January 14, 2006

VVAW - alert - contacts needed right away

An alert was sent out on Wednesday, 1/11, but not all of you received it as there was a power outage here for 5 hours.

To those who got it, some of this will be repetitive, but there is also lots of new info, and new requests for contact.

We need many emails (or faxes, or phone calls, or personal visits to their Richmond or district offices) regarding the VVAW bills that have been introduced.

NOTE: Please always provide your name and address when sending an email; a phone number would be good if you don’t object.

NOTE: The opposition is already working to defeat these bills. Please let legislators know that not everyone in Virginia subscribes to the goals of hunt or gun lobbying groups.

NOTE: We started with a suite of VVAW initiatives in September. The bill numbers below are the FINAL VERSIONS being considered by the General Assembly.

As of this writing (early day 1/14/06), 11 VVAW bills were introduced.

the bills subject patron

HB 265 license fee Hargrove

HB 318 penalties Albo

HB 654 seized Plum

HB 835 tax credit Welch (also HB 1367 Hull)

HB 1114 tax credit Athey

HB 1091 gas chambers Scott, J.

HB 1095 inspections Amundson

(also HB1168 inspections bill by Eisenberg; however, the Eisenberg bill as it now stands

is not acceptable to us; DO NOT contact Del. Eisenberg until the bill is corrected)

SB 55 releasing Reynolds

SB 232 whistle blower Ticer

PLEASE, SUPPORT SB 55 AND SEN. REYNOLDS FIRST AND LOUDEST. See below for details.

This what you need to do.

1. First, contact members of the committees that will hear the bills. For the committee, IT MAKES NO DIFFERENCE IF THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS do not represent you personally; in this case, committee members represent the entire state. You need to say that you want them to support HB 265, etc. Do it short and sweet, and send it to each committee member for each bill.

At this time, the senate bills (patroned by Reynolds and Ticer) have both been assigned to the Senate Ag Committee.

IMPORTANT: Sen. Reynolds’s SB 55 MUST GET IMMEDIATE SUPPORT. DO THIS FIRST.

For Senate Ag Committee members, click here:

We expect all House bills to be assigned to the Ag Committee. At present, only HB 265 (Hargrove’s license fee cap), HB 318 (Albo’s penalties bill), and HB 654 (Plum’s seized animals bill) have been assigned to the House Ag Committee, but do them all anyway.

For House Ag committee members, click here:

Make a separate call or separate email for each bill. Yes, we know that’s a lot of calls and a lot of emails, but we must be sure each bill has an indication of support. If the aide tells you they’ll be sure to record you interest in all bills, then do so.

2. Then let your own delegate and your own senator know you want their support on all these bills. You need to say you are their constituent, and you want them to support HB 265, etc.

Again, it will be better if you send a separate email or make a separate call for each bill, and it can be as short as just saying you want them to support ____, and identify the bill by number.

For a way to reach your own delegate or senator, click here:

3. Last, take a minute to thank the patrons of these bills. They are a dedicated and courageous group of legislators who are working with us to make change. They deserve your thanks.

Tell the patron of your support and thank them for patroning the legislation, and you can provide the bill number (see above). Just short and sweet.

You can reach the patrons of these bills by clicking here

Hargrove

Albo

Plum

Welch

Scott, J.

Amundson

Athey

Hull

Reynolds

Ticer

4. Please let us know that you have sent out emails, faxed or called.

And, of course, let us hear any reactions you get, especially if you make phone calls in support of the animals.

Thank you. Start – OR CONTINUE – contacting!

Time is critical. The committees are meeting now. Opposition is organized and vocal – and from as far away as California!

Lillian Clancy and Don Marro