIVIDUALS SHOULD DETERMINE THEIR PRIORITY CONCERNS and contact the legislator on those specific issues rather than on every issue. The "pen pal" who writes every few days on every conceivable subject tends to become a nuisance, rather than an effective voice of concern.
10.	YOU MAY NOT ALWAYS RECEIVE A LONG, DETAILED RESPONSE to your letter. Legislators are very busy and usually cannot respond with long, personal replies to each correspondent. However, you should ask for a letter in response.
11.	WRITE A LETTER OF APPRECIATION when you feel a legislator has done a good job. Legislators are human too and seldom receive "thank you" letters of encouragement.

Remember, on any on issue, even a few letters to one legislator can have an important impact. Sometimes just one letter, with a new perspective, or with clear-cut, persuasive arguments can be the decisive factor in a legislator’s action.