All About The Staffers
Voting isn’t the end of a process, but a sort of beginning. So why do so many voters treat it as a finishline instead of a hiring date? Imagine if employers in other fields did this. You start your job after a rigorous process with interviewers, fill out elaborate forms, turn in your resume, buy a new wardrobe and then…everyone leaves and expects you to handle everything.
When an election is finished and the oaths of office are taken, do you know which staffers are hired to do the work of writing the bills, handling constituent issues, and competing for vocal space for your pet issues?
I am by no means the perfect citizen. I do however have a facility for working with my representative’s staff and would like to invite you to considering getting to know yours. In my case, I have a representative who easy to get along with but doesn’t always vote my way on everything. But that isn’t my largest concern. I am more concerned with not knowing what to ask, how to ask it, or having a scope of what Congress can achieve when it comes to matters close to heart.
The staff at my reps office respond to me with quality information and leads. They are quick to point out when they really have no ability to help and direct me to better resources. I’ve had to consult with them about pending legislation, existing legislation, understanding the different portions of our government and how best to relate to them. In my business field, I have interests vital to growth and regulations. I know precisely which staffer to call if I want a response that helps. My Rep doesn’t necessarily know all these answers.
When we had an issue with immigration last year for a family member, the staff went into overtime to explain to us the options in this ever growing morass of immigration law. When I needed to get up to the minute information on pending legislation regarding FISA, the staff was quick to let me know what changes were happening.
I’m probably in a unique district where my representative will call me from time to time. If yours does not, then I’d hold them to that. My representative seems to have at least a sense of the employee/employer relationship bestowed by the constituents. But it is sad to say that I doubt many of my district neighbors know the hard work his staff does for us each and every day without much of a thanks.
Even if you need to hold your representative accountable for some bad deed or decision, you might also need to see what staff that person hired. Are they hiring quality staff or just ideologue buddies from their latest winger thinktank, either right or left?
Either way, if you know the staff under your representative, you’ll have a fairly complete view of Your business; the districts business as well.
SO HERE’S TO THE STAFFERS!!!
Thank you!
Congress isn’t made up of just 435 in one chamber and 98- in the other. Those staffers matter. If you can learn to talk with them, your participation in this ‘democracy’ might be more effective
Share your stories of working with staffers at our site, VeracityRadio.com