I'm sooo frustrated and tired of...

[Former_Member]

BEING IGNORED! I just sent off a terse letter to Diana DeGette demanding a response and demanding guidance. I let her know that I was trying to comply but it is impossible to comply completely...this is my 5th email to her this week and no response! rrrrrr..!

I'm tired of being nice and thanking them for thinking of our kids....i'm tired of being nice. the deadline is looming and something has to change one way or the other. Have you noticed that there has been no congressional response to this...only CPSC. the congress has a responsibility to help us through this FBOS!

sorry for the rant!

[LaurieRyan]

which again is why we are working so darn hard to get that stupid law repealed. it is so badly written that no one can figure out what needs to be tested and what doesn't. see other threads for ways you can help get the stupid law repealed

[Former_Member]

Hey turtle, at least you got on tv. Mine pretty much said all they care about right now is the big three and the stupid aut show. i wouldn't worry about it. they probably have so many emails and letters they don't know what to do with them. they are having a closed door meeting today, commerce and energy, so something is happening. i was writing that we need to get anationally recognized show to do a segment on this. i emailed the brochure and a short letter to oprah, martha, limbaugh, good morning america, the today and the view. i think this is where our focus should be now. get one of them to bite and now the whole nation will be in an uproar. i'm post links right now!!!

[Former_Member]

Hang in there!

[CogansCreations]

I think a lot of the non-responsiveness has to do with the fact that the Senators and Congressmen do not actually read and respond themselves to the e-mails and/or letters in most cases. This is done by interns and staff in their offices. I know this because my daughter is an intern in one of the PA Congressmen's offices in DC. She told me that they in her office did not know how to respond to the inquiries because no-one at the CPSA would return their calls that they made for clarifications on the questions that were asked by the constituents who wrote. I'm sure this is also the case with other members of the House and Senate as well.

It is already quite obvious that the Senators and Congressmen never actually read the law before they passed it last fall, and now they are likely either scrambling to come up with a position/opinion and let their staff know it, or they have decided that this is not something they even want to deal with (given everything else going on in DC these days) and have left their staffs to try and get information and respond.

We all need to keep at it. Eventually someone in those offices is going to get fed up and overwhelmed and demand that answers be given to them...by either their boss (the duly elected representatives) or the CPSA.

[Former_Member]

I called her office in mid Dec and spoke to a very nice aide but when I called back the next week for more information a VEERY prissy and snotty receptionist refused to forward my call because I "blabbed" about my conversation on the internet. So I've been relunctant to call back...I really don't like being screamed at. So I've emailed and emailed and emailed...

I've always supported DeGette and have though she's served Denver well...but I'm so sure anymore. Even if she doesn't agree with me at least she could respond!

[LaurieRyan]

OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!! what a bit.......... have you tried writing letters, I've heard that works better as letters have to be processed once they are received unlike phone calls and email messages

[Former_Member]

turtleparktots says:
I called her office in mid Dec and spoke to a very nice aide but when I called back the next week for more information a VEERY prissy and snotty receptionist refused to forward my call because I "blabbed" about my conversation on the internet. So I've been relunctant to call back...I really don't like being screamed at. So I've emailed and emailed and emailed...
---------------------
OMG...who the hell do these people think they are?

[LaurieRyan]

God probable

[Former_Member]

I was really taken back by it...it was if I let the world know some homeland security secret. he accused me of being media and trying to get around the press people...I finally screamed back and told him I am a company of one with out a horde of lawyers and I have every right to call as a constituent and blog about it if I want. I was shaken up for days about it. In one of my many emails to DeGette to told her about it...maybe he'll get fired!

[LaurieRyan]

I hope so too what a totally jerk

[Former_Member]

I emailed again for the third time today! i'm tired of this!

[Former_Member]

Oh - do they not want us discussing this? I spoke with someone in my Senator's office, then wrote a little thread on it. The gal I spoke with didn't indicate that our conversation was in any way privileged. Since it's not litigation or an ongoing criminal investigation (or, at least not yet...lol), I would presume I have some sort of right to discuss it. I wonder if I should worry...

