https://www.reddit.com/r/Michigan/comments/1igv2by/how_contacting_your_lawmakers_works/
created by j__z on 03/02/2025 at 17:48 UTC*
114 upvotes, 5 top-level comments (showing 5)
I've been seeing a lot of posts about contacting your Senators and Representatives, and as someone who used to be the one receiving those calls and emails on their behalf, I wanted to help people understand that process.
Obviously, the legislator is not the one reading your email or getting your call, it's an intern or a staff member, and they do the same thing with both: They will summarize your concerns, and at the end of the day all the summaries are compiled and forwarded to the lawmaker (their handlers, anyway).
On that note, emailing is better if you want your concerns noted, and keep the email short and to the point. That will make it much more likely it will get summarized.
Calling, however, is a mixed bag. Are you going to yell at the person answering the phone? Good luck with any of that being written down and forwarded.
Also, when you are "shutting down their phones," remember what else their offices do: They help people who are having problems with government programs, which is a lot of people right now. And shutting down their phones isn't really that big of a deal anyway because most work is done through email.
Lastly, work small to big in terms of constituency: I know Senators deal with confirmations, so that's non-negotiable, but you are more likely to get help and a response with a Congressman because their constituencies are much much smaller.
Also, you can get your point across and still be polite. Don't abuse the interns. None of your abuse will get summarized anyway, so a poor 20 year old in college is the only one who gets to absorb all of that.
Edit:
One more important thing: However you contact them, make you are telling them where you are from. These offices only answer to people they represent, so you need to ensure you are providing them with enough information to know you are a constituent and not some rando from California.
Comment by EvilFiddle at 03/02/2025 at 19:00 UTC
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
From one congressional staffer to another, thank you for writing this. It’s been a shitty few weeks.
Comment by FaithlessnessFun7268 at 03/02/2025 at 17:52 UTC
1 upvotes, 3 direct replies
I’m more irritated I can’t find all the freaking emails and I would have to sit and submit my information multiple times over and copy/paste an email. Why cannot one just simply hit email all “insert group” and go from there. It’s just frustrating and tiring
Comment by Coriander_Heffalump at 03/02/2025 at 18:58 UTC
1 upvotes, 2 direct replies
Is it really better to email than to call? I always heard the opposite!
Comment by driftwood14 at 03/02/2025 at 19:59 UTC
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
If you go through the congress website, it directs you to peters’ and slotkins’ websites which require you enter your location information when you send the email. So if you fill that out you should be okay.
Comment by Low_Egg_561 at 03/02/2025 at 18:47 UTC
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Why don’t people have this much energy when urging Whitmer to stop allowing DTE and consumers energy rate hikes?