District office visit – Indivisible Advice

Posted on March 2, 2017March 2, 2017 by jpol

From our friends in TX25 Indivisible EAST Austin

The first section of this document is a cut-and-paste from the Indivisible Guide, followed by some Austin-specific information from folks who have visited his office before.

District office visit – Indivisible Advice

Every MoC has at least one district office, and many MoCs have several spread through their district or state. These are public offices, open for anybody to visit — you don’t need an appointment. You can take advantage of this to stage an impromptu town hall meeting by showing up with a small group. It is much harder for district or DC staff to turn away a group than a single constituent, even without an appointment.

Find out where your MoCs’ local offices are. The official webpage for your MoC will list the address of every local office. You can find those webpages easily through a simple Google search. In most cases, the URL for a House member will be www.[lastname].house.gov, and the URL for Senate offices is www.[lastname].senate.gov. Roger Williams Austin office address is on private property at 1005 Congress Avenue, Suite 925, Austin TX 78701. http://williams.house.gov/
Plan a trip when the MoC is there. Most MoC district offices are open only during regular business hours, 9am-5pm. While MoCs spend a fair amount of time in Washington, they are often “in district” on Mondays and Fridays, and there are weeks designated for MoCs to work in district. The MoC is most likely to be at the “main” office — the office in the largest city in the district, and where the MoC’s district director works. Ideally, plan a time when you and several other people can show up together. Roger Williams office is open 9:00 – 5:30 on weekdays. The office is small and they have access to an additional conference room, as needed.
Prepare several questions ahead of time. As with the town halls, you should prepare a list of questions ahead of time.
Politely, but firmly, ask to meet with the MoC directly. Staff will ask you to leave or at best “offer to take down your concerns.” Don’t settle for that. You want to speak with the MoC directly. If they are not in, ask when they will next be in. If the staffer doesn’t know, tell them you will wait until they find out. Sit politely in the lobby. Note, on any given weekend, the MoC may or may not actually come to that district office.
Note that office sit-ins can backfire, so be very thoughtful about the optics of your visit. This tactic works best when you are protesting an issue that directly affects you and/or members of your group (e.g., seniors and caregivers on Medicare cuts, or Muslims and allies protesting a Muslim registry). Being polite and respectful throughout is critical.
Meet with the staffer. Even if you are able to get a one-off meeting with the MoC, you are most often going to be meeting with their staff. In district, the best person to meet with is the district director, or the head of the local district office you’re visiting. There are real advantages to building a relationship with these staff. In some cases, they may be more open to progressive ideas than the MoC, and having a good meeting with/building a relationship with a supportive staff member can be a good way to move your issue up the chain of command. Follow these steps for a good staff meeting:
Have a specific “ask” — e.g., vote against X, cosponsor Y, publicly state Z, etc.
Leave staff with a brief write-up of your issue, with your ask clearly stated.
Share a personal story of how you or someone in your group is personally impacted by the specific issue (health care, immigration, Medicare, etc.).
Be polite — yelling at the underpaid, overworked staffer won’t help your cause.
Be persistent — get their business card and call/email them regularly; ask if the MoC has taken action on the issue.
Advertise what you’re doing. Communicate on social media, and tell the local reporters you follow what is happening. Take and send pictures and videos with your group: “At Congresswoman Sara’s office with 10 other constituents to talk to her about privatizing Medicare. She refuses to meet with us and staff won’t tell us when she will come out. We’re waiting.”

A little extra general advice

Highlights from this Barney Frank article…

Make sure you’re registered to vote – lawmakers check (who knew?)
Know where your representative stands on the issues that matter to you. “If you have contact with an organization that is working on this issue, try to learn if the recipient of your opinion has taken a position on it. When I received letters from people urging me to vote for a bill of which I was the prominent main sponsor, I was skeptical that the writer would be watching how I voted.”
Communicate – even if you and your legislator disagree. “Legislators do not simply vote yes or no on every issue. If enough people in a legislator’s voting constituency express strong opposition to a measure to which that legislator is ideologically or politically committed, it might lead him or her to ask the relevant leadership not to bring the bill up. Conflict avoidance is a cherished goal of many elected officials.”
Say “thank you.” (That is good advice for life in general. 🙂

Austin-specific intel

The office is right in front of the Capitol, so you can easily go by before/after any Txlege visits. Capitol garage parking is free for first two hours.

