Don't be intimidated by the thought of approaching elected
officials. State legislators especially are receptive to
constituent comments.
Be concise. Your message should be short and direct.
It is fine to express your personal opinion.
Use all available resources. Request position papers,
fact sheets, or other documentation from animal protection
groups such as The HSUS. You don't need to be an expert, but
the more facts and arguments you have on your side, the
better.
Personalize your appeal. Tell how you are concerned
about an issue and how it affects you, your family, and your
community.
Cultivate legislative staff. Establish a positive
relationship with staff persons. They are usually more
accessible and can have tremendous influence over an issue.
Be honest. If you don't know the answer to something,
admit it and try to get the information later. Also, when
working with legislators who sponsor your bill, be sure to be
up front about any potential problem areas.
Research your legislators. Ask around, talk to others
who have worked for legislative change—on any issue—and ask
their advice on which legislators are most effective or which
committees are most likely to approve of your bill.
Identify your bill or issue clearly. Whenever you get
a chance to lobby elected officials, don't just refer to your
effort by the bill number. And always make it clear whether you
are asking for their support or opposition to the matter.
During the legislative session, constantly check your
bill's status. Most legislative entities have a bill status
information office. At certain times, action occurs quickly and
with little notice.
Keep things friendly. Maintain a positive
relationship with all legislators—they may be in this office or
a higher one for decades. Threats and hostile or sarcastic
remarks are not productive. Do not create any enemies.
Avoid party politics. Animals have friends on both
sides of the aisle.
Be flexible. Sometimes compromise is a must. Support
legislative strategies that may save an otherwise doomed bill:
adoption of sunset provisions, grandfathering clauses, and
placing provisions into regulations instead of statute.
Express gratitude. Thank everyone and let your
members know how helpful key legislators were in your
success.
