Elected Representative Complaint: FAIL
 

So I took the time to contact Congressman Gerald Connolly of Virginia's office about the "enhanced" gropes being done by TSA. My letter to him ONLY addressed the two TSA issues: gropes and the strip-search machines.

Here's the response I got:

Not. Even. Close. You and your staff didn't even read the letter. DO you read legislation with this care before you vote on it?

Mr. Connolly: you and your staff: FAIL. You may be bigger idiots than some of the folks in TSA management.

Guess I'll be paying an in-person visit to the congressional office next week. I can't wait to see their look when I show the original letter and the response.

I get these all the time from Lautenberg, Menendez and Lance.

Idiots!

Exercise your right to :
Vote
Everyone of
Them
Out
............................................

I've sent such responses back to them along with my original letter - that seems to bring a response to the subject at hand, but it's always an "anything for security" response.

Hey, at least you got a reply...

I have not received any replies to any of the letters I have sent to Cardin, Mikulski or Cummings in over a year, not even the form letter saying "we got your letter and are looking into the issues."

I sent a message to my senators early this week. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (Texas) being such a supportive representative of the public didn't even bother with a canned response.

It is clear that Texas Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison has no time for the little people.

I hope Texas Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison asks for my vote so I can tell her to F Off.

It sounds like somebody enjoys their connection to www.tsaporn.com too much ;) :mad:

And hasn't for a long time. 10 years ago when I worked in DC and flew every week, 3 or 4 times next to her, she couldn't be bothered to talk to a constituent.

"Attention ...."
 

You will get their attention when members of Congress (all elected officials for that matter) need your money (political contribution) to continue the campagin, and/or, on election day to get out & vote - if it's a closely contested race (if it's a landslide, forgetaboutit) or a run-off within their own party. The morning after election day, win or lose, and for days & weeks afterward, you won't hear from him/her - no news, emails or automated calls - all of a sudden, the average citizen is no longer important.

Making a personal visit to the Hill, call ahead & speak to the appointment secretary as a constituent of their district, tell him/her (the staffer) that you would like to meet with the Congressman briefly for a photo op while touring the Capital buildings, and you wanted to "contribute" and support his efforts on behalf of the constituents. (Note: that does NOT necessary mean a financial contribution ....)

That should give him a nice surprise when you show him your letter & their canned reply, after getting your photo taken first.

I wrote to Sen. Claire McCaskill in January, largely taking a template from this board saying that the strip-search machines were not a reasoned response to the Christmas Day bombing attempt. The reply said nothing about that, and just went over the arguments over whether the suspect should be tried in civilian or military court. She is on the Homeland Security Committee and chairs the Subcommittee on Contracting Oversight, which should have questions about how Rapiscan got the deal.

Last week I called my Senator, Hatch Utah-R. I left a message with a staffer. Less than 2 hours later I had a phone conversation with his staffer who works with him on the Judiciary Committee. We had a very good conversation (he thought the gates searches were unnecessary). While we did not agree on everything it was a good conversation - to the point that he was going inquiry to the TSA as to why they felt (pun intended) the need to feel up PAX. I in turned promised to report on my Bos experience next week.

However, in general I have found the response letters which are typically written by staffers often to be lacking. As such, I find it better to call - as it wastes less time of my time.

i agree 100% but let's be fair as it has to cross both sides of the aisle ;)

Vote
Everyone of
Them
Out

3rd rail reply. I dont mind saying "I told you so".

This is surprising? Since I'm assuming you didn't include a really nice campaign contribution, that's why you got the form letter response. Congresscritters listen to donors, not voters.

TSORon, this is twice that you have mentioned the "Third Rail".

Are you suggesting that DHS/TSA is subverting the government of the United States?

I get it, you dont understand the reference. OK, google it.:rolleyes:

Third Rail, which is why in a post (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/14372381-post7.html) I made sometime ago that no matter how much we want to piss and moan very very little will change. We might see some small push back but not much unless the court get involves. No matter which party is in office.

In their defense, realize that many offices get tens of thousands (or more) letters each year, and there might be a staff of 4-5 people who handle all of them, in addition to performing other legislative duties. I've worked in a Congressional office; you basically only have time to skim the letters at most.

Considering recent history you should also consider how many members of congress are looking to be groped in airports. :rolleyes:

Can't speak for Hutchison, but when I get replies from my senators, it takes 3 to 4 weeks, even for messages sent through their web sites.

I received an immediate canned response from both Representative Hensarling and Senator Conryn yet absolutely nothing from Senator Hutchison.

