Katy Reeder
http://committeeschedule.legis.wisconsin.gov/files/HearingNotices/11-06-09-1015-2011AELE-15876.html
Testifying: I've had a couple of people ask me about the logistics of testifying at the Committee meetings, so I'll put that here. If you are going to testify, make sure you see Bryan's thread, which will address CONTENT of the testimony.
Getting into the Capitol. Use either Martin Luther King or the North Hamilton entrance - usually doesn't take more than a few minutes to get through security, unless you happen to be in line behind a big group. That's less likely, now that school field trips are pretty much over. Be prepared to take metal off and out of pockets, and to have security look through bags. Signs are ok, if they're not on sticks.
Tomorrow's hearing is in 225 NW. That's up two flights, since you're entering on ground floor, not first.
When you get to the hearing room, there will be a staff person outside the room, with slips of paper to fill out - for people wanting to speak or just to register for or against. If you print up the linked agenda, you'll have the bill numbers being heard. Fill out a separate slip for each bill. If the staffer isn't outside the room, just go ahead in - sometimes they go inside to listen or to turn more sheets in to the committee.
EVEN IF YOU DON'T THINK YOU WANT TO SPEAK, please register to speak, just in case. I used to think I didn't want to testify - but then I'd listen to other testimony or to the questions of the legislators, and decide that I just HAVE to say something!!! If that's the case, then you want to be in the queue. If you register to speak, and end up not speaking, then your opposition or support for a bill is still counted.
Take some extra copies of your notes or prepared statement, to turn in after you've spoken.
They usually hear from invited guests first, and then take the rest of the public pretty much in the order that people filled out the slips. People are usually allowed 2 or 3 minutes to speak, depending on how many are there to testify.
RE: holding signs. We finally have things pretty well opened up for holding signs in the committee meetings. Unless you are planning an action or demonstration, we suggest that a sign be no larger than about the size of your torso, so you can hold it in front of you without blocking anyone else's view. The staffer might ask you to leave signs outside the room. That's up to you, if you want to insist on your First Amendment rights or not - it's been a focus of ours for the last couple of months, so we might push that ourselves, but if you really want to keep your focus on testifying, then you can just leave signs out in the hallway.
PLEASE TESTIFY, IF AT ALL POSSIBLE.!!! Look them in the eye, and tell them what you think and feel. Even if the vote on the bill goes the wrong way, you'll know that you did everything you could, and your testimony will be in the record.
committeeschedule.legis.wisconTestifying: I've had a couple of people ask me about the logistics of testifying at the Committee meetings, so I'll put that here. If you are going to testify, make sure you see Bryan's thread, which will address CONTENT of the testimony.
Getting into the Capitol. Use either Martin Luther King or the North Hamilton entrance - usually doesn't take more than a few minutes to get through security, unless you happen to be in line behind a big group. That's less likely, now that school field trips are pretty much over. Be prepared to take metal off and out of pockets, and to have security look through bags. Signs are ok, if they're not on sticks.
Tomorrow's hearing is in 225 NW. That's up two flights, since you're entering on ground floor, not first.
When you get to the hearing room, there will be a staff person outside the room, with slips of paper to fill out - for people wanting to speak or just to register for or against. If you print up the linked agenda, you'll have the bill numbers being heard. Fill out a separate slip for each bill. If the staffer isn't outside the room, just go ahead in - sometimes they go inside to listen or to turn more sheets in to the committee.
EVEN IF YOU DON'T THINK YOU WANT TO SPEAK, please register to speak, just in case. I used to think I didn't want to testify - but then I'd listen to other testimony or to the questions of the legislators, and decide that I just HAVE to say something!!! If that's the case, then you want to be in the queue. If you register to speak, and end up not speaking, then your opposition or support for a bill is still counted.
Take some extra copies of your notes or prepared statement, to turn in after you've spoken.
They usually hear from invited guests first, and then take the rest of the public pretty much in the order that people filled out the slips. People are usually allowed 2 or 3 minutes to speak, depending on how many are there to testify.
RE: holding signs. We finally have things pretty well opened up for holding signs in the committee meetings. Unless you are planning an action or demonstration, we suggest that a sign be no larger than about the size of your torso, so you can hold it in front of you without blocking anyone else's view. The staffer might ask you to leave signs outside the room. That's up to you, if you want to insist on your First Amendment rights or not - it's been a focus of ours for the last couple of months, so we might push that ourselves, but if you really want to keep your focus on testifying, then you can just leave signs out in the hallway.
PLEASE TESTIFY, IF AT ALL POSSIBLE.!!! Look them in the eye, and tell them what you think and feel. Even if the vote on the bill goes the wrong way, you'll know that you did everything you could, and your testimony will be in the record.
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