Hello Westfield- Hope you all had a fantastic week!
This past Monday, one of the committees I sit on had a hearing about one of this sessions’ most controversial bills, the ROE Act. Because this bill deals with such a politically charged issue, the expansion of abortion access, we have been getting a huge influx of calls, letters and emails from residents all over the Commonwealth. So, for this week’s update, I want to talk more about why contacting your legislators is so important and how best to make your voice heard during the legislative process.
We all learn in grade school that legislators are elected to represent the people in their district. To me, this is by far the most essential part of my job description. To that end, in order to do my job most effectively, it is critical that I hear from my constituents about issues that are important to them. Whether the issue is trivial or hugely consequential, I need to know how people feel about matters before the state legislature. The more calls and emails I get about a specific issue, the better I can gauge how my district feels about it. Some issues, like the ROE Act, are at the forefront of debate and we will hear from hundreds of people about, but there are many, many more issues that may not come to my attention unless you put it on my radar.
I often get asked by constituents how they should go about contacting my office when they feel motivated to speak out about a bill. The honest answer is however you feel most comfortable sharing your opinion or your story. In this day and age, for many people, that is through email. I would guess that about 60-70% of the input I get is through this medium. Emails are great because they can be kept for a later date and referred to again when an issue comes up for a vote. Additionally, many people find it easier to reach out this way because they want to be able to craft and edit their message before sending. Obviously, this is also true of paper letters, which we file and keep, as well.
The other main way we hear from you is through phone calls. We love to get phone calls from constituents because it gives us a chance to interact and ask questions if we are unfamiliar with the issue. Every phone call from a constituent about an upcoming vote gets logged, so even if you decide to leave us a message at our Statehouse number instead of calling my staff in the district, rest assured your voice will be heard.
When reaching out about legislation or a general issue, it’s always helpful to include a few things. First, your name, address, and contact information. This is extremely important – including your address lets me know that you are a constituent in my district and leaving your contact info ensures that we can get back to you. Of course, I appreciate the input of all Bay Staters, but my focus will always be on the people I was elected to represent, so let me know that you are one of them! Second, if you are reaching out about a certain bill, including the bill number or name of the legislation in your message helps me to know if there’s specific action I can take to help move that bill forward or to give you more information about where it is in the process. Finally, one of the best things you can do when contacting me is to share your story. Knowing why this issue is important to you and how it affects your life helps me to connect with your issue on a deeper level and advocate for it more effectively.
In 2019, social media is almost ubiquitous, and although I do have an online presence, this is usually the most ineffective way to get ahold of me. In all honesty, with all the notifications and messages I get, it’s far too easy to overlook an important one. Logistically, the best way to reach me or my staff is to email [email protected] or to call my district office at (413) 572-3920. We can also be reached by mail at 52 Court St, Westfield. Additionally, feel free to contact me at the State House by mail or at (617) 722-2877, but please keep in mind that we spend the majority of our time in Westfield, so it may take longer to get your message.
That’s it from me for this week, folks. Have another wonderful week and please keep on telling us what you think!