I don't expect a personal reply, I don't expect an immediate response saying action is being taken but I do expect to know that my concerns aren't being round filed without even a look.

OP-
You need to read the response in the proper voice, a Charles Schulz's Peanuts adult character voice, "Wanh wanh, wah wah wah wah." Then it all becomes clear.

It could backfire, but I've been wondering about making the points:

There isn't this type of screening for people meeting with the president.

The Capitol and Congressional office buildings are arguably higher-profile targets than an average airline flight. Are they willing to have AIT installed there and have themselves and their staff screened each time they enter?

In other words, politicians are like cats. If they want something, they're all over you; the rest of the time they're sitting on the fence. ;)

You got it - case in point, those running in office will send out their local volunteers on the ground, go around door to door & get your signature on their petitions to be on the ballot - they have your names, address & phone number (yes, amazing ....) - calling you on election day to get out the votes.

A month or two later, once they are sworn it, good luck in hearing from them unless you are a fat cat (major donor). Cycle repeat itself, 6 to 12 months before re-election, newsletters & emails start hitting your mail/in-boxes again - time for that signature or contribution.

Visit the Hill, you meet the receptionist/secretary, wait, maybe greeted by an aide or legislative or constituion affairs director, watch the Congressional Pages running their errands and consider yourself really lucky if your member is ACTUALLY in the office & get to say hello & chat for 5 minutes + photo ops (and NOT on the floor voting or tied up on a roll call, hearing, etc. / away on an urgent matter)

a fence with sharp pointy poles afaic ;)

My Rep also sends out form letters, sometimes they are off topic! My Senators are much better but their replies sometime takes months.

Have sent 4 letters regarding different issues (2 re: my experiences with the TSA) to Patty Murray's office and Maria Cantwell's (Senators for WA state) over the last 4 years. Senator Cantwell's office sends a response that addresses my concerns. Not a word from Patty Murray's office. Guess who didn't receive my vote this year - just indicative of how they operate imo.

Have you called your representative to complain
 

about the TSA? I'm wondering how many people have called their representatives in Congress to complain about the TSA? We all post here about our horrible experiences, but perhaps if we had a PLANNED telethon to the reps in DC and tied up the phones, fax lines, etc. all at once we could get some media attention and maybe (at least in my "ideal" world) some changes to this getting worse every trip government agency. How many reps have you called and what was the outcome?

I have. "Cockroach" response if they even understood.

In person visits are far, far better.

Really no point in sending letters. They'll just send back a canned response... :td:

My rep is busy preparing a defense for her ethics charges. I don't think she gives a rats azz about her constituents. I wrote her 4 months ago about a request for documents that I need her help with and have had no response.

I had much better luck with our previous representative but when we moved we switched districts. And the previous rep was not a TSA fan. This one, who knows?

I've written my representatives. The results have been quite mixed but nothing to make me excited that some change is in the works...

I don't have a representative that I can write, but I suspect that the myth of TSA being the key to preventing future terrorist actions is so engrained now that the politician who lobbies against TSA will have a very difficult time convincing the public.

I believe that continued education of the masses of the myth and security theatre will do more to change the future.

But writing doesn't hurt.

I spoke with my representative after there was a rash of reports of women with breast prostheses being pulled out of WBI for very public searches of their breasts. He listened some what, wrote a letter to Rossides and that was the end of it.

P.S.

Rossides apparently never replied to him.

My Representative certainly disagrees with me, but he does take the time to write back eventually. I even get personal notes written on the mainly-form letter replies!

What's more likely to get results is arranging a "group visit" to Capitol Hill. Hit up key elected representative offices - the more the better. Perhaps best done in conjunction with the "organized resistance" effort.

A PAC wouldn't hurt, either.

Regular visits of this kind are a key reason that government contractors get business.

I like that idea. The AA employees did that last year.

I've written mine - one didn't respond, the other sent me back a canned nonsense response about wholeheartedly supporting the "vital and important mission of the TSA" - I think I vomited after reading it.

We tried to setup a PAC before and were being advised by a professional lobbyist - who eventually disappeared on us and was never heard from again. I ran out of time and resources to continue it, but I'd be happy to do what I can if we want to try it again.

I think momentum would be on our side this time around - the environment has turned pretty nasty against the TSA over the last 18 months or so.

OK, I'm in EWR land also - who is your rep that he actually responds? The only time mine has ever responded is when I confronted him!

I'd be more than happy to participate in a "group visit."