Before you head downtown…

Plan your specific “ask” ahead of time
Write it down
Leave it with the staffer

Before going to the office…

Huddle with your group at the Starbucks at 10th & Congress
Lay out your game plan

List the topics you will address as a group-keep it simple-prioritize!
The staffers love stories! Stories humanize issues, and nobody can argue with somebody’s story.
Take a picture of your group beforehand. Pics or it didn’t happen! 😉

Entering the building

There may be a security guard at the desk-mostly to handle large groups
Just go right to the elevators. Small groups, won’t have any problems
Large groups should encourage a staffer to come down instead of splitting up
Ninth floor, please!
They may be remodeling the office-expect a mess. They have access to an additional conference room if they decide they need it.
When you enter, they may invite you to sign their guestbook.

The staffers

John (last name unknown) and Aaron (last name unknown).
John does most/all of the talking. Aaron is the younger, quieter one.
John travels 70% of the time-often to DC
Aaron travels the districtr 50% of the time (but he’s never been to DC)
Hanna, the scheduler in the DC office, may have shared your name John and Aaron

Things John will say, over and over:

‘We’re here to listen.”
“I can’t speak for the congressman.”
“Asked and answered.” (He’ll say this when he’s tired of your questions.)
“The Congressman won the last election.” So what? His job is to listen to all of his constituents, not just the ones he agrees with. Your visit to the office is a four-alarm fire for them! They should be nervous, not you. Don’t let John bully you.
Aaron will be taking notes
Ask him to write down anything that you feel is especially important. Be sure they get the information straight.
Sometimes offices allow attendees to film/take photos. If not, ask why. Write down/remember any answers you’re given.

While you’re there…

Be respectful. BUT…
Persist until your question is answered
Ask for an official response from Williams
Tell them what YOU think and what you expect the congressman to do on your behalf
Be clear that this is important to the group and that you’re not going away

If you have questions, ask them — just be know that staff may deflect. Don’t let this throw you. They may just not know the answer and may not want to broadcast that. Remember, ask for an official response if they can’t answer your question. Write down any answers you’re given.

Leave-behinds

Be sure to leave behind your talking points, a postcard, a letter, an annotated picture

Be sure each person takes a business card. We may have met there together, but we are each an individual and we expect individual answers to our concerns.

After the meeting

If Aaron asks to photograph your group. You can decline or agree if YOU can take pictures as well. Get a business card from any staff you meet.

Consider filming a short video after the meeting; debrief. Send videos to media@indivisibleaustin.com and post to social media, if appropriate.

Celebrate!

You just participated in democracy!!! Wahoo!!!! Treat yourself, you deserve it! And thanks. 🙂

LOST! Representative Roger Williams

Posted on February 26, 2017February 26, 2017 by jpol

Re-posted from Vimeo. Watch the video here.

LOST! Representative Roger Williams

US Representative (TX 25) Roger Williams appears to be lost. He has not shown up for Town Hall meetings and his office has been closed during recess. The women in this video ask you to join us in defending Medicare, Medicaid, and the Affordable Care Act by phoning your Congress persons today — Rep. Roger Williams, 202-225-9896, Senator John Cornyn, 202-224-2934, Senator Ted Cruz, 202-224-5922. Also, let us know of great candidates as we emerge for 2018. Thank you! Love and peace with justice, equity and diversity on top.

Central Texans Are Holding Town Halls – With or Without Their Local Congressmen

Posted on February 20, 2017February 20, 2017 by jpol

Re-posted from kut.org

U.S. Rep. Roger Williams’ constituents gathered at Flores Mexican Restaurant on Feb. 20 to hold a town hall. While Rep. Williams didn’t attend, participants said they will send a recording of the town hall to his office.

During trips to their districts this week, Republican congressmen representing the Austin area will not be holding town halls, even though many constituents have been asking for them.

That hasn’t stopped groups from holding town halls of their own – even if the member of Congress they want to talk to isn’t there.

In Dripping Springs on Sunday night, activists held one of these town halls. They say they invited Republican U.S. Rep. Roger Williams, but his office declined.

A crowd of people sat on the patio of Flores Mexican Restaurant, eating and carefully writing questions on note cards. They waited for a turn at a microphone facing a podium with American flags draped behind it.

Most of it was pretty standard for a town hall.

Lisa Molina, an Austin resident living in Williams’ district, spoke of her 20-year-old son’s battle with leukemia at ages 3, 11 and 13. She said she was concerned about lifetime caps on health insurance, which was a problem before the Affordable Care Act was passed. Now that Republicans control Congress, many lawmakers, including Williams, are looking to repeal that law.

