LEGISLATIVE MEETINGS HOW-TO

2005-2006

The LWVCT encourages local Leagues to host Legislative Meetings to provide a forum for an informal exchange of views with legislators on a variety of issues and to:

• establish /maintain good, relationship with legislators;
• become familiar with legislator(s) own priorities for the upcoming session;
• acquaint legislators with the League’s advocacy agenda,
• educate new and old members on upcoming legislative issues and LWVCT advocacy activity.

Unlike previous meetings, we want to encourage free exchange of ideas between the League and the legislators.  We will NOT be assigning specific legislators to individual Leagues.  Rather, we’d like you to invite your representatives for a meeting in which discussion may include topics of local interest in addition to state-wide issues such as campaign finance reform.

 A FEW HELPFUL HINTS . . .

• Each event should have a discussion leader who is familiar with LWVCT advocacy agenda. Please refer to Connecticut Impact on Issues (pdf)and the League’s online Action Center (www.lwvct.org/action.htm) for background material. The current LWVCT legislative priorities are Transportation and Election Laws.
• Briefly acquaint legislators with the LWVCT legislative priorities and previous activity on the issue.
• Allow each legislator to discuss the priority topics before opening the meeting to general discussion about the legislators’ own priorities and follow-up questions by League members.
• The discussion is meant to be open.  Avoid any confrontation when there is disagreement with a legislator.
• Try to lead the discussion away from anyone dominating the conversation or expressing personal opinions (except the legislator, of course!).

You may choose to invite the press, but please let the legislators know if press will be present. The press is there only to observe and not to ask questions during the program.

The Office of State Ethics regards these meetings as lobbying activity and requires accurate reporting as to the cost and attendance.  The reporting sheet is attached.  Please remember to include the cost of the legislators’ meals in your total budget.

We are no longer encouraging Legislative Interviews, as the purpose for the activity has shifted from specific responses to specific questions to a broad discussion of issues.

AFTER THE MEETING

Fill out the report form. Keep one copy for your files and send the completed report to the LWVCT office as soon as possible.

Report of the discussions should be printed in your Bulletin. If you plan an article in the local press, please let your legislators know in advance.

Do not forget to thank the legislators for attending!

THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION!

LWVCT 11/05

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