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Your Lawmakers: How to Contact Them

While many issues important to you will be debated by lawmakers in your own home state, what happens in Washington, DC, is certain to be critical to your trucking business.

Speak up
Lawmakers can't address your concerns if they don't know what they are. Your job is to clue them in.

You may feel as though you are one small voice in our big country, but if you don't speak up, who is going to do it for you?

OOIDA has a membership of over 150,000 professional truckers.   

If each member did their part to contact their elected officials, it would have a powerful impact on the decisions lawmakers make.

There are several ways to educate your lawmakers - write a letter to them, make a telephone call to his or her office, send them an e-mail or meet with them in person.

Write letters
Letters do not have to be long, complicated or literary masterpieces. Simply state your concern for an issue in your own words, speaking from your heart. Keep it to one subject.

At the beginning of the letter, state clearly what your subject is and your position on it. If your letter pertains to a specific piece of legislation, it helps to include the bill number.    After that, personalize the letter by describing how the issue affects you.  Then tell them how they can help.

Make sure you type or write your name and complete address clearly so that they know where to send a response. Lawmakers pay particular attention to letters because an individual person has taken the time to write them. Legislators often believe that a well-written letter represents the views of many constituents who did not take the time to write.

Letters can be sent by regular mail or fax.

Calling
There are significant benefits to phoning lawmakers, especially when time related to an issue is limited.

The first thing to do is ask to speak to their legislative assistant - sometimes referred to as an LA - handling the issue you are calling about. If you are calling about issues related to trucking, ask for the "transportation LA." If the staffer is not there, ask for his or her name, leave a voice mail, and keep calling until they take or return your call.

E-mail
While the best methods of communicating with lawmakers are face-to-face meetings, letters or telephone calls, it may be appropriate to send emails at times as well. Keep in mind that some offices reply and some do not.  The trend, however, is to respond to all e-mails with an automatic general acknowledgement e-mail and then follow that up with a traditional letter reply if the e-mail sender lives in the lawmaker's jurisdiction and provided his or her postal address in the e-mail message.

Be respectful
No matter how mad you are about an issue or at a lawmaker, always try to communicate in a civil tone and use respectful language. If you are upset, by all means tell them, but do not use them as a punching bag for your words. You want them to be sympathetic to your words, not turned off.

Where to phone or write
There are only two addresses and one phone number you need to write or call your lawmakers in Washington, DC.

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The Bill Process: Understanding How it Works

Your involvement in the bill process is essential to getting lawmakers to craft legislation that reflects your views. The earlier you get involved in the process, the better.

How a bill becomes law may, at times, seem confusing. The bill process, however, is quite simple to follow once you know the basics. The process is virtually the same in state legislatures from Juneau to Jackson.

Here is how it generally works:

Idea conceived
A state representative or senator decides to sponsor a bill, which either changes current law, adds new law, or deletes existing law, sometimes at the suggestion of a constituent, interest group, public official or the governor.   

The lawmaker may ask other legislators to join as co-sponsors.

Bill drafted
At the lawmaker's direction, an office of legislative services provides research and drafting assistance, and prepares the bill in proper technical form.

Bill introduced
The sponsoring lawmaker gives the bill to the clerk's office, and the bill's title is read aloud. This is known as the first reading.  

The bill is then referred to an appropriate committee.

Committee action
The members of the committee consider the bill and decide what action to take. The committee may amend, hold, table, substitute or make a favorable recommendation on the bill. The committee can also have public hearings on the proposal.

Floor action
The bill's title is read aloud before the entire body. This is called the second reading. The bill is then debated in open session, also called "floor debate."

During floor debate, the measure can be amended or substituted. It is then given a third reading and voted on.

If approved, it heads to the other chamber - either the House of Representatives or the Senate - where the process is repeated.

However, there is one state legislature that has only one chamber - Nebraska.

Conference committee
If the bill is amended while in the second chamber and the chamber of origin disagrees with the change, a conference committee of members from both chambers may be formed to resolve differences.

Enrollment
After being approved in identical form by both chambers, the bill is printed as an enrolled bill, examined and signed by the presiding officer of each chamber.

Governor's action
The bill is then sent to the governor. The governor can sign the bill, veto it, or allow it to become law without his signature.

