Oh! I got a response from my letter asking for Senate support against DADT.

[donco6]

Here's the response:

Dear X:

Thank you for your recent message to my U.S. Senate office. Each week, several thousand Coloradans send me their thoughts and suggestions. This unprecedented volume is a testament to the interest that Coloradans take in the issues facing our nation.

Coloradans have contacted my office about the economic recovery bill, energy, the environment, small business, education, health care, and numerous other important topics. I appreciate hearing from each one of you because understanding your views is fundamental to my job. Please know that my staff reads each one of your letters and e-mails and keeps me consistently updated on Coloradans' concerns.

I am honored to serve as your U.S. Senator. My top priority in the Senate is to provide efficient and effective service to people across our state. Please know that my Colorado staff is available to handle specific services relating to the federal government (such as help with a passport, claim for veterans' benefits, or a citizenship matter). My Colorado office can be reached at 303-650-7820. If you would like to check on a request for services from my Washington, D.C. office, please call 202-224-5941 or toll-free at 877-7-MUDALL (877-768-3255). Otherwise, be assured that we are reading your comments.

I will continue to listen closely to what you and other Coloradans have to say about matters before Congress, the concerns of our communities, and the issues facing Colorado and the nation. My job is not about merely supporting or opposing legislation; it is also about bridging the divide that has paralyzed our nation's politics. For more information about my positions and to learn how my office can assist you, please visit my website at www.markudall.senate.gov.


So whatdya think? We're on our way by appealing to Congress instead of Obama?

[madaboutharry]

1. I read this and think it is an insulting form letter.

It insults your intellect.

You would have received the same exact letter if you had written complaining about a pothole down the street from your house.

Don't you think they could have taken the time to make up a form letter that at least had to do with the topic you wrote about?

This is why people hate politicians. They don't give a crap.

[donco6]

2. But evidently that's who were supposed to try to work through.

And this is the response. Great.

I actually do get better response from letters to the city about potholes.

[Skinner]

3. Did you send an email or a real postal-mail letter?

And was this an email response or a postal-mail response?

I ask because I think many members if congress don't even try to respond to email. They get too many, and most are not even from their own constituents. It's almost like spam.

If that is a postal-mail response to a postal-mail letter, I would be appalled.

[donco6]

4. email to email.

But I've heard snail mail takes forever to get through. But I guess that's the only option.

[ShadowLiberal]

7. Hand written letters tend to get the most attention from politicians

[donco6]

10. So, before I try again -

could someone tell me what other hoops I have to jump through to get my Senator and Representative's attention? Because I'm being told that's the only way to get DADT overturned. But I'm being stonewalled at every turn here.

[Skinner]

11. Take the text you already used in your email...

...and print it out onto a piece of paper. Make sure you include your name and address so they know you are a constituent. Put it in an envelope and mail it. Then convince all your friends to do the same.

It might take a couple months, but you should eventually get a response. Your senator is unlikely to read your letter personally, and you will not get a personalized response. But you are almost certain to get a response that is relevant to your letter. And I can promise you that your senator's office is keeping track of how many letters they are getting on each side of the issue.

[TheWraith]

12. Do you have any connections in local politics?

The local Democratic committee chairs are best. That's probably the shortest route to being able to bend your Senator's ear on something, even if you have to pass the message along secondhand.

[donco6]

13. Yes.

We have a US rep renting office space in one of our buildings. I can try there.

[kenny blankenship]

5. Sounds like you really got through to them!

It's a tremendous relief just knowing somebody is listening over there.

[donco6]

6. Yeah, I thought so, too.

We're in safe hands now!

[insleeforprez]

8. For the record, I got a response from Rep. Inslee (1-WA)

when I emailed him.

It still might have been a form letter, but at least it was a form letter for anything LGBT.


Thank you for contacting me regarding equal rights for the gay and
lesbian community. I appreciate hearing from you and want to apologize
for the delay in response.



You will be happy to know that last Congress, I was a cosponsor of H.R.
2221, the Uniting American Families Act of 2007. As you know, this bill
would amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to eliminate
discriminatory immigration laws by permitting permanent partners of
United States citizens and lawful permanent residents to obtain
permanent resident status in the United States in accordance with
current spousal provisions for obtaining permanent resident status. It
also penalizes immigration fraud in connection with permanent
partnerships. This bill has been referred to the House Committee on
Judiciary, of which I am not a member. It is my hope that this
important bill will reach the House floor in the near future.



I would also like to share with you that I was an original cosponsor of
the Domestic Partnerships Benefits and Obligations Act, H.R. 3267, in
the 109th Congress. This bill would enable the domestic partner of a
federal employee to be eligible for benefits in a similar manner and to
a similar extent as the spouse of a federal employee. This eligibility
would extend to retirement benefits, life insurance, health insurance
and compensation for work injuries. There is already strong evidence in
the private sector that offering domestic partner benefits improves the
lives of affected workers significantly without a major financial
impact.



Let me assure you that I share your deep concerns about the prejudices
that members of the gay and lesbian community face everyday. There is a
great need for us all to practice what we preach and practice tolerance
and nondiscrimination. I have a nondiscrimination policy in my office
and believe that people have an absolute right to live and work in a
safe and secure environment. Please be assured that I will continue to
work hard in Congress to further the goals of equal rights.



Please continue to contact me about the issues that concern you, as I
both need and welcome your thoughts and ideas. As a service to my
constituents, I maintain a website which contains valuable resources and
information on Congressional activities. Please feel free to visit the
website at http://www.house.gov/inslee for information on recent issues
and to learn more about the services my office provides. If you have not
done so already, please visit http://www.house.gov/inslee/signup.htm to
subscribe to my e-mail updates.



I encourage you to contact me via email, telephone, or fax, because
security measures are causing House offices to experience delays in
receiving postal mail. My email address is: [e-mail].
Please be sure to include your full name and address, including your zip
code, in your message.



Very truly yours,


JAY INSLEE

Member of Congress

[MNBrewer]

9. Looks like his co-sponsorship of Domestic Partnerships Benefits and Obligations Act

expired.

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