Legislative Information

• Current FY 2009 buget request submitted by the governor to the state legislature has slashed nearly $200,000 in funding for recycling coordination, solid waste management programs and projects and $34,000 from money supporting recycling and redemption centers.  MassRecycle is urging the legislature to increase funding for these items to at least FY 2008 levels.
  
• During the FY 2008 budget cycle, MassRecycle members urged the Conference Committee to match the House of Representative's recommended level of funding for recycling coordination.  While this funding level is a far cry from those of previous years, we successfully kept them from funding it at a lower level. 
• During the FY 2004 budget cycle MassRecycle coordinated a huge grassroots effort to keep $3.5 million in the recycling budget.
• MassRecycle went into high gear again in November 2003 when we heard that EOEA planned to zero out the recycling line in the governor's FY 2005 budget. MassRecycle members and municipal officials also testified at Executive Office of Environmental Affairs' (EOEA) FY05 budget hearing. Apparently, the comments regarding recycling outweighed comments on all other budget items. Our efforts were successful.

• November to December ~ Agencies develop budgets
• Late January ~ Governor releases budget
• April ~ House of Representatives releases their budget
• May ~ Senate releases their budget
• June ~ Conference Committee meets to finalize budget
• June ~ Governor makes his/her vetos
• Late June ~ Possible overrides take place in House and Senate

Get Involved: How to Communicate with Your Legislators

Writing a Letter^1,2

• Individually written letters, rather than mass generated form letters, make a greater impression on your legislator. Be sure to include your name, address, and phone number.
• Be specific. Your purpose for writing should be stated in the first paragraph of the letter. If your letter pertains to a specific piece of legislation, be sure to identify its full name and number, e.g. House Bill: H_____, Senate Bill: S_____.Try to send your letter while the issue is still alive.
• Stay focused: Avoid writing a "laundry list" of issues.  Be courteous and to the point, keeping your letter focused on one issue.
• State clearly what you would like your reader to do.
  
• State your position. Explain why you think s/he should do this.  Help your reader understand the need for action on  her/his part.  Keep in mind that local examples concerning the impact of this legislation are very powerful. 
• Ask for a response. Indicate to your legislator that you would appreciate a reply containing his/her position on the issue.
• Do not use a negative, condescending, threatening or intimidating tone.
• Follow up. If you agree with your legislator's vote, take the time to let him/her know that. Similarly, if you disagree with his or her vote, inform your legislator.

Emailing Your Legislators¹

• Include a note in the subject line indicating that you are a constituent, such as "Message from a Recycling Supporter in District XX." Legislators want to hear from their own constituents, but often don't have the time to consider the opinions of people who live outside their district. (That's why you should not send a blanket e-mail to every legislator at the State House.)
• Avoid informal language. An email to a legislator should be treated as seriously as a written letter. Resist the temptation to use the informal language and symbols often associated with email communications.
• Sign the message with your full name and home address.
• Ask them to write back if you are writing about a specific issue and want a response from your legislator. "I'm looking forward to your response on this important issue," for example. (If you don't need a response, legislators appreciate being told that too.)

Calling Your Legislators³

• Identify yourself by name and the organization (if any) that you represent or the town from which you are calling.
• Explain why you are calling: "I am calling to support/oppose House Bill: H_____, Senate Bill: S_____." Be polite and concise. Creating 1 or 2 talking points will focus the content of your message. Too much information may confuse your message. Ask your legislator his/her position on this issue. Don't assume that your legislator has prior knowledge of your issue. Be calm, respectful, and be prepared to educate, using local examples to accentuate your point.
• Request a written response to your phone call if you did not speak to your legislative member. If the legislator requires further information, provide it as soon as possible.
• Thank the person who took the phone call for their time and consideration.

Talking Points

Get Involved: VOTE

• To get background information on an elected official, visit Project Vote Smart
• Find out where you can register to vote here
• Find out where you can vote here.

Sources:

1. Minnesota Citizens for the Arts. Advocacy: Writing your legislators.
2. The Professional Recyclers of Pennsylvania (PROPS). Communicating with State Legislatures: Pennsylvania Legislative Protocol: Tips for Writing Your State Legislators.
3. The Professional Recyclers of Pennsylvania (PROPS). Communicating with State Legislatures: Pennsylvania Legislative Protocol: Tips for Calling Your State Legislators.