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Call to Action: Join the OOIDA Team

For three decades, OOIDA has been met with the challenge of getting the word out quickly and effectively on important legislative issues affecting professional drivers. With the aid of today's Internet technology, and OOIDA's daily news and info hour on XM Satellite Radio, the Association now has the capability to very quickly relay to truckers information about important issues.

Now, it's up to you to step into action and make an impact with lawmakers on issues they are discussing that affect you.

OOIDA's Call to Action Team is on the pulse of hot-button issues being discussed in Congress and in state legislatures throughout the country. If you are not already among the growing number of truckers plugged in to daily legislative happenings, it is time you got connected.

You do not have to be a member of OOIDA to be on its Call to Action Team. Land Line readers and others in the trucking industry are invited to join.

It's as simple as calling OOIDA's offices and asking to be added to the Call to Action contact list. Team members with e-mail will receive the most current updates on critical legislative issues.

Team members without e-mail: Don't worry. You won't be left out. Time permitting, a mailing will be sent out informing you about important issues.   

After receiving an alert, it is essential you call your elected official(s) - whose contact information will be provided - visit their office(s) for a face-to-face conversation or, when possible, attend a meeting where lawmakers are present for discussion.

You will be contacted only when an extremely important issue arises.

It's up to you to join the team and help make a difference. Contact OOIDA's Angel Burnell at 1-800-444-5791, Ext. 1600, or send e-mail to angel_burnell@ooida.com to sign up. It's quick. It's easy. It's free. It will make a difference.

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Register to Vote: Make Your Lawmakers Listen

While a recent poll of the Association's membership shows that the majority of OOIDA members do take part in elections, the Association is continuing its efforts to get all truckers to make their voices heard.

In this election year, the most effective way to accomplish this task is to register to vote. If you haven't already registered, go ahead now and join the rest of the truckers who cast ballots to effect change.

In most states, you can register to vote in person or via mail. Depending on which state you live in, you can print your registration form off the Internet or pick one up in person from the Department of Motor Vehicles, local board of elections office, post office, library or other location.

Contact your local elections office or secretary of state's office for specifics. Listings for these offices can usually be found in the "government pages" section of your local phone book.

Once registered, be sure to vote.

Admittedly, the lifestyle of the professional trucker can often make voting a difficult exercise, and one for which a bit of early planning is sometimes needed.

To aid voters who aren't able to visit the polling booth on Election Day, many states allow advance voting and mail-in ballots in addition to traditional absentee ballots. A handful of states even offer permanent absentee ballots.

Your local elections office or secretary of state's office can tell you what options are available in your state.

And if all else fails, make time to head to the booth on Election Day.

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State-by-State Directory:

FYI: A number of legislatures have brief sessions. Wyoming's actual session for the year, for example, is less than 30 days. Many state legislatures run longer than one calendar year. Also, many states recess at various times throughout the year or session.

Alaska
Legislature runs from Jan. 15 to April 14.
Internet: http://www.legis.state.ak.us
General Information: (907) 465-4648

Alabama
Session runs from Feb. 5 to May 20.
Internet: http://www.legislature.state.al.us
General Information: (907) 465-4648

Arkansas
Session runs from Jan. 14 to March 14.
Internet: http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us
House bill status (in AL): (800) 499-3052
House general info and bill status: (334) 242-7600
Senate bill status (in AL): (800) 499-3051
Senate general info and bill status: (334) 242-7800

Arizona
Session runs from Jan. 14 to late April.
Internet: http://www.azleg.gov
Bill Status: (907) 465-4648
House general info and bill status: (501) 682-7771
Senate bill status: (501) 682-6107
Senate general info: (501) 682-2902

California
Legislature runs from Dec. 3 to Sept. 13.
Internet: http://www.legislature.ca.gov
General info and bill status (in AZ): (800) 352-8404
House general info and bill status: (602) 926-4221
Senate general info and bills status: (602) 926-3559

Colorado
General Assembly runs from Jan. 9 to May 8.
Internet: http://www.leg.state.co.us
Assembly general info and bill status : (916) 319-2856
Senate general info and bill status : (916) 651-4171

Connecticut
General Assembly runs from Jan. 9 to June 5.
Internet: http://www.cga.ct.gov
Bill status: (303) 866-3055
General information (in CO): (888) 473-8136
House general information: (303) 866-2904
Senate general information: (303) 866-2316

