What to say?

[earlisbubba]

Hey guys and gals, for those of us who are less articulate... Anyone want to give some advice on exactly what should be said when we contact our state representatives?  I just feel like if I have an idea of what needs to be said in support of HB 2833 before I call, I might sound like less of a goober.

[jls41]

Here is a small form letter that you can change up and add your own wording to if you would like to use it.

The Honorable (Senator's Name);
My name is __________ and I am joining with other sportsmen; ranchers; breeders and trainers of service dogs, K9 police, drug detection dogs, search & rescue dogs, cadaver dogs, disaster dogs, hunting dogs, sporting dogs, herding dogs, livestock guardian dogs and countless other types of working dogs, all performing valid and important services across the state of Texas, in asking you to support HB 2833.  We all share a common interest:  to protect and preserve our right to breed, raise, train and work with canine companions who perform an invaluable service to us and our clients, day in and day out.
 
Sadly, these hard working dogs - and the people they serve - will soon be severely and negatively impacted by a rash of bills headed for the Texas Senate floor, designed to impose a gamut of controls and restrictions upon owners and breeders of pets - though none of the dogs we are seeking to protect qualify as 'pets.'  It is not enough to hope that the onslaught of proposed pet-controlling bills will exclude working dogs from their language.  It is imperative instead, that we take a united stance and seek to implement legislation that will once and for all exclude working dogs from any and all 'pet' related legislation by reclassifying them.  Without such a bill, people who rely on their canine partners to perform their normal day-to-day activities, stand continually at risk of losing access to the critical services these dogs provide.  The search and rescue workers, police officers, sportsmen, ranchers and victims of small and large-scale disasters all stand to suffer by stifling 'pet control' legislation which would prohibit the proper care, breeding, training, and usage of working dogs.
 
HB 2833 is the result of many hard hours of the combined efforts of citizens across the state of Texas who depend on their hard working, "Working Dogs."  We are turning to you to help carry our message and our interests to the floor of the Texas Senate and to be the voice of hard working dogs in the state of Texas.  We ask that you support HB 2833 Working Dog Preservation Bill.

Thank you in advance for your time and attention to this important matter.  Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.  My contact information is below.

Sincerely,

(Your Name, Address, and Phone Number)

 

[Circle C]

When I call them, I usually tell them that I am new to the political scene, and that I don't make a habit of calling my representatives/ senators... Then I tell them that I am just a regular guy, who feels so strong/ passionate about bill # xxxx that I felt I had to call and have my voice heard.  I then ask them, as a lay person, what is the best way for me to get my voice heard by my representative. That usually opens up some dialogue, and I can tell them some examples of how a certain bill applies to me.   The people on the other end of the line have always been very polite, and informative.  Some say that a written and mailed letter gets more attention than an email, others may have a different take.