“My son’s treatment cost reached a million dollars by the time he was 14 years old,” Molina said. “Without the protection of the ACA, it was possible that he could have been denied for the coverage. So, my question is: Do you support keeping these current ACA protections intact?”

But this is where the town hall got weird. Molina wasn’t talking to Williams; she was talking to a cardboard cutout of him. So instead of getting an answer, she heard the sound of crickets throughout the patio.

Those crickets followed questions about Williams’ support or lack of support for investigations into President Donald Trump’s ties to Russia, as well as questions about global warming, and the future of Social Security and Medicare.

Folks who came to the event, though, knew that was the deal going in.

Organizer Erin Zwiener told the crowd to act as if Williams were there. She said they planned on sending a recording of the town hall to his office.

“Show Congressman Williams that he should have been here today,” Zweiner said. “Show him that we are constituents that do not understand the choices he is making in Washington. Be firm, speak your truths, ask tough questions, but also be gracious. Let’s get him to show up next recess.”

According to one of the organizers, almost 250 people signed in for the event. And there were similar ones elsewhere.

Organizers with Indivisible Austin, a group created after Trump’s inauguration, are holding town halls in other congressional districts in the Austin area – with or without the Congressmember.

Vince Zito, a spokesperson for Rep. Williams’ office, said in a statement that “Williams believes in listening to his district and in doing so spends as much time as possible meeting with constituents and groups throughout his district.”

“Congressman Williams will always humbly listen to the thoughts and concerns of all of his constituents – he always has and always will,” Zito wrote in a statement to KUT. “And although he appreciates the invitation, he declines to attend the club meeting of the Dripping Springs Democratic Action and its associated groups. I think if you closely examine the statements and missions of these groups, it’s clear that civil, substantive discourse on issues is not their true agenda. Congressman Williams looks forward to continuing to fight for the issues that his constituents sent him to Washington to fight for, including: real tax reform, strengthening our military and rolling back the job killing Obama trademarks such as Obamacare and Dodd-Frank legislation.”

Original post and audio here

New groups looking to local Congressmen for questions and scorn

Posted on February 20, 2017February 20, 2017 by jpol

DRIPPING SPRINGS, Texas (KXAN) — Across the country town halls hosted by Republican congressmen and opposing groups have been packed and heated.

Central Texas groups opposed to President Trump’s agenda have been demanding local Republican representatives open to all constituents.

Sunday was unusually busy at Flores Mexican Restaurant in Dripping Springs. More than 150 people came out to ask questions to Congressman Roger Williams, R-Austin, not the real one but a cardboard cutout of our Texas representative.

His district stretches from just south of Fort Worth all the way down to southern Hays County. A group in Dripping Springs wanted him to answer their questions while he was in town for a private event down the street.

These central Texans want Williams to help keep the Affordable Care Act and make sure Medicare isn’t privatized. It was hosted by the local chapter of the national group “Indivisible” that’s already being compared to the left’s version of the Tea Party.

“The Tea Party was so powerful because it was people driven, but I really think what separates us from the Tea Party is we don’t have the Koch Brothers funding us behind the scenes,” said Erin Zwiener, who now is filtering community concern into political action.

“I’m hearing a lot of concern about how to hold our new president accountable for his breach of the constitution and his general intemperance,” said Zwiener.

She became political after President Trump won the White House and led the group a mile and a half away to another event they weren’t invited to.

Rep. Williams was slated to speak at a monthly meeting for the North Hays County Republican Party. Naomi Narvaiz is on the GOP executive committee and says she’s never been to a Democratic meeting and the tables have just turned.

“Eight years we lived under President Obama — I think they can live eight years under President Trump. You know, I think they’ll find out pretty soon here if they just give him a little bit of time he’s going to do well for all people not just some,” said Narvaiz.

The communications director for Congressman Williams, Vince Zito, released a statement on why he didn’t attend Indivisible’s event:

Congressman Williams believes in listening to his district and in doing so spends as much time as possible meeting with constituents and groups throughout his district. Congressman Williams will always humbly listen to the thoughts and concerns of all of his constituents — he always has and always will. And although he appreciates the invitation, he declines to attend the club meeting of the Dripping Springs Democratic Action and its associated groups. I think if you closely examine the statements and missions of these groups, it’s clear that civil, substantive discourse on issues is not their true agenda. Congressman Williams looks forward to continuing to fight for the issues that his constituents sent him to Washington to fight for, including: real tax reform, strengthening our military and rolling back the job killing Obama trademarks such as Obamacare and Dodd-Frank legislation.”

