To lobby for the Gift Ban (HB 484), follow these steps:

1) Schedule the meeting

  • Find your representative by clicking here.
  • Call their district office number, and ask to set up a meeting.

Sample Script

Hello, my name is _ and I’m with MarchOnHarrisburg, a pro-democracy anti-corruption organization. I would love to meet with Representative __ to discuss House Bill 484, the Gift Ban. When are some good times for the Representative to meet?

2)Prepare for the meeting

Study the following documents to prepare for the meeting, and please ask any and all additional questions on the #legislativechannel on Slack!

Do's

  • Do be on time or early for the meeting.
  • Do be courteous and respectful with everyone in the office.
  • Do identify clearly the reason you are sitting in front of them and the bill that you want to discuss.
  • Do get personal about why this issue is important to you and how it affects you. Facts are important, but feelings go a long way to changing people’s minds.
  • Do restrict yourself to focusing on a small number of issues.
  • Do remember to listen well, and choose your moments and words wisely.
  • Do remember to be non-partisan.
  • Do remember that your goal is to form a relationship and to convince them to support our bills, and it is ok if you do not agree on everything.
  • Do be a source of hope and courage for your legislator.
  • Do let them know that you will follow up with them.
  • Do give them the legislative handout (linked above)
  • Do record any specific questions about any bills in the reporting form so the legislative committee can follow up.

Don'ts

  • Do not get bogged down in negotiating specific details of the bills with the legislator.
  • Do not get personal about specific politicians or specific political parties.
  • Do not succumb to political tribalism.
  • Do not let your tone marginalize you. Hostility will be met with hostility and the meeting will end.
  • Do not use this time to blow off steam.

Remember

Stay focused, discuss the bill, explain why it is important, and make the following asks:

  • Co-Sponsor HB 484, the Gift Ban.
  • Make a public statement and tell their voters that they support the Gift Ban.
  • Tell their colleagues and leadership that they support the Gift Ban.

Woo! You just lobbied your rep. Now, Report Back!