Minds Can Be Changed

[cardell75]

Hey,
I just wanted to share my experience in this so far.

I have been working my tail off to setup meetings, and everytime I think I have things straight I get a call or an email and the schedule changes. It is fustrating to no end, but, there seems to be light at the end.

I was contacted by my Congressmans staff about H.R. 2811 / S. 373 last Friday. The Legislative staff had spoken with me on a few occasions but this time it was different. We set up a teleconference (I didnt want to do it on my cell phone) and went until about 7pm Friday night. I used many of the speaking points and references from PIJAC, USARK and NATPET. They were very receptive and open to hearing, not only how this would affect me as a constituent, but how it would affect the entire industry. In short, When I finished talking with them I was told that this didnt sound like a bill that Congressman Jeff Miller (R-FL) District-1 would support. I was also asked to send over a summary of my main speaking points and my buisness statistics (Which is easy as I have already compiled most for tax reasons) so they could present all the facts to the Congressman.

I also have a meeting tomorrow with the regional director and staff for Senator George Lemieux (R-FL) at his Jacksonville office, they as well seem interested in my/our point of view and I have some speaking points ready for them as well as a summary printed out to give them.

Look it really isnt all that hard to get in front of these people, it can sometimes be challenging to get it scheduled, but, they will talk with you and they will listen! Just be patient and keep trying.

One more point, This bill is very small to them, most of the staff that I have spoken with really dont know that much about any of it and they are LOOKING FOR INPUT. Because it is so small they aren't going to do alot of leg work on it. The question I have for you is WHO'S input do YOU want them to get, Ours or HSUS's?