Make Your Voice Heard in Richmond
The Virginia General Assembly will open the 2012 legislative session on Jan. 11. Hundreds of bills will be introduced that could potentially affect each Virginia citizen.
When lawmakers consider their votes on specific legislation, they get input from many sources. Large companies and interest groups work to influence the voting by legislators; however, lawmakers want to hear the concerns of their constituents. It is important for you to be familiar with legislation you are interested in and to make your voice heard. Read below for a few tips to get you started.
How To Be Heard
1. Use the Virginia General Assembly's home page, legis.state.va.us, click on "session tracking," and search by subject or the patron (that is the person who sponsored the bill). From there you can track a bill as it moves through the session.2. From the General Assembly home page, click on "Citizen Participation" on the lower right of the home page to learn how to find your representatives. Your voter registration card lists your House and Senate districts.
3. The General Assembly has a toll-free line, "Constituent Viewpoint Opinion Line," where you can leave a message for your legislators. The line—1-800-889-0229—takes calls from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Remember: Your voice does make a difference! For information on the Virginia General Assembly, go to legis.state.va.us.