[thetrendytot]

turtlepark, I know how you feel. I wrote a letter to Senator Ted Kennedy's office (he's my state Senator) about the CPSIA and got a form letter back thanking me and saying that he shares my concern over food safety and the FDA. REALLY!! Can't the interns and legislative assistants in that office at least send me back the right FORM LETTER? For crying out loud.

[TheFairiesNest]

I received the same form letter from my Senator....grrr...

[Former_Member]

Hey Turtleparktots - Call from your cell phone or have a friend call from there phone and ask for the name of the "staffer" for Degette that is in charge of handling the issue with the CPSIA. Every Congressperson/senator has a "staffer" that is assigned to this issue. They are probably out of her DC office. Then call and talk directly to that person. I might want to mention to them how you where treated by the other aide. Good luck and let us know.

[Former_Member]

yikes I am the typo queen ;)

[Former_Member]

Let me get this straight....
You are a senator/congressman elected by the public to hold a position in public office to represent the public in your district, but whatever conversation you have with this public servant is confidential, private and NOT for the public to know?!?!?!
I don't think any of us were aware of the "senator-constituent privileged information relationship".
Give me a break...I don't know if I should laugh or throw up.

[Former_Member]

turtleparktots....You should absolutely talk about it. Maybe you can remind that moron that said those things to you that when his boss isn't reelected next time around that he will be out of a job.

[Former_Member]

I know I was surprised when he pulled the whole "consituent confidentiality" thing...yea right! I'm trying to get up the nerve to call again..I think they were just pissed 'cause i told people to call her office. they must have been bombarded.

it really upset me...i'm not sure why. I didn't do anything wrong. This is the first time in my life that i've actually asked something from my reps. not a good experience. it's a shame because I know people who have worked for DeGette, they encouraged me to contact her...they all said she's down to earth and easy to work with. i'm not having a good experience!

the staffer I spoke to the first time was extremely nice and helpful...he worked closely with DeGette on the CPSIA but mr. prissy wouldn't forward my call to him again.

[woolies]

the law will not be repealed. There is no way.

the other thing to consider - if you are writing to congress complaining that your business will not survive, are you licensed as a business? Cause I heard that they are checking. And reporting your business to the IRS, if you are not a licensed business.

[Former_Member]

I'm a fully licensed business and I'm in the process of paying my taxes

...I'm not asking for this law to repealed in the near future...i'm asking for guidance and perhaps exemptions. I'm demanding a response! I deserve one as a constituent!

[AMjewelry]

I've know and know people who have been professional staffers on the Hill. Calling and emailing congressional offices repeatedly, making demands and being upset typically gets the average constituent nowhere but to the bottom of the list in terms of the priority of written responses. Most of the staffers are young and being paid bubkiss. A little calmness to and consideration of them goes a long way. The ones drafting the responses to most of the mail aren't typically not in a position to make any substantive changes or efforts to resolve the issue.

If you really want face time with your congressperson, make an appointment to see him or her the next time they are in-state or in their district.

Plus, calling and writing congressional offices repeatedly about one issue in a shrill and demanding tone is only going to get you a call/visit/file from or with DHS or the FBI. Besides, how much attention is being paid to anything other than Inauguration, confirming the new Cabinet and dealing with the country's widescale financial crisis for the next 100 or more days? My bet is nada.

[Former_Member]

I'm so sorry Turtle, this certainly is a new one "constituent confidentiality".

[Former_Member]

wow! so what...do nothing and try not to make them mad and ask them to do their jobs while my business that i've worked so hard to build is ripped from me.

I've been calm...for a month and a half when I started to politely contact her office. And I did talk directly to a staffer...why is it so much to ask of them to respond? right?

I don't have time to wait for her to come back to denver...I have three weeks to comply with a law that I can't possibly comply with...