Pub. 15 2016-2017 Issue 4

N E W J E R S E Y C O A L I T I O N O F A U T O M O T I V E R E T A I L E R S I S S U E N O . 1 , 2 0 1 7 28 new jersey auto retailer Senator Steven Oroho (R-24) Q1: Either via a phone call to the legis- lative office or an email. Contacting the legislator directly is always welcome, however my legislative/constit uent services staff tracks all communication into the office to make sure it is ap- propriately addressed. For complicated issues, often personal contact of a phone call is a good way to start the process. However, it’s particularly effective to follow up with an email that explains the issue in as much detail as possible. The email may precipitate a meeting to discuss the matter at greater length. Often times, the email is self-explana- tory enough so that, if needed, we can simply use it to communicate directly with a department head, a person in the administration or another organization for response and action. Q2: An informative position paper helps educate the legislator about an issue when it includes detail, but a sum- mary can also be helpful. A detailed position paper should not only advocate for one’s point of view, but it’s also im- portant to address how the opponents of the issue may weigh in. Such a compre- hensive analysis fosters credibility and helps focus the legislator on the integral points of the policy debate. Q3: It certainly matters if the issue is a public safety issue, because that is a core responsibility of government. However, for other issues, I focus on how it affects the competitive posi- tion of New Jersey. New Jersey must significantly improve its competitive economic position and be attractive to capital investment. Capital is the lifeblood of any economy, and the out- come is good jobs. My point of view has always been capital equals investment, and investment equals jobs. Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon (R-13) Assembly Republican Budget Officer Q1: Via phone or email to my legislative office: 732-933-1591, Asmoscanlon@ njleg. A brief explanation of the cir- cumstances in a phone call, followed up by an email elaborating on those circumstances is best. This helps to create a narrative to convey to others. Q2: Basic facts and background help me understand the genesis of the issue. Including an examination of various potential solutions and demonstra- tion that homework regarding those potential solutions has been done is also helpful. Q3: It is all about the facts and what action is justified by those facts. Politics - all aspects of politics - plays virtually no role in my issues conclusions and advocacy. Senator Nellie Pou (D-35) Q1: My office works each day to serve the needs of constituents in my district, includ- ing those of business owners, who call, email or visit my office to discuss an issue they may be dealing with. For busi- nesses, it may be a regulation they’ve encountered that has become challeng- ing to navigate, an application for a grant they are seeking assistance with from a State agency, or an opportunity to talk about how we can ensure our workforce is prepared for the jobs the market demands. I also regularly meet with business owners in my district and with business organizations to discuss their specific needs and hear about the issues at the State and national levels that are affecting their operations. Q2: It is often helpful if a constituent provides background briefly explaining the matter they would like to discuss to provide the full scope of the issue at hand. Information that demonstrates the extent of a problem or issue can be beneficial in determining how best to address it in a timely way. In the case of a business, I want to hear how the issue is specifically affecting a company and its employees. When it comes to policy positions, my approach has always been to get as much information as possible, and to understand the full impact of a policy on all stakeholders, before mak- ing a decision.