HOWTOWRITETOYOURLEGISLATORS 5STEPS 1 2 3 4 5
themtotakeandthankthemfortheirtimeandconsiderationofthematter. Tips! •Keepthelettersbrief(onepageifpossible). •Signyourletterwithyoursignature. •Writetheletterinyourownwords.Donotjustfillintheblanksofthesamples. •Onlyaddressonebillperletter.
Tobeginyourletteroremail,properlyandrespectfullyaddressthelegislator.For example:“DearRepresentativeSmith,”or“GreetingsSenatorDoe.” Includealittleinformationaboutyourselftomakeapersonalconnectionwiththe legislator.Forexample:“ItaughtinABCParishfor32years,”or“Igrewupandtaught kindergarteninXYZParish.” Specificallyaskthemtotakeaction-thisshouldbeadirect,briefstatement.Make suretoincludethebillnumberandauthor.Forexample:“Iamwritingtoaskyouto opposeHB000byRep.JohnDoe.” Explainwhyyouwantthemtotakethisaction.Useresearchtobackupyour argument.Youcanfindthelatestresearchandarticlesatlrta.net/articles. Beforeyouendyourletter,makesuretoreiteratewhatactionyouwouldlikefor
FOLLOWTHESTEPS! SAMPLE 1 2 3 4 5 DearRepresentative/Senator_________________ Mynameis______________________________andI amaretirededucatorfrom______________.Iretiredwith _______yearsofexperience.(Addsomethingpersonal aboutyoureducationalexperiences.) IamwritingtoaskthatyouopposeHouseBill32authored byRepresentativeJohnDoe.Thisbillrecommendsadding anoptionalhybridretirementplantotheTeachers’ RetirementSystemofLouisiana. Researchshowsstatesthatshiftedtohybridplansfrom
definedbenefitplansfailedtopaydowntheretirementdebt andofferedalowerbenefittoeducatorsstatewide. Althoughthisbillmayhelpcontrolforemployercosts,there isnotenoughinformationtoindicatetheretirementbenefit isgreaterthanorevenequaltoourcurrentdefinedbenefit planorSocialSecurity. Louisianahasadoptedretirementreformmeasuresthatare payingdowntheretirementdebt,andatthesametime, providingamodestbenefittoitsretirees. PleaseopposeHouseBill32.Thankyouforyour considerationofthisimportantrequest. Regards(orclosingofyourchoice),