Tips for Contacting Legislators and a sample letter from www.LetUsVoteIowa.com
Tips for Contacting Legislators
1) Stay on Message: Ask them to do everything in their power to see that the Iowa Marriage Amendment is brought up for a vote and passed for the first time before the 2008 Session is finished. (Study other talking points and common responses, so your initial contact and follow up conversations can be crafted as effectively as possible.)
2) Focus on Your Own Legislators AND Other Key Legislators: You will have the most influence with your own Senator and Representative, so make sure you contact each of them, even if they're not on our list of "key" legislators. (To find out who your Senator and Representative is, go to www.legis.state.ia.us/FindLeg/.) Please also take the time to contact other key legislators (click here for list and contact info)
3) Make Your Contact as Personal as Possible: Personal phone calls are the most effective. Personal, handwritten or hand-signed letters are next. And personal emails after that. For maximum impact stay away from form letters or mass emails. See below for a sample letter that can be used as a guide for your correspondence with legislators.
Sample Letter
*** PLEASE DO NOT COPY WORD FOR WORD ***
*** THE MORE UNIQUE/PERSONALIZED, THE MORE EFFECTIVE ***
The Honorable [Name of Legislator]
Home Street Address
City, State, Zip
Day, Month Date, 2009
Representative/Senator [Last Name]:
I recognize that, in light of the Supreme Court Ruling favoring same-sex marriage, many legislators are suggesting that the Iowa Legislature doesn't need to address this issue before the end of session.
I respectfully and strongly disagree with this perspective.
As you know, the constitutional amendment process is a very long process that spans no less than two general assemblies. If the Iowa Legislature doesn’t pass the Iowa Marriage Amendment in 2009, then the very earliest it could come to a vote of “we the people” would be 2011 (more likely 2012).
Considering this, I am convinced that the people of Iowa should be given the opportunity to vote on this matter as soon as possible. After all, “we the people” should decide on a definition for marriage - the foundation of our society - rather than leaving it up to a handful of judges.
Absolutely nothing is hurt by at least getting the ball rolling with the Iowa Marriage Amendment, by passing it through the House and the Senate for the first time in 2009. On the other hand, much may be lost if the Iowa Legislature delays on this matter.
Iowans are overwhelmingly opposed to same-sex marriage. At the very least, please let us vote on such a critical issue.
Respectfully,
(Signature)
Name
Street Address
City, State, Zip
Phone Number
Email Address