Call

When you call your legislator, DO:

• Ask to speak with the aide working with your issue. The aides are the legislator’s extra ears and are often know a lot about the details of your issue. They will tell your legislator what you said. Be sure to write the name of the aide you met. If you need to contact that legislator again, you will have a contact person. You will also have the name of another person to thank.
• Know what you want to say and TAKE VERY LITTLE TIME. It is a good idea to have notes in front of you to help you say what you want to say in as little time as possible. Don’t keep the aide/legislator on the phone for more than five minutes (if communication is a problem setup a face-to-face meeting — with an interpreter if needed). There is a lot going on in a legislator’s office and they will have many other people trying to contact them too. Use your time wisely. Get your main points finished as close to the beginning of the conversation as possible.
• Leave your name, address and telephone/tty number (as well as e-mail and fax if you have them). This will let the aide be able to get back to you with information on the legislator’s position. Let him/her know that you want a reply.
• After your phone call write a brief note of thanks for the conversation and a short summary of your position. If they aide asks for more information, add more information too.

When calling your legislator, DON’T:

• FAKE IT. If the legislator or aide asks you a question that you cannot answer, say that you don’t know and that you will find the answer. Later find the answer and then contact him/her again.

And don’t forget the Governor!

The Governor presents the first draft of the state budget and also approves or vetoes any spending. Send letters to the Governor just as you do to your legislators. The Governor’s address and phone number are:

Governor Tim Pawlenty
130 Capitol Building
St. Paul, MN 55155
651-296-3391V

[This page is adapted from Advocacy: Calling your Legislators with the permission of Minnesota Citizens for the Arts.]