WRITE A LETTER
Please write a note to the members of the Senate Public Health Committee
By Ida Darragh of Little Rock, AR
March 5, 2009
I urge everyone to write to the Senate committee this week. A handwritten note has a huge impact on their votes. The bill cant even get started unless the committee votes do-pass. Each letter should be addressed to the individual senator and sent to the capitol address of: Arkansas Senate, Room 320, State Capitol, Little Rock, AR 72201.
It doesn’t matter if you are in their district or not. As committee members, they are supposed to represent all Arkansans. If you do happen to live in their district, then say so. If you don’t, then don’t mention it.
The most effective correspondence is something that doesn’t sound mass-produced or like it has been initiated by one organization. Ask all your family and friends to send a letter, but use different stationery and mail them separately. The note should be brief, and handwritten but very legible.
Start with a statement: Please vote for SB 787. Then: 1-3 sentences about who you are: you name, where you live, how many kids you have, how long you or your family has lived in Arkansas or something that connects you to the community (your church, your business, etc), then 1-3 sentences about why this is important to you (use your own words, but say maternity care is a really important choice for a family, families need this information to make the right decision about where to have a baby, hospitals should be more transparent about the care they provide, etc). Close with 1-3 sentences thanking them for their service to the constituents of Arkansas and asking again for their vote on SB 787 to require hospitals to publish information about their maternity care.
Below are the senators on the committee, and their hometown. If you are in or near their home town, mention it. Otherwise, don’t.
Gilbert Baker, Conway
Cecile Bledsoe, Rogers
Jack Crumbly, Widener
Barbara Horn, Ashdown
Randy Laverty, Jasper
Percy Malone, Arkadelphia
Bill Pritchard, Elkins
Tracy Steele, North Little Rock
Later, when the committee hearing date has been set, it will be effective to send e-mails. But, now is the time for short letters. Do it this week.
This would be a huge boost to the families in Arkansas. It would make the hospitals accountable to the people.
Your voice counts a lot. The legislators hear a LOT from professional lobbyists, so they will get a lot of input against this bill from the hospital associations, medical association, etc. They rarely hear from regular people. So, when they do it really makes an impression.
Ida
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