Link to original post and video

Central Texans scheduling town halls without RSVPs from congressmen

Posted on February 19, 2017February 20, 2017 by jpol

DRIPPING SPRINGS, Texas (KXAN) — Central Texans who live in multiple Congressional districts say their requests for town halls with their congressmen are falling on deaf ears.

“Our intention is not to be intimidating, it’s not to be heated,” said Erin Zwiener, who lives in Driftwood. “It’s to ask our very legitimate concerns.”

At recent town halls in other parts of the country Q&As have turned into confrontations with Congressmen, specifically republicans.

Zwiener is with Indivisible TX-25, a group opposed to President Trump’s agenda. They have been asking U.S. Rep. Roger Williams, R-Austin, to hold a town hall in Hays County. “We’ve reached out through his official meeting requests, through his scheduler, through phone calls, through Facebook and we just haven’t had any luck,” said Zwiener.

Despite zero response, the group went ahead and put a town hall on the calendar for this Sunday in Dripping Springs knowing Rep. Williams will be in town.

He is scheduled to speak at a private event Sunday night a mile and a half away, hosted by the North Hays Republican Group. “I hope he decides to come into town a little bit earlier and come spend some time with his constituents,” said Zwiener.

Want to call your lawmaker? You might have trouble
If he doesn’t show up, the group will go ahead and hold a mock town hall and record their comments and concerns.

“We’re going to state our concerns, we’re going to record them, we’re going to send them to him,” said Zwiener. “We’re going to write our concerns down on postcards and then we’re going to go stand outside the other event peacefully, calmly.”

KXAN reached out to Rep. Williams’ office Friday, and his communications director, Vince Zito responded with this statement:

“Congressman Williams believes in listening to his district and in doing so spends as much time as possible meeting with constituents and groups throughout his district. Congressman Williams will always humbly listen to the thoughts and concerns of all of his constituents – he always has and always will. And although he appreciates the invitation, he declines to attend the club meeting of the Dripping Springs Democratic Action and its associated groups. I think if you closely examine the statements and missions of these groups, it’s clear that civil, substantive discourse on issues is not their true agenda. Congressman Williams looks forward to continuing to fight for the issues that his constituents sent him to Washington to fight for, including: real tax reform, strengthening our military and rolling back the job killing Obama trademarks such as Obamacare and Dodd-Frank legislation.”

A similar situation is playing out in Cedar Park and Round Rock. A group went ahead and put a town hall on the calendar for Feb. 22, and asked U.S. Rep. John Carter, R-Round Rock, to be there. He turned down the invitation.

His spokeswoman, Corry Schiermeyer, told KXAN, “Constituent services is a top priority of the Congressman. The Congressman appreciates the invitation, but he is unable to attend.”

The event will go on without him. Some constituents tell KXAN Rep. Carter’s staff told them he does not hold live town hall meetings for safety reasons, and prefers to hold tele-town halls because more people can attend. However, there is little advance notice, and those are scheduled on the day of.

Link to original post and video

Roger Williams Wants You to Email Him. No, Really.

Posted on February 10, 2017 by Fire John Cornyn

In last week’s newsletter, Rep. Roger Williams asked constituents to email him at TexasCD25@mail.house.gov.

Here is what he says:

I am compiling thoughts, opinions and firsthand accounts from my fellow Texans, so that my policies can be better tailored to fit your needs.

If you are an entrepreneur who feels like government regulation is preventing you from being competitive in your industry, I want to know about it. If you are unable to meet payroll because you are spending too much time and money on costly and unnecessary compliance measures, I want to hear your story.

If you think you are sending too much of your hard earned money to Uncle Sam or feel you are spending too much time filling out paper work this tax season, please tell me.

If you are finding out for the first time how difficult it is to get approved for a mortgage or any other kind of loan even though you are in good standing, write me.

Please share your story by emailing me at TexasCD25@mail.house.gov . I very much look forward to hearing from you.

So, if you are a constituent of Rep. Roger Williams’ TX-25, please share your story with him.

Since Roger is on record wanting to repeal the Affordable Care Act — with NO replacement — this is an opportunity to share your story of how the ACA helped you or someone you know. Maybe you couldn’t start your business until the ACA made health insurance more affordable. Or perhaps losing the ACA would force you to close your business because the costs of health insurance would be too high to continue. It doesn’t have to be about the ACA, but the more personal you can make your story, the better.

If your are not in TX-25, please do not email Rep. Williams. You can find ways to contact your own rep here.