Involving Congregations in Advocacy Now (ICAN) Introduction My Faith and Advocacy The How-tos of Advocacy How to bring advocacy to my congregation Resources Miscellaneous Activities and Handouts

Involving Congregations in Advocacy Now

• Introduction to Advocacy
• ELCA Washington Office: History
• The Mission Statement
• What is an Advocate?
• Ways to Influence Public Policy
• How to Visit a Legislator
• Make Your Letters Count
• How to Write a Letter to the Editor
• Tips on Telephoning Your Legislators
• "I can't get to see my legislator, now what?"
• Attending a Town Meeting
• Sample Role Play I: Social Concerns Committee
• Sample Role Play II: State Senator and Legislative Assistant
• Tough Questions Role Play

Sample Role Play II: State Senator and Legislative Assistant

State Senator and Legislative Assistant

Roles: One person as State Senator
One person as legislative assistant

State Senator: You are in your fourth four-year term. Your career has been solid and unremarkable. You are Chair of the Senate Tourism Committee, which is more a tribute to your tenure than to your talents as a legislator or interest in tourism. Still you are no slouch. You have represented the interest of your constituents very well and pride yourself on constituent service. You have consistently won re-election by at least 15 % of the vote. Before being elected, you were a real estate broker.

In the last session of the General Assembly, you got a lot of heat for your vote against a senior citizen bill. You thought the concept was good, yet you were convinced the proposal was much too costly. For the first time since you came to the Senate, the opposing party has talked of fielding a strong candidate. You’re not worried yet, just cautious.

The Minimum Wage Bill is one thing you don’t need now. You don’t want to alienate a group of voters in an election year. It seems that this legislation will force you to do that.

For the first time in 16 years, you appear vulnerable. If you misstep on the Minimum Wage Bill, your aggressive opponent may send you to an early retirement. You have the advantage of incumbency and a strong network of support built up over your previous terms. Your goal is to get re-elected.

You agreed to give the members of St. John By the Gas Pump 10 minutes of your time to talk about the Minimum Wage Bill.

Legislative Assistant: You have been on the Senator’s staff since the second term. If there is a disagreement among the staff about a position, the Senator relies on your opinion to find the safe, center road.

Your sister is an active member of St. John By the Gas Pump. You and she do not talk about her church at all. Her spouse, your brother-in-law, is inactive and does not attend. He owns a dry-cleaning business with about twenty-five employees. He’s complained to you often about his small profit margins and believes a minimum wage increase gives him two choices: lose profits or let some employees go.