Who is reading you emails to Senators? Possible ethics violation?

[Demrock6]

So I was watching the ANWR vote this morning on C-span. I decided to write to Norm Coleman a, republican, thanking him for supporting the amendment to prevent drilling. It is not to often I thank a republican, but I thanked him for his vote.

Shortly after I get a reply. I thought it was funny because I knew the senate was still in session. So I got back to C-Span, and they were about to do another vote. They did the roll call, and Mr. Coleman came up. After I got the email. Actually with in 3 minutes. I got the reply at 3:39 pm. They voted at 3:42 or so.

So I don't think he is the guy writing back. Is this odd or is it just me? Is it alright for his staff to read the contact forms and reply putting Norm Coleman, United States Senator at the bottom? I waited to post this to make sure Coleman was not a no vote. He is still there in senate chambers.

Is this how it typically works? Staff members write back? It does look as if the letter is copy and pasted. Does this violate ethics rules?

[tjdee]

1. Yes, staffers read the emails.

Sometimes they'll take note of the "support" vs. "reject" letters...but mostly you get a form letter that usually says "thanks for your email/letter" and that "Senator/Congressperson Blah blah is committed to blah blah blah".

It is very rare to get a personal reply from a Congressman/Senator.

Sorry to burst your bubble!

[Demrock6]

2. That is cool. Just kind of odd they dont make it clear it is not them.

[hopein08]

3. Santorum

is my Senator and when I send him emails, he sends snail mail letters back. At the bottom of the letters are his initials in capital letters and the initials of what I presume is a staffer in lower case. I remember learning in school that the lower case initials are for who actually wrote the letter, in place of the higher up person. I would think that it would be the same for emails.

[KitchenWitch]

9. Actually that is innaccurate

The uppercase initials are for the author, the lowercase initials are for who typed/transcribed the letter. (Used to be a secretary)

[ISUGRADIA]

4. I'd guess 99% of the correspondence to a Senate

Office that is replied to is never seen by the Senator. There are just not enough hours in the day. And most replies are form letters replying to the general subject of a constituent's letter.

[penpal7]

5. usuallly staffers, and usually a form letter,at some point though

you may get a more in depth reply, I have found that minnesota senators and house reps usually do answer your question although it make take some time. Oberstar and dayton are very good at getting back, coleman still won't answer my qustion about what happened to the 9 billion that went missing in Iraq.

[BlueEyedSon]

6. There are "autoresponders" too - just a program that replies....

[nytemare]

7. I tried to send my congressman an e mail twice

I live in Florida, and I got a "we got your e mail" response from a congressman in Missouri and I think Indiana.

:wtf:

[no name no slogan]

8. This is what interns or recent PoliSci graduates do

So if you're thinking about going into politics, this is where you start.

[itzamirakul]

10. I have been told that if you want to be sure the politican reads your

communication, then you should send it by snail mail.

Some people fax and get better results than they get with emails also.

[katinmn]

11. All elected officials have "constituent services" staff.

For example, there are probably a half dozen people in Pawlenty's office that respond to letters from citizens.

I think elected officials read less than one percent of their correspondence.