Delaware
General Assembly runs from Jan. 8 to June 30.
Internet: http://legis.delaware.gov
Bill status: (860) 240-0555
House general info: (860) 240-0400
Senate general info: (860) 240-0500

Florida
Legislature runs from March 5 to May 2.
Internet: http://www.leg.state.fl.us
House Democrats general info and bill status: (302) 577-8476
House Rebulicans general info and bill status: (302) 577-8723
Senate Democrats general info and bill status: (302) 577-8744
Senate Republicans general info and bill status: (302) 577-8714

Georgia
General Assembly runs from Jan. 14 to early April.
Internet: http://www.legis.ga.gov
General info and b ill status (in FL): (800) 342-1827
General info and bill status: (850) 488-4371

Hawaii
Legislature runs from Jan. 16 to late April.
Internet: http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov
House general info and bill status: (404) 656-5015
Senate general info and bill status: (404) 656-5040

Iowa
General Assembly runs from Jan. 14 to May 3.
Internet: http://www.legis.iowa.gov
Bill status: (808) 587-0700
House general info: (808) 587-0478
Senate general info: (808) 586-6720

Idaho
Legislature runs from Jan. 7 to early April.
Internet: http://www.legislature.idaho.gov
Bill status: (515) 281-5129
House general info: (515) 281-3221
Senate general info: (515) 281-3371

Illinois
Session runs from Jan. 9 to May 31.
Internet: http://www.ilga.gov
General info and bill status: (208) 332-1000
General info and bill status (in ID): (800) 626-0471

Indiana
General Assembly runs from Jan. 7 to April 29.
Internet: http://www.in.gov/legislative
General info: (217) 782-3944
House bill status: (217) 782-5799
Senate bill status: (217) 782-9778

Kansas
Legislature runs from Jan. 14 to late May.
Internet: http://www.kslegislature.org
House general info and bill status: (317) 232-9600
House general info and bill status (in IN): (800) 382-9842
Senate general info and bill status: (317) 232-9400
Senate general info and bill status (in IN): (800) 382-9467

Kentucky
Session runs from Jan. 8 to late March.
Internet: http://www.lrc.ky.gov
General info and bill status: (785) 296-2149
General info and bill status (in KS): (800) 432-3924

Louisiana
Legislature runs from April 8 to June 6.
Internet: http://www.legis.state.la.us
General info and bill status: (866) 840-2835

Massachusetts
General Court runs from Jan. 2 to December.
Internet: http://www.malegislature.gov
Bill status (in LA): (800) 256-3793
House general info and bill status: (225) 342-6945
Senate general info and bill status: (225) 342-2040

Maryland
General Assembly runs from Jan. 9 to April 8.
Internet: http://www.mlis.state.md.us
Bill status: (617) 722-2860
House general info and bill status: (617) 722-2500
Senate general info and bill status: (617) 722-1500

Maine
Legislature runs from Dec. 5 to June 19.
Internet: http://www.maine.gov/legis
General info and bill status: (410) 946-5400
General info and bill status (in MD): (800) 492-7122

Michigan
Legislature runs from Jan. 9 to December.
Internet: http://www.legislature.mi.gov
Bill status: (207) 287-1692
House general info: (207) 287-1400
Senate bill status (in ME): (800) 301-3178
Senate general info: (207) 287-1540

Minnesota
Legislature runs from Jan. 8 to May 20.
Internet: http://www.leg.state.mn.us
House bill status: (517) 373-0169
House general info: (517) 373-0135
Senate general info and bill status: (517) 373-2400

Missouri
General Assembly runs from Jan. 9 to May 30.
Internet: http://www.moga.mo.gov
House bill status: (651) 296-6646
House general info: (651) 296-2146
House general info (in MN): (800) 657-3550
Senate general info (in MN): (888) 234-1112
Senate general info and bill status: (651) 296-0504

Mississippi
Legislature runs from Jan. 8 to April 7.
Internet: http://www.ls.state.ms.us
House bill status: (573) 751-4503
House general info: (573) 751-3829
Senate bill status: (573) 751-2966
Senate general info: (573) 751-3824

Montana
Session runs from Jan. 7 to April 27.
Internet: http://www.leg.mt.gov
Bill status: (601) 359-3719
General info: (601) 359-3770

National
None
Internet: None
General info and bill status: (406) 444-2957

North Carolina
General Assembly runs from Jan. 30 to early July.
Internet: http://www.ncleg.net

