You
can have a lot of influence
at the State House both
as a municipal official
and as part of the Maine
Municipal Association's
lobbying effort. MMA's
70-member Legislative
Policy Committee sets
policy and gives direction
to the State and Federal
Relations staff, but
it is the personal contacts
with legislators by local
selectmen, councilors,
managers, clerks, assessors,
and other municipal officials
that really make the
difference.
Know
Your Legislators
Face-to-face
contact with your legislators
is the most useful way to
communicate your positions.
Invite
your State Senator and Representative
to attend meetings of the
Board of Selectmen or Town/City
Council.
Ask
them to come periodically
to update you and the citizens
about what's happening at
the State House, and keep
them informed of local issues.
Invite
them to monthly breakfast
or dinner meetings. Your
municipality can do this
on its own, or you can ask
neighboring towns to get
together to host a meeting
with the area legislative
delegation.
By
keeping in touch with your
legislators on a regular
basis, you'll develop a
better working relationship.
Know
the Issues
Here
are some ways to keep informed
about municipal issues being
considered at the State
House:
MMA's
Legislative Bulletin. Published
weekly while the Legislature
is in session, each issue
contains up-to-date information
on bills that have been
introduced, bills scheduled
for public hearing, and
action that legislative
committees have taken.
Legislative
Information. For information
about the current status
of legislation call 287-1692.
Document
Room. For copies of legislation
and amendments call 287-1408.
If
you need additional information
or want to discuss the impacts
of particular legislation,
please feel free to contact
MMA's State and Federal
Relations staff.
Other
helpful information. Two
helpful publications are
available from the Secretary
of the Senate (800-423-6900
or 287-1540) and the Clerk
of the House of Representatives
(800-423-2900 or 287-1400).
The "Senate
and House Register" contains
information on the State's
governor, the State Constitution,
Maine's federal delegates,
pictorial directories
for Senators and Representatives,
and the Legislature's
Joint Standing Committees.
The "Legislative
District Directory" lists
Senate and House Districts
by county, towns and
cities. Indices provide
a cross reference by municipality
and by legislator.
Understand
the Process
Once
a bill has been introduced,
it is assigned to a Joint
Standing Committee. These
committees are responsible
for holding public hearings
and recommending action
on the bills assigned to
them.
Public
Hearings
When
the Legislature holds a
hearing on a municipal issue,
it is important to attend
the hearing and testify.
Arrive
early (to get a good seat!);
when called on to testify,
be brief and to the point
- you can elaborate in more
detail in your written comments.
If
previous speakers have explained
your position fully, tell
the Committee your name
and where you are from,
and that you agree with
the previous speakers. Answer
any questions they may have.
Have
enough copies of your typewritten
testimony to present to
all the committee members
and committee staff (16
copies) and a few extra
to give to other interested
people.
Work
Sessions
After
the hearing, the Committee
meets in a "work
session" and
issues a "Committee
Report." Work
sessions are where the important
deliberations of the Legislature
take place. Committee reports
may be "unanimous" or "divided." Terms
used to describe committee
reports are: "Ought
to Pass" (OTP); "Ought
to Pass as Amended" (OTP-A); "Ought
Not to Pass" (ONTP);
and "Leave
to Withdraw" (LV/WD)
(sponsor is allowed to
withdraw the bill).
Final
Action
After
the bill is reported out
of Committee, it goes to
the House and Senate for
final action.
Be
a Resource
Legislators
are expected to make decisions
on a wide variety of issues.
You can help your legislators,
and all municipalities,
by providing information
about common municipal issues.
Explain
how proposed legislation
will affect your municipality,
particularly if it will
have a financial impact.
Make
sure the information you
provide to your legislators
is accurate; often legislators
will use your information
before a Committee or during
a debate or on the House
or Senate floor.
Make
sure you contact the Committees
and individual legislators
early in the process; try
to do most of your lobbying
before the Committee reports
the bill out, since the
recommendation by the Committee
usually determines the fate
of the bill on the floor
of the House and Senate.
Phone
Contacts
Sometimes
you will see an "Action
Alert" in
the Legislative Bulletin,
or MMA staff will call
you, asking you to call
your legislators. Your
involvement is most crucial
at these times, but you
may call your legislators
any time an issue is important
to you. If you are not
able to reach your legislators
at home, you may leave
messages for them at the
State House:
For
Senators: 287-1540 or 800-423-6900
For
Representatives: 287-1400
or 800-423-2900
Find Your Elected Officials with Contact Information
Writing
Letters
If
you are not able to attend
a public hearing but want
to convey your support or
opposition on a bill, writing
to the Legislative Committee
is effective. These letters
are particularly helpful
if one of your own legislators
is on the Committee. The
State House Station number
is the same for all of the
committees; letters to Committees
should be addressed: The
Honorable (John Doe), Senate
Chair The Honorable (Mary
Smith), House Chair Members
of the Joint Standing Committee
on (Committee Title) State
House Station 115, Augusta,
ME 04333.
Include
a "Re:" line,
stating the number and title
of the bill, and use the
following salutation: "Dear
Senator (Doe), Representative
(Smith), and Members
of the Committee:"
Provide
enough copies (16) for committee
members and committee staff.
Letters to your own legislators
or to sponsors of legislation
should be addressed: For
Senators: State House Station
#3 or FAX: 287-1900; For
Representatives: State House
Station #2 or FAX: 287-1245.
Follow
up your contacts. Let us
know when you've talked
to your legislators and
how they feel about an issue.
Coordinating your grassroots
lobbying efforts with our
efforts will enhance MMA's
advocacy strategy at the
State House.
After
contacting legislators,
keep track of where your
bills of concern are (in
Committee, before the Senate,
before the House), and follow
up your letters and phone
calls along the way.
Be
courteous and respectful
in your contacts, and remember
to thank your legislators
for the time they took to
talk with you, especially
if they voted the way you
requested.
Legislators,
like municipal officials,
do not receive much praise
or gratitude for their hard
work; recognizing your legislators'
efforts can help forge a
better partnership.
Get
Started
Talking
to the Legislature is
not something that should
be left to the "experts" or
professional lobbyists.
Don't be intimidated
by the legislative process;
legislators want to hear
from their constituents
- they want to hear their
concerns.
You,
as a municipal official,
are an important resource
for legislators. No matter
what method you choose to
communicate with your legislators,
the important point is that
you do it!
