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Letters from Roberta

Roberta Schlechter
Keep Our ​50 States
Volunteer NW Region Director
Oregon

 

Roberta Schlechter is a former legislative staffer in Oregon and Northwest Region (Alaska, Idaho, Oregon & Washington) Director of the Michigan-based KEEP OUR 50 STATES. She has advocated against the National Popular Vote since 2008. Opinions expressed are exclusively those of the Author.


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Roberta Schlechter
Click the Headline of any article to open it and make it available for download.​

​To leave your COMMENT on any of Roberta's Letters, double-click the Letter Title, and then leave your comment on the form that appears on the next screen.
Contact Roberta Schlechter
'Letters from Roberta' Blog posts
​Copyright © 2021-2024, Roberta Schlechter

Sample Introductory and Closing Paragraphs for Specialty Letters to Lawmakers

2/12/2021

0 Comments

 



After the intro I insert the text from the sample letter to Legislators.
Feel free to copy or use them as a launching point for your own expressions.
 
 Letter 1. - SUPPORT A PRO-ELECTORAL COLLEGE BILL 

Bill#___ - Please Advance

Chair _______  and members of the _____________  Committee: 
 
In a little over a page, the language of (bill #) fully justifies (state) defending the ELECTORAL COLLEGE against NPV, the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact, or any other scheme to splinter our presidential election process. For over a decade NPV backers have campaigned against the Constitution, our election infrastructure, state autonomy, the citizenry AND future lawmakers. State legislatures need to step up and defend their constitutional authority over presidential Electors, to reject NPV directly. As you evaluate the bill on behalf of The Grand Canyon State, please consider the following.

I offer an attachment for those who seek greater detail.
 
CLOSING:
 
Say YES to the ELECTORAL COLLEGE ... and YES to the United STATES

(BILL #) defends our elections infrastructure. Without the Electoral College our power-sharing system begins to break apart. A friend put it this way: “A national popular vote discounts the individual. This is where weird math comes in; if you dilute the whole, and do not account for the small, then your results become skewed . This is how Third World dictators hold "NATIONAL" elections and always win.”

​One miracle of America is that every state has a seat at the table when our Chief Executive is chosen. A country as large and diverse as the United States deserves no less.
 
THE. STATES. MATTER.
 
Please advance (BILL #)
 
 
Letter 2. - SUPPORT A BILL TO WITHDRAW FROM NPV   
https://www.nationalpopularvote.com/state-status 

​Bill #___ –  Please Advance
 
Chair ________ and members of the __________ Committee:
 
# years ago, NPV, the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact, was a new idea. (State’s) legislature was among the earliest to sign on to NPV. In 2021 the Compact still falls short of implementation by a critical number of states, and its weaknesses are well-known. A friend put it this way: “A national popular vote discounts the individual. This is where weird math comes in; if you dilute the whole, and do not account for the small, then your results become skewed . This is how Third World dictators hold "NATIONAL" elections and always win.”

Bill # from your colleagues (names), gives you the opportunity to take another look at NPV. So on behalf of (state nickname), please consider the following…

I offer an attachment for those who seek greater detail.
 
CLOSING

Say YES to the United STATES with a NO to NPV
 
(state) is one of multiple blue states considering bills to EXIT NPV. And lawmakers in other non-Compact states are taking steps to impede NPV if it were to reach the 270-electoral vote trigger. The Electoral College is part of America’s DNA and a key safeguard for our presidential election infrastructure. It forces candidates to gain support from multiple regions of the country. For an economy as diverse as (state’s), this is a good thing!
 
Being a sovereign state is important. Bill #___ would restore (state’s) place in all future presidential elections. 
 
THE. STATES. MATTER.
 
Please advance (Bill #)


Letter #3: In Support of a "Poison Pill" Bill

SB 2271-PLEASE SUPPORT 
 
Chair Kasper and members of the Government-Veterans Affairs Committee: 
 
As you consider SB 2271, for the purposes of context, allow me to call to your attention the North Dakota State of Emergency EO 2020-03, issued in response to the Covid outbreak. Without doubt states assume enormous responsibility toward circumstances that threaten the citizenry. Last year’s EO lays out the rationale for said action. Permit me to offer the same in defense of SB2271, an emergency bill itself. I attach an addendum for those wishing more information.
 
Whereas: 
1)The Constitution establishes America as a REPUBLIC and the Tenth Amendment establishes FEDERALISM as America’s foundational power-sharing relationship, 
2) The Constitution declares elections to be STATE actions, and names state legislatures as having plenary (unchallenged) authority for naming presidential Electors, corresponding to the state-wide presidential popular vote, and 
3) NPV-National Popular Vote Interstate Compact (if enacted) would nationalize the vote and supersede that authority even if North Dakota never joins the Compact... 
It is essential and proper for the Legislature here and in many other states to prepare an emergency measure on your citizens behalf. SB 2271 is that measure.
 
The National Popular Vote Interstate Compact is designed to take effect if sufficient states join to amass at least 270 electoral votes, the number needed to elect a President. Should that happen—and we hope it never does--the “emergency” or “poison pill” provisions of SB 2271 would withhold the actual vote count and instead publish presidential vote percentages in advance of the ELECTORAL COLLEGE vote.
 
The Compact hinges on being able to say that “Candidate A” got a specific number of votes nationally, as did “Candidate B,” etc. But in the purest sense, North Dakota’s specific popular vote counts are North Dakota’s business! This bill formalizes that position to protect the state in the event of an NPV emergency.
 
Only the Electoral College gives every state a seat at the table when we elect our national Chief  Executive. SB 2271 reiterates North Dakota’s defense of the Electoral College--part of America’s DNA and a key safeguard for our presidential election infrastructure. Your citizens, and a country as large and diverse as the United States, deserve no less. 
 
THE. STATES. MATTER. 

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Leave a Reply.

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    Roberta SchlechTer

    FIFTEEN YEARS AGO,  when I first learned about the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact, I knew I needed to work hard against it and help inform lawmakers about the pitfalls of this Agreement among a few States.

    Having served as a legislative staffer and done lots of writing, I dove in.
    ​
    Today it’s WONDERFUL to be part of a vigorous TEAM that educates, encourages, equips and inspires people to jump in, to keep learning and to continue the campaign to defeat NPV. 
        - Roberta Schlechter
    ​

    I hope this page helps you to write letters to lawmakers or posts on social media. One piece of advice is to aim for a total of 300 words.
     
    On this page you will find:
     - Helpful Links
     - A sample “Don’t support NPV” letter 
     - Intros & conclusions for bills to 1) support the Electoral College and 2) Exit the NPV Compact 
     - Sample addendum to attach to legislative emails: additional facts and perspective about our election infrastructure, the Electoral College and NPV
     - Easiest ways to capture lawmaker email addresses into an email.

    ​YOU ARE WELCOME to use or adapt any statements made here for your own lobbying efforts.




    ​Roberta is the Northwest Region Director (Volunteer) for the 'Keep Our 50 States' grassroots group.

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  • Home
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      • Delaware
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      • IDAHO
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      • Minnesota >
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      • Louisiana
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