Congressional Reps are People Too (Part II)
Don't think I'm going soft ('cause I aint!), but I want to remind you that Congressmen and Congresswomen are people too. If you prick them, do they not bleed. Well, I'm willing to believe that they would. I last wrote about this idea in reference to the Clean Energy Summit - with Al Gore chewing gum for example, so check the other blogs if you missed it. Here goes...
Yesterday my eyes glazed over as I heard a number of questions asked of T. Boone for the zillionth time. Don't get me wrong, people are basically good and sometimes they honestly don't know as much about the plan as many of us do... So anyway, I took a moment out of the meeting to go and see Congressman Nye of Virginia Beach (I don't think mine likes me very much). After noting that his office was in another building, I decided to just roam the halls - and guess who I ran into? Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee. She was walking with a bunch of aides (I think) and I could have sworn that she was one of my aunts or something.
I introduced myself to the Congresswoman and said that we must have met recently. To this she replied that she's always on TV, so that must be why I thought so. We had a brief chat as I walked with her to her next appointment. Her enterage left at that point. I kept trying to be my polite self, because she was on the phone. I guess she was holding a lot, or just used to carrying on multiple conversations. I swear these lobbyists give the rest of us a bad name! It seemed that she kept wondering why I wasn't constantly talking.
Anyway after we walked for a while through the halls and around the building, I was finally able to utter a complete sentence: "Congresswoman, this Stimulus Package is not helping small businesses, because requirements are coming out as cost-share." She looked at me, puzzled. "And?" Now, I was puzzeld! I mean everyone knows what I'm talking about there, right? I continued "... and a project might come out for a million dollars, but small businesses can't borrow their half from the credit markets, so we're still left out." And just like that she got it! She thanked me for the feedback and went on her way - she genuinely seemed happy to hear it. I hope so anyway.
Ok, a few things I learned... The Halls of Congress are the People's Halls! And if your memory is good enough you can probably spot 20 of them if you just hang out in a House office building for an hour. I also learned that if you're willing to walk with them, this is an excellent way to have them hear your message directly, instead of being filtered by staffers and form-letter responders. Also, there were many open office doors and countless map keys to help you find them (I didn't want to run into any gatekeeper staffers anyway so I didn't try to enter any).
How does one get in, you ask? Just put on a suit and show up at the door. After the airport-style security check (I even saw a lady scan her shoes) they let you in.
What else did I learn? That we, the People, have spent trillions of dollars over 200 years on these buildings alone. Trillions! Go to Washington and see for yourself.
Yesterday my eyes glazed over as I heard a number of questions asked of T. Boone for the zillionth time. Don't get me wrong, people are basically good and sometimes they honestly don't know as much about the plan as many of us do... So anyway, I took a moment out of the meeting to go and see Congressman Nye of Virginia Beach (I don't think mine likes me very much). After noting that his office was in another building, I decided to just roam the halls - and guess who I ran into? Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee. She was walking with a bunch of aides (I think) and I could have sworn that she was one of my aunts or something.
I introduced myself to the Congresswoman and said that we must have met recently. To this she replied that she's always on TV, so that must be why I thought so. We had a brief chat as I walked with her to her next appointment. Her enterage left at that point. I kept trying to be my polite self, because she was on the phone. I guess she was holding a lot, or just used to carrying on multiple conversations. I swear these lobbyists give the rest of us a bad name! It seemed that she kept wondering why I wasn't constantly talking.
Anyway after we walked for a while through the halls and around the building, I was finally able to utter a complete sentence: "Congresswoman, this Stimulus Package is not helping small businesses, because requirements are coming out as cost-share." She looked at me, puzzled. "And?" Now, I was puzzeld! I mean everyone knows what I'm talking about there, right? I continued "... and a project might come out for a million dollars, but small businesses can't borrow their half from the credit markets, so we're still left out." And just like that she got it! She thanked me for the feedback and went on her way - she genuinely seemed happy to hear it. I hope so anyway.
Ok, a few things I learned... The Halls of Congress are the People's Halls! And if your memory is good enough you can probably spot 20 of them if you just hang out in a House office building for an hour. I also learned that if you're willing to walk with them, this is an excellent way to have them hear your message directly, instead of being filtered by staffers and form-letter responders. Also, there were many open office doors and countless map keys to help you find them (I didn't want to run into any gatekeeper staffers anyway so I didn't try to enter any).
How does one get in, you ask? Just put on a suit and show up at the door. After the airport-style security check (I even saw a lady scan her shoes) they let you in.
What else did I learn? That we, the People, have spent trillions of dollars over 200 years on these buildings alone. Trillions! Go to Washington and see for yourself.
Tags: congressional, halls, money, people, representatives
Comment
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Comment by Clynton on April 4, 2009 at 9:01pm -
Thanks Lu. It is definitely an art. I think there are different approaches that will work in some cases and fail in others. Some staffers might truly care about what you present - and might have a hand in drafting legislation. On the other hand, they might also be pushing a certain agenda and completely filter your message out.
Also, depending on the size and scale of the district, it could be tough to reach them at home. They may have planned little meetings with big wigs and would have little time for you. On the other hand, they may be lonely in rural districts and welcome the company.
The final thing I would say is that some "critters" themselves have an agenda and couldn't care less what you think - unless you can show them thousands of people in your camp. They might pay you lip service to your face, but then completely disregard your concerns. I've found a few like this unfortunately...
Thanks for the note...
Clynton
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Comment by Luane Todd on April 4, 2009 at 8:40pm -
First thought--sometimes the correct staffer is the best way to get your point across, particularly if it requires some explaining. The staffer will be able to find the quieter moment and if you have made a good presentation to him/her it will work out well. I would follow up with a personal letter to the congresscritter and a copy to the staffer I worked with.
The other thought--they all go back to their local offices sometime. You may be able to get better face time with them there than in Washington. Most of the lobbyists don't follow them home.
I would like to take the cell phones and put them where the sun never shines....they contribute to an excess of rudeness.
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Comment by Clynton on April 3, 2009 at 9:59am
- Thanks Ralph. I know the feeling of being robbed from the wallet by bad seeds and then losing the harvest they should have produced. It really is a tough lesson to bare.
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Comment by Ralph J Branscomb on April 3, 2009 at 6:37am - Keep up the good Work Clynton !!!!!!!!!!!
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Comment by Ralph J Branscomb on April 3, 2009 at 6:36am
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Bad seed is a robbery of the worst kind: for your pocket-book not only suffers by it, but your preparations are lost and a season passes away unimproved.
George Washington
See the obvious....When Congressmen & woman are always surrounded by lobbyist..? Where will the fruits of the harvest go? Not to those who work hard but to those that walk the halls ?
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