How to Complain About Bonuses and Bail Outs
Congress is Listening. Which Voices Will They Hear?
As President Obama works on behalf of the American public, political action committees, special interest groups, and lobbies are working to get the people they represent a portion of government bailout money. Most Americans were properly indignant when they learned that companies used taxpayer money to issue over 18 million dollar in bonuses. The public's lobbyist is, as Hubert Humphrey famously pointed out, the president, and the best way for people to communicate to the government is through their local congressional representatives and senators.
Contacting Member of Congress to Complain
Most people would like to actually schedule a meeting with their members of congress, but that is not always possible. Writing to and calling members is effective, as shown by Lisa Desjardins CNN report, "Unhappy Voters Jam Capitol Hill Phone Lines". Desjardins writes that, "In a sampling of 12 Senate offices, half had so many messages that their voicemail boxes were full." Contacting member of congress works, especially when people can specifically refer to election promises.
The easy numbers to use are:
- Senate (202) 224-3121
- House (202) 225-3121
- Secretary of the Senate - (202) 224-3622
- House Clerk's Office (202) 225-7000
On February 11, 2009, the House Financial Services Committee will hold a hearing with bank CEOs to review bailout funds and expenses. To be heard, Contact the House Finance Committee:
(202) 225–4247
House Financial Services Committee
2129 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
State websites can provide local contact phone numbers, fax numbers, and addresses, and they can also be found in an online directory for congress addresses.
Moveon.org's Online Petition
Sometimes it is easier to let others do the hard work of figuring out what to say, and joining their battles. Move On has an online petiton, designed to support President Obama's move to limit bonus amounts and apply those limits retroactively. The simple petition states, "Congress must place enforceable, common-sense limits on salaries at all the banks that have taken taxpayer dollars." The petitons will be collected, printed, and send to the appropriate representatives. There is also a space to personalize the message with comments.
Before dismissing the idea of an online petition as ineffective, visit Move On's success stories and see how much work the organization has done to improve America's ethical actions. Some of their successes include:
- convincing almost 6,000 people to call members of congress to voice their opinions about torture
- facilitating "thousands of letters to the editor" about budget cuts, which pressured law-makers to think of public needs
- created a facebook page with over 80,000 members that supported privacy in Facebook transactions, causing Facebook to rethink a controversial decision.
Become a CNN Ireporter to be Heard
It is easy to set up an easy-to-be-buried blog with free blogging tools, but CNN's Ireport is free and effective. Users must register and create their own stories on newsworthy topics, and then CNN readers and viewers have access to those stories. CNN chooses stories to highlight, and the bailout and bonuses are popular topics.
It is important that members of congress remember who they are representing when they meet with CEOs and lobbiests, and the best way for them to remember their constituents is to hear from them by phone, mail, and fax.
It Is Time To Be Heard by Congress
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