1. Remember that politicians are human beings, with feelings, with the capacity to think, and who want what is best for the Commonwealth. They may have one opinion one day, and change their mind on another day, after receiving more information. They are also realists who know that compromise is essential in the legislative process.

2. Be sure that you have factual information, and that you are a credible source. If we "stretch the facts" to suit our own point of view, we are not helping the legislator, and we contribute to a distrust of our cause.

3. Know and be known to your legislator. Call your legislator. Make an appointment to see him or her. Help them know your concerns. Invite your Representative and/or Senator to visit and talk with your civic club, or church group, or neighborhood gathering. If you have not done this in the past, now is a good time to start. Ask them to speak to the issues they think will be most important. Listen to their issues and the points they raise. If they have questions, see if you can help them find the answers.

4. Work on your own legislator. No voice is more important to a legislator than someone from his or her district, because behind the voice is a vote. You do not want to "threaten to withdraw your vote" when you talk with your legislator. You want to speak of your concerns and your opinion on one issue at a time, and then be willing to listen to the legislator's response. Arguing probably will not help. If you and your legislator are on different sides of an issue, asking: "What would help you rethink your position?" would be a useful strategy. It will then be your responsibility to dig up the information, and convey it promptly, which might help your legislator rethink his or her position.

5. Be affirming of your legislator. To serve in the state legislature is hard work, requiring sacrifices at home and at work. Legislators like to know that their efforts are appreciated, and that they are, from time to time, remembered in the prayers of their people. Even when you disagree with your legislator on one issue, try to find another matter on which you can agree with him or her, and affirm their work. Avoid thinking in an "adversarial" way about your representative or senator.

6. Keep up to date on your concerns. If legislation has changed, or your legislator has changed his or her position, they will be unhappy with you if you are talking about something that is no longer an issue or the situation.

7. Understand the legislative process and monitor your issue. Many issues are decided in committee, where most of the work is done by a group of members who specialize in a given area. Attend a committee hearing at the Capitol in Frankfort on your issue if you can. Let your legislator know you are attending the committee meeting. Always sign in on the registration sheet so that legislators know who was attending a given hearing.

8. Enlist others in your church, civic group, association, or neighborhood that share your view to write, call, and contact the representative and senator from your district. State legislators do not receive many communications on public policy issues. Ten letters can feel like a ground-swell. Make sure that the letters are NOT form letters, or form post cards, but are individually written, and individually signed, with the address and zip code of the writer clearly printed on the correspondence. Regular mail is more effective than fax or e-mail. A personal phone conversation is also more effective.
9. Timing is important. Get involved early with an issue, so that you are not in a position of being "reactive" but "proactive". You want to persuade your legislator to adopt your point of view before his or her own position has been hardened by other factors, or other players bring their influence to bear.

10. NO-NOs...
NEVER-
· never be critical of personalities. Make your points about issues not persons.
· never lose your cool…but stay calm.
· never tell half-truths, distort the truth, or lie. Do not conceal important facts.
· never waste a legislator's time, it is precious. Always be brief and to the point.
· never interrupt when the legislator is speaking to another person, lobbyist or legislator.
· never criticize or berate another lobbyist or citizen advocate in public.
· never make public assumptions about another person's motives.
· never make your enemies mad enough to work against you.

11. Better solutions...
DO TRY-
· try to achieve a consensus, remembering that it is rare for anyone to get everything she or he wants.
· try to be accessible to your legislator on other occasions after you make contact with him or her.
· try to talk with your opponents. You may find you have common ground and be able to arrange a compromise, or you may find that you agree on other matters.
· try to get the right people to talk to your legislator. The right people will be persons from their district who are knowledgeable about the issues. It may be you!
· try to know the legislation on your issue and be ready to oppose or defend it at any time, by a phone call, a letter, a note, your presence in Frankfort.
· try to deal with only one issue at a time with your legislator.


HELPFUL INFORMATION

Web-Site to learn the contents of a bill, its status, or other information about Kentucky state government: http://www.lrc.state.ky.us

Bill Status Line: 1-800-809-0020
Legislative Message Line: 1-800-372-7181
Calendar (Meetings) Line: 1-800-633-9650
Citizen Toll Free Contact Line: 1-800-592-4349 (to leave a short message with a secretary for your legislator. They will ask your zip code to insure that you have the right senator or representative.)
Telephone Number to Talk with Legislator Personally: 1-502-564-8100

Toll free numbers are operational only in Kentucky