North Dakota
Session runs from Jan. 8 to March 28.
Internet: http://www.legis.nd.gov
General info and bill status: (919) 733-7928

Nebraska
Unicameral runs from Jan. 9 to June 5.
Internet: http://www.nebraskalegislature.gov
General info: (701) 328-3373
General info and bill status (in ND): (888) 635-3447

New Hampshire
Session runs from Jan. 2 to July 1.
Internet: http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us
General info and bill status: (402) 471-2709

New Jersey
Legislature runs from Jan. 8 and ends in January 2014.
Internet: http://www.njleg.state.nj.us
House bill status: (603) 271-2548
House general info: (603) 271-3661
Senate bill status: (603) 271-3420
Senate general info: (603) 271-2111

New Mexico
Legislature runs from Jan. 15 to March 16.
Internet: http://www.nmlegis.gov
General info and bill status: (609) 847-3130

Nevada
There is no regular session for 2012. The next session begins in February 2013.
Internet: http://www.leg.state.nv.us
General info: (505) 986-4300

New York
Legislature runs from Jan. 9 to January 2014.
Internet: http://www.assembly.state.ny.us
http://www.nysenate.gov
General info and bill status: (775) 684-6827

Ohio
Session runs from Jan. 7 to December.
Internet: http://www.legislature.state.oh.us
Assembly general info and bill status: (518) 455-4100
Senate general info and bill status: (518) 455-2800

Oklahoma
Legislature runs from Feb. 4 to May 31.
Internet: http://www.oklegislature.gov
General info and bill status: (800) 282-0253

Oregon
Session runs from Feb. 4 to July 13.
Internet: http://www.leg.state.or.us
House general info and bill status: (405) 521-2711
Senate general info and bill status: (405) 524-0126

Pennsylvania
Session runs from Jan. 1 to December.
Internet: http://www.legis.state.pa.us
General info and bill status: (503) 986-1000

Rhode Island
General Assembly runs from Jan. 1 to late June.
Internet: http://www.rilin.state.ri.us
House general info and bill status: (717) 787-2372
Senate general info and bill status: (717) 787-7163

South Carolina
Legislature runs from Jan. 8 to June 6.
Internet: http://www.scstatehouse.gov
Bill status: (401) 222-3580
House general info: (401) 222-2447
Senate general info: (401) 222-6655

South Dakota
Legislature runs from Jan. 8 to mid-March.
Internet: http://legis.state.sd.us
House general info and bill status: (803) 734-2010
Senate general info and bill status: (803) 212-6200

Tennessee
General Assembly runs from Jan. 8 to mid-May.
Internet: http://www.legislature.state.tn.us
General info and bill status: (605) 773-3251

Texas
Session runs from Jan. 8 to May 27.
Internet: http://www.capitol.state.tx.us
House general info and bill status: (615) 741-2901
Senate general info and bill status: (615) 741-2730

Utah
Legislature runs from Jan. 28 to March 14.
Internet: http://www.le.utah.gov
General info: (512) 463-4630

Virginia
Session runs from Jan. 9 to Feb. 7.
Internet: http://VirginiaGeneralAssembly.gov/
House general info and bill status: (801) 538-1029
Senate general info and bill status: (801) 538-1035

Vermont
General Assembly runs from Jan. 9 to mid-May.
Internet: http://www.leg.state.vt.us
General info and bill status: (804) 698-1470
General info and bill status (In VA): (888) 892-6948

Washington
Legislature runs from Jan. 14 to April 28.
Internet: http://www.leg.wa.gov
General info and bill status: (802) 828-2231

Wisconsin
Session runs from Jan. 7 to December.
Internet: http://www.legis.wisconsin.gov
Bill status: (360) 786-7573
Bill status (in WA): (800) 562-6000
House general info: (360) 786-7750
Senate general info: (360) 786-7550

West Virginia
Legislature runs from Feb. 13 to April 13.
Internet: http://www.legis.state.wv.us
Assembly general info: (608) 266-1501
Bill status: (608) 266-0341
Bill status (In WI): (800) 362-9472
Senate general info: (608) 266-2517

Wyoming
Legislature runs from Jan. 8 to Feb. 28.
Internet: http://legisweb.state.wy.us
General info and bill status (In WV): (877) 565-3447
House general info and bill status: (304) 340-3200
Senate general info: (304) 347-4836

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