Tips for calling your representatives/senators!!
Coming from someone who actually TAKES those calls, here's my insider information.
When you call, you're probably going to end up talking to an intern. The interns are literally ONLY there to answer phones, and they're usually not allowed to tell you how the congressperson feels about something if there hasn't been a public release on their stance. Interns are not the ones in charge of putting that out, and they usually won't know how the congressperson actually feels about a specific issue until it comes out.
When they say 'I'll pass this along to the congressperson', they're usually not having a sit-down convo with the congressperson about what you specifically have called about (I have done that, but it's a very rare occasion and I didn't get to say a whole lot). They will take notes on what you've said (or, they should), and will tally what people have called about. Your GENERAL concern will get through to the congressperson, not your specific comments.
If you have multiple concerns, make multiple calls. If you do it all at once, it won't get tallied quite the same. I would recommend calling multiple times for multiple concerns, BUT if the staff picks up on the fact that you keep calling, they'll be less inclined to input your comments every time. That's why I'd recommend calling multiple times throughout the day, not all at once (if you're able, of course). But PLEASE don't say 'I'll be calling again soon'. Red flag.
Yes, interns/staff do read your emails and letters. It goes through the same process as phone calls - it gets logged into the system and tallied with the rest of the phone calls of the days.
Please don't be mean. The interns are allowed to hang up on you. But actually, a lot of staff (Republican offices included) are more left-leaning than you think they are (read: everybody is sick of Elon Musk), and usually just want to help you. But it gets exhausting after a while - they take calls ALL day so it really is appreciated when you're patient and somewhat respectful.
I would not recommend refusing to give your contact information. Usually, they can get your phone number off caller ID, but literally CAN'T log your concerns unless they have your name (first AND last) and zip code (to verify you live in the district/state).
If you want a response on something, you'll have to ask for that when you call. Most of the time, interns are told to assume you aren't requesting a response. In the software I work with, it just means that your message gets grouped with a bunch of others and you get a form letter by one of the members of the congressperson's legislative staff. The congressperson themselves does not have a hand in drafting that response, but might have a hand in approving it.
No, you can't speak to the congressperson directly. No, you cannot get a hand-written letter from the congressman. No, you can't get a phone call from the congressperson. Honestly, they are rarely in their offices, and when they are, they're not stopping to chat with interns and/or constituents.
Scripts from something like 5Calls: I'll warn you, a lot of interns/staff who answer phones tune out the second you start reading one of those scripts because they've probably already heard it a hundred times before. They don't copy it down, they just take note of the general topic and your position on it and smile and nod until you finish. Not saying scripts are bad! By all means, keep using them if you're phone shy/need something to say. Just be warned, it doesn't get copied down word-for-word.
DON'T ASK LEADING QUESTIONS JUST BECAUSE YOU WANT THE INTERN TO SAY SOMETHING STUPID. They're literally kids. Being combative/argumentative is really not helping your case and doesn't really accomplish anything besides pissing them off/making them sad.
If you want to make a comment/concern/complaint: call your congressperson's DC office. If you need help with something (VA, Social Security, Medicaid, etc.), call the district office that is closest to you. They're staffed by two completely different types of people. DC offices do legislation (law making), district offices do constituent services (case work).
On that note, don't show up to your district office planning to protest. That's not what they're there for, and they really don't have much contact with the congressperson at all. If you can, do that at the DC office.
And please, for the love of the Holy Lord Above, DON'T CALL A REPRESENTATIVE/SENATOR THAT ISN'T YOURS. Your comments don't get logged, nobody likes it, and you're wasting both of our time (and, if I'm being frank, it's annoying as fuck to have to listen to someone outside of the district when there's a call from an actual constituent waiting). Just... don't.
Keep up the good work, homies. Keep calling!
