www.voicesflorida.com

  Talking to Lawmakers

If you don't do it,
who will?

VOICES, INC.
GOES TO TALLAHASSEE



On this page:

Who is needed to lobby; what is needed to lobby?  
What do you say and write?
Links to Florida Senate and House Official Websites
Scripts
Suggestions for Effectiveness
Resources At A Click
State Legislator Contact Information - by counties
Handouts and Brochures
Stay Current: Articles
Home

Who is needed?
YOU………..and friends, coworkers and family who will also advocate for injured workers.

What is needed?
1. For you to write brief letters by email and USPS to legislators in Tallahassee.
2. To meet with your legislators in your local district AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. You are most influential when you meet with them face to face.
3. Phone your legislators frequently.

Where do you send the letters and email? What about phone numbers?

Click here (http://www.leg.state.fl.us) for Florida's legislative site.

www.flsenate.gov

www.leg.state.fl.us/house/index.html

 

 

Effective Communication With Your Legislators   (tips from the Senate website - worth reading)

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What do you say and write?
1. Enforce the existing workers comp laws. Include insurance carriers in the list of stakeholders needing to be watched for fraud.
2. Make sure injured workers get speedy medical care.
3. Make sure that injured workers regain the ability to obtain legal representation.
4. Make sure injured workers retain the right to have their cases heard by a judge.
5. These issues are important to me.
6. What are you doing to protect the injured workers of Florida?
7. What can I do to help you become more informed about these issues?


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Other tips?
1. Take what you are going to say IN WRITING so you can leave it with the legislator or aide. This will also help you get organized and stay lucid during the meeting. The brochure "Legislative Speaking Points" is an excellent source to refer to and to leave.
2. Offer to send them more packets of information if this website isn't enough (www.voicesflorida.com). Contact Mary Bailey for these extra information packets.
3. If you are asked for your input about solutions to the workers comp situation and you are not sure what to say, refer to the "30 No-Nonsense Reforms" brochure and/or "Commonsense Reforms". If you want to be more specific, contact Mary Bailey for further assistance.
4. If you can't get an appointment with the legislator him/herself, ask to speak with the aide. Ask the aide to discuss the situation with the legislator.
5. Take two copies of everything to leave, one for the legislator and one for his/her aide. The aides really appreciate this.

 

Once you are known by the legislators, what can you do?
1. Send email regularly to give suggestions, input AND appreciation statements.
2. Call them during the session.
3. Invite them to speak to your groups. Get your picture taken with them and submit it to the paper.

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What is a 'script' and how is it useful?
When you are making phone calls to several legislators, you just say the same thing over and over to each one, right? After a while, you probably distill the essence of your comments to a few points that you repeat over and over. Why not create that distilled statement before you call? Such a statement is called a "script."

A script is exactly what it says - a written down statement. It's just a verbal template. A script allows a speaker to communicate effectively. Scripts are so effective that they are commonly used by telemarketers and others who work on the phone. Teachers sometimes create a script to follow when they need to make mass phone calls to parents.

Some persons avoid them as fakey or contrived. But after using a script a few times, the speaker discovers the usefulness!

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When making several phone calls using a script, you might use the following format or create one of your own. This one is useful for making those fast and furious calls during the legislative session.

Hello, I'm (insert name here). May I speak to (insert name here)?
Thank you, (insert name here), for taking the time to speak to me.
Hello, I'm (insert name here). I am an advocate for injured workers. *
I'm calling to ask you to support (or vote for/against)   (insert name of bill or other topic here).
What is your position on (insert name of bill or other topic here)?
Is there any information you need to help you support (or vote for/against)   (insert name of bill or other topic here)?
Would you prefer that by email or federal mail?
Thanks for your time and friendly attention.

If you speak to the aide, just change the script a bit to reflect that. Include the line "Please be sure to let the senator/representative know that I called." Write down the name of the aide you spoke to earlier and try to get his/her email address for later follow-up.

By using a script, you can often make many calls in a small amount of time.

Consider making a script!

 * Unless you have a specified office in VOICES, Inc., please do not say you are speaking for VOICES, Inc.
Rather, say you are an advocate of injured workers.
If you are a member of VOICES and say so,
make it CLEAR that you are speaking for yourself, not VOICES.
This prevents a lot of unwanted confusion among legislators in Tallahassee.
Thanks for understanding this sensitive issue.

 

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Suggestions For Effectiveness

 DO:

AVOID:
  • Have a plan (script) for what to say
  • Stick to your plan (script)
  • Have brochures to leave with the legislator and to send with your letters
  • Be polite while you insist on a real answer rather than vague generalities
  • Offer to get answers to questions asked that you couldn't answer
  • Call or write again a week later
  • Accusations and threats
  • Profanity and losing your temper
  • Repeating yourself
  • Making promises you can't keep
  • Giving answers when "I don't know" is more accurate
  • Stretching the truth

 

If injured workers fail to keep legislators informed, where will legislators get their information?
Success depends on you.

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 RESOURCES AT A CLICK!

Senate

The Senate will convene its Organizing Session on November, 2008.

The Florida Senate Website

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House of Representatives

The Florida House Website

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MyFlorida.com Go here first for anything about Florida government, state or local.

MyBill Status - Florida   The status of bills before the Legislature by sponsor(s), short title and action taken.

Register to Vote   The Ultimate Lobbying!

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Download brochures and flyers to help you advocate.
They will provide you and your legislators with good information.

    1. Legislative Talking Points (.pdf  .doc)
    2. What Is Voices, Inc. (.pdf   .doc )
    3. Voices, Inc. Membership Application  .doc
    4. 30 No-Nonsense Reforms (.pdf   .doc)
    5. Commonsense Changes to the Florida Worker's Comp system (.pdf  .doc)
    6. What Would You Do If.... (.pdf    .doc)

 

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Stay current on-line at www.voicesflorida.com. Click on News and Information.
Learn more about the current events affecting injured workers. Read VOICES, Inc. position papers and responses.

Articles available:


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Eternal vigilance is the price of freedom.

Be vigilant.
Protect your rights.

Advocate.

 

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Oct. 11, 2008