hr 3035: a textbook example of successful grassroots advocacy
DESCRIPTION
POPVOX is neutral - we don’t take sides, we don’t endorse, we just get messages to Congress in the most effective way possible. Almost daily, we get questions about what makes up a great grassroots campaign -- how individuals and groups can truly reach Congress and have an impact, instead of just adding to the noise of the hundreds of millions of messages bombarding Congress each year. The efforts of consumer and privacy advocates opposed to H.R. 3035, the Mobile Informational Call Act, provide a unique success story. The bill was introduced on September 22, 2011. Consumer and privacy advocates rallied in opposition to the bill. On December 14, the bill's sponsor, Lee Terry, responded by sending a letter to the chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, asking that his own legislation not be advanced. Congressman Terry illustrated effectiveness of constituent input. The advocates leveraged tools like POPVOX to get the message out in just the right way to have major impact. And to his great credit, the bill’s sponsor, Lee Terry, listened. How did they do it? A timeline of the efforts of the past three months present a textbook example of what a grassroots campaign should do: demonstrate support from real people, rally polifluentials and local press, engage with the official process, gain national attention, and effectively get their message to Congress.TRANSCRIPT
HR 3035:A Textbook Example of Successful Grassroots Advocacy
compiled by POPVOX.com
9/29/11
SEPT OCT NOV DEC
9/22/2011Bill introduced
1. Early awareness & engagement
9/30/11National Assoc of Consumer Advocates issues press release opposing bill
Citizens for Civil Discourse registers opposition on POPVOX.
Coverage in tech press begins.
10/3/11Within one day, over 5,000 people send a message to Congress opposing the bill using POPVOX.
SEPT OCT NOV DEC
2. A call & funnel for action
10/3/11 5,725 people opposed
10/2/11StopPoliticalCalls.org launches POPVOX widget to help people contact Congress, begins social media outreach.
SEPT OCT NOV DEC
3. Local media engagement
Editorials appear in newspapers across the country.
SEPT OCT NOV DEC
4. State “grasstops” engagement
11/2/11Indiana Attorney General holds press conference asking that people contact Congress on HR 3025 using POPVOX.
Rather than deluge the members of Congress with telephone calls, though, Zoeller said he's asking people to instead register their views via the non-partisan website, Popvox, at https://www.popvox.com/bills/us/112/hr3035.
SEPT OCT NOV DEC
5. Broad coalition engagement
11/3/11Consumer & privacy coalition send letter opposing bill.
Americans for Financial ReformCenter for Media and DemocracyCitizens for Civil Discourse (The National Political Do Not Contact Registry)Consumer ActionConsumer Federation of AmericaConsumer Watchdog
National Association of Consumer AdvocatesNational Consumer Law Center (on behalf of its low income clients)Privacy ActivismPrivacy Rights Now CoalitionEvan Hendricks, Publisher, Privacy TimesU.S. Public Interest Research Group
Dear Chairman Upton and Ranking Minority Member Waxman:
H.R. 3035 is not only unnecessary, it will effectively gut the Telephone Consumer Protection Act’s essential protections against invasion of privacy, nuisance and harassing calls. We urge you to withdraw the bill.
SEPT OCT NOV DEC
6. Growing constituent input
11/3-4/11
11/4/11 8,315 people opposed
In days before hearing an additional 3,000+ people register opposition to the bill on POPVOX.
SEPT OCT NOV DEC
7. Engagement with Congressional process
11/5/11Congressional hearing covered by CSPANState representatives and consumer advocates inlcuded.
SEPT OCT NOV DEC
8. Large advocacy organizations join
11/9/11MoveOn, FreePress, DailyKos, Credo Action, launch petitions.
SEPT OCT NOV DEC
9. National news coverage
Hearing prompts national news coverage.11/12/11
SEPT OCT NOV DEC
10. Strong showing from all states
12/7/11Attorneys General from 54 states and territories send letter opposing HR 3035.
SEPT OCT NOV DEC
11. Congress gets the message. Kills bill.
12/14/11The bill’s sponsor, Lee Terry, pronounces it dead.
“We’re driving a stake through its heart... Dead. Done. Buried.” - Rep. Lee Terry
“We have heard from our constituents. They are concerned about what they believe will happen should this legislation become law.” _ Rep. Lee Terry