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Congratulations! You Won!
A How To Handbook for State Lawmakers
 About State Legislatures
Contents
Introduction
Contributors
Foreword
Honor the institution
"You don't have to take yourself too seriously, but you
should revere the Legislature as an institution."
--Representative Donna Sytek, New Hampshire
Take the high road
"There's one easy rule. If you have to ask if it's ethical,
it isn't."
--Senator Richard Finan, President Pro Tem, Ohio
Master the rules
"You have a distinct advantage over everyone else when you know the rules."
--Betty King, Secretary of the Senate, Texas
Know where to get help
"Information is power. Learn how to acquire it; who has it;
where to get it; how to use it. The more information you can process
and learn to use, the more influence you can have."
--Representative George Cunningham, Arizona
Manage your time
"Put someone in charge of scheduling--a staffer or a volunteer.
And don't make appointments yourself unless you write them down
and tell your scheduler or you'll have to be in two places at once."
--Representative Jane Campbell, Ohio
Develop a specialty
"The only way to make a difference in the legislature is
to narrow your focus and get involved in at least a couple of issues in depth."
--Speaker Paul Hillegonds, Michigan
Vote your conscience
"Your constituents will understand and do not need to agree
with you on every issue, especially if you tell them when you disagree."
--Joe Mayo,Clerk of the House and former legislator, Maine
Don't burn bridges
"Every issue has at least two points of view. The effective
legislator is the one who can appreciate all sides and work with
all factions to create a solution that everyone can support."
--Representative Ann Torr, Majority Leader, New Hampshire
Keep your word
"Credibility is everything in politics. Lose it
and you lose your effectiveness."
--Senator David Helbach, Wisconsin
Be careful what you agree to
"The good old boy and the good old girl process in the legislature
can get you into a lot of trouble. I know people who have signed
on to bills and when the bill came to committee they were absolutely
opposed to it--but there they were, signed on as a sponsor."
--Larry Campbell, former Speaker of the House, Oregon
Don't hog the mike
"Always do your homework before speaking on the floor. Be
brief and to the point. Speaking on every bill or going to the
microphonetoo often can diminish your effectiveness."
--Senator Fred Risser, Wisconsin
Stay in touch with your constituents
"Too often we get caught up in the antics of the Capitol
and those who elect us seem far removed. When election time rolls
around we find we've become political insiders, not representatives of our district."
--Assemblywoman Valerie Brown, California
Be a problem solver
"Jumping on an issue to enhance your visibility is politics
at its worst. Demonstrate your leadership and effectiveness by
being part of a solution in your district, not part of a problem."
Work with the media
"A good relationship with your local and statehouse press
corps begins on your first day in office." --Senate President Donald DiFrancesco, New Jersey
Stop and smell the roses
" Voters want you to be a person. They want to know you aren't
neglecting your family, your business, your job."
--Senator David Nething, North Dakota
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