Idaho Legislature (and others too): From Frustration to Influence: Turning Disagreement into Action. By Idaho Rep. Heather Scott (07/23/25)

repheatherscott.substac…

Rep. Scott offers great tips for working with your legislators most effectively, including:

• Don’t yell at or attack them on social media!

• Be informed and precise.

• Communicate directly and respectfully.

• Organize with others.

• Participate.

• Stay professional, not personal.

• If no response from your inundated representative, find alternate routes.

Summary (Grok ai, edited; image from article; Grok logo from Grok website):

Rep. Heather Scott explains how Idahoans (and citizens of other states) can constructively engage with elected officials when disagreements arise. Her tips on what to do…

Be Informed and Precise

ED NOTE
In the future, we plan to use Grok AI (grok.com) to help us tease out the legalese before we read a bill, after we read it, and as a guide when communicating with legislators.

We will save the bill's PDF file on our computer, attach it to Grok as input, then use a query such as the following to get a summary:
_____
Please summarize the attached file. Do not use outside links. Create a summary paragraph, use bold headings, paragraphs and bullets for rest of file.
_____
📌 AI is NOT a substitute for actually reading and thinking about a bill. Sometimes AI skips important details or gets things dead wrong. So keep your brain engaged when using AI.

• Research the issue, read legislative text, note bill numbers and sponsors.

• Use Idaho Legislature’s website for accurate bill status and history.

• Avoid relying on headlines, gossip, or social media for opinions.

Communicate Directly and Respectfully

• Use concise, personal messages via calls or emails.

• Explain issue’s impact on you or your community.

• Maintain respectful tone to foster dialogue.

Organize Your Voice with Others

• Collective, authentic voices amplify impact.

• Avoid generic scripts or templates to prevent data collection by lobbyists.

• Sincere concerns reflect district priorities.

Participate in the Process

• Provide public testimony via Zoom, in-person, or written submissions.

• Attend local events, coffee talks, or virtual town halls.

• Face-to-face engagement demonstrates commitment.

Stay Professional, Not Personal

• Avoid public shaming or personal attacks.

• Use facts, shared values, constitutional principles, and personal experiences.

• Understand legislators balance multiple viewpoints and in-depth information.

Handling Lack of Response

• Legislators juggle full-time jobs, legislative duties, and family; paid $25,000/year with no staff.

• Each legislator represents ~50,000-55,000 voters, receives high communication volumes (e.g., 300+ daily for Scott).

• If no response, try alternative contact methods (phone, text, events, Zoom) and persist.

Civic Responsibility

• Republic requires ongoing vigilance beyond elections.

• Good government stems from engaged citizens.

Related:

• Idaho Legislature 2025 Bills to Support or Oppose (updated as needed): tinyurl.com/2z6nxk77

  Check out the special subsections under Resources (eolson47.substack.com/i…), including:

  • Health Freedom

  • Idaho Legislature Resources

  • Bill Trackers & Analyses

  • 🤑 Follow the Money 👣

  • Advocacy, Testimony, & Legislator Interaction

  • ☎️📧 Contacting Your Idaho Legislators

• Contact Rep. Heather Scott:

  District 2A, Idaho House of Representatives | 208-920-3120