Thread: US Senate - Activity Update (11:15am PT)

Update from CSpan2 narrator -

It is now expected that deliberations about ISAB will extend THROUGH Memorial Day holiday and that no quick movement on bill is expected.

Negotiations and movement are slower than expected due to controversial aspects inserted by Dems (no mention by narrator of Feinstein-Craig amend)

This buys us more time - so keep the calls / faxes / emails going!

Thanks for the info Phred. Sounds like we more work to do and keep the calls flowing in.

Need some tips on phone calling, please.

I have lived in two different states so feel comfortable calling those delegations. However, I called a CA Senator and gave a fake zipcode: then I felt guilty. After recovering from my guilt complex I called another office of the same senator and asked them if I could give an opinion as an out of stater. No problem with that.

We have some time now. :P Should I repeatedly call the same Senators? I would guess it is better to call the flip-floppers. Anyone else have experience with out of state calls? How many times would you call the same number? Do you call all of their offices?

I guess I would not repeat the same talking points in successive calls. In regards to Feinstein's amendment on Ag Workers I think there are a lot of points she is missing: American farms are becoming less competitive as we have to hire relatively expensive human labor. Farmers could go to temp agencies. Government could fund and promote the use of "precision agriculture" (the cumulative benefit of all of technologies to increase yield). Farmworkers should not sue American institutions to restrict technological advance; it is the American way to accept technological advance even if we lose jobs (Look at the ATM machine; we cannot stop progress---unless you are a favored labor group). Other countries, w/o a big labor supply have moved to better technology. Farmers can cooperate with each other if they cannot afford expensive harvesting equipment. Perhaps we could have college educated production specialists that would consult with ag businesses. We can promote the ag tech programs in public universities.

I wish I had time to go to these Senators and explain to them why American agriculture cannot withstand foreign competition unless it goes on a revolutionary program of modernization---and prevails over the addiction to foreign labor. But I have to be content with telling a contrary or non-interested aid and hope they convey my message along with thousands of others.

Or would it be a better strategy to challenge this as an out of context and inappropriate tactic? Or go to the Leadership--Reid and McConnell? On a call to McConnell the aide sounded tired but accepted my thanks. The phone was always busy.

Anyone have any advice?

We have some time now. Should I repeatedly call the same Senators? I would guess it is better to call the flip-floppers. Anyone else have experience with out of state calls? How many times would you call the same number? Do you call all of their offices?

All my calls today were out of state. Most asked me for my zip code, and I gave them the correct one. Hagel's office asked me for my name, address and phone number. I'm reluctant to give out so much personal information, but did it anyway. When I got a machine, rather than leave a voice message, I called another location, because I wanted a live person for the feedback. I did call some more than once. One staffer said "Oh, some one else called from CA this morning. I said, I belong to an organization ( he did not ask which one), so I'm not surprised you had another call from CA, we're all across the USA ".

I'll call the ones again, who said they had no opinion, if that's requested. When they told me that today ( no opinion at this time) , I asked the staffer if they were familiar with the bill, and if not, please get somewhat informed, and ask the Senator to veto this bill if it came with the AGJob Amendment attached. One staffer argued with me a little, in that he said " It's not amnesty".

Originally Posted by Captainron

Need some tips on phone calling, please.

I have lived in two different states so feel comfortable calling those delegations. However, I called a CA Senator and gave a fake zipcode: then I felt guilty. After recovering from my guilt complex I called another office of the same senator and asked them if I could give an opinion as an out of stater. No problem with that.

We have some time now. :P Should I repeatedly call the same Senators? I would guess it is better to call the flip-floppers. Anyone else have experience with out of state calls? How many times would you call the same number? Do you call all of their offices?

I guess I would not repeat the same talking points in successive calls. In regards to Feinstein's amendment on Ag Workers I think there are a lot of points she is missing: American farms are becoming less competitive as we have to hire relatively expensive human labor. Farmers could go to temp agencies. Government could fund and promote the use of "precision agriculture" (the cumulative benefit of all of technologies to increase yield). Farmworkers should not sue American institutions to restrict technological advance; it is the American way to accept technological advance even if we lose jobs (Look at the ATM machine; we cannot stop progress---unless you are a favored labor group). Other countries, w/o a big labor supply have moved to better technology. Farmers can cooperate with each other if they cannot afford expensive harvesting equipment. Perhaps we could have college educated production specialists that would consult with ag businesses. We can promote the ag tech programs in public universities.

I wish I had time to go to these Senators and explain to them why American agriculture cannot withstand foreign competition unless it goes on a revolutionary program of modernization---and prevails over the addiction to foreign labor. But I have to be content with telling a contrary or non-interested aid and hope they convey my message along with thousands of others.

Or would it be a better strategy to challenge this as an out of context and inappropriate tactic? Or go to the Leadership--Reid and McConnell? On a call to McConnell the aide sounded tired but accepted my thanks. The phone was always busy.

Anyone have any advice?

I don't even try the out of state zip code because I don't want to lie. I tell those aides who bother to ask that "No, I'm from N.C. but this legislation will affect me too as it will EVERY American. Illegal aliens and the negative impact of illegal immigration are present in ALL states and the collective Senate/House vote will have an impact in ALL states." Most- not all- will agree to pass along my opinion to the Senator or Rep.

I almost forgot to add....YES, Please make repeat calls to every Senator you can. After a while, some of the aides will get to the point they won't even ask your name or anything else, they are just taking a tally of "For" or "Against".

I sent email to all the Senators I called today who gave me a "No Opinion At This Time" answer.

Alexander, Bennett, Casey, Corker, Hatch, Johnson, Specter and Whitehouse.