Ever have a problem with the federal government? Like the IRS is hounding you for money that you don’t owe, or say a missing Social Security check? You should go directly to Virginia’s representatives in Washington for assistance.
For the most part policy makers tend to be a pretty wonky bunch. They like details and data. But Washington is so gridlocked these days that a lot of the data lawmakers study is never implemented into policy. Virginia Democratic Senator Mark Warner bemoans the atmosphere.
“There’s an awful lot of days up here that are pretty frustrating, especially as somebody who spent 20 years in business.”
Virginia’s other Senator, Tim Kaine, is a former governor just like Warner. For the two of them, that causes a few more headaches than most lawmakers, according to Warner.
“I loved being governor - almost every day you felt like you were putting points on the board. Here there are days that are tied up in a lot of process and often times a lot of talking and sometimes not a lot getting done.”
But there’s one aspect of being a federal lawmaker that offers a breath of fresh air in hyper partisan Washington: Constituent services. Every Virginia lawmaker’s office in Washington is a well oil machine when it comes to helping out folks back home. Warner says it’s one of the more satisfying aspects of the gig.
“It’s why the other half of the job - dealing with individual constituent’s concerns, whether it is getting a Passport, making sure you get a Medicare check, dealing with the VA - really provides an enormous value to me and to the staff, as well as the help we give to Virginians.”
It’s a little different for Virginia’s eleven members of the US House of Representatives. Pardon me as I digress into a seventh grade civics lesson - but let’s face it, any of us who aren’t in middle school can use a refresher: So each of the Virginia’s two senators represents all of the state’s more than eight million people, each House member represents around 710,000 people. Virginia Republican Congressman Rob Wittman says his office takes every inquiry from his constituents seriously.
“That’s where people in many instances have the most direct contact with their member of Congress, with the government getting something done for them, and with needing things to be done. So we make that job one.”
Wittman says public frustration with Congress makes him and other Virginia lawmakers try to serve their voters better.
“And while they may look at Washington and say you know you guys are walking in circles, you’re not getting things done. They want to make sure that when it comes to their particular issue that things are indeed getting done. So that is a place where we can demonstrate getting things done and I think people too provide a large measure of how they view their member and government by how effective they are in helping them solve their individual problems.”
And there’s nothing partisan about constituent services, according to Virginia Democrat Bobby Scott.
“We’re trying to make government work and sometimes it doesn’t work for individuals. Sometimes they have complaints with the federal government, legitimate complaints that can be solved by breaking through the red tape, at least getting to a decision. They may not like the decision. They may not be entitled to whatever relief they’re asking but they ought to be able to get an answer. And sometimes we can get an answer quicker by working with the agencies.”
Up in northern Virginia some office calls can be a little different. Democratic Congressman Gerry Connolly says representing federal workers has put him in contact with some disgruntled employees.
“We have heard from whistleblowers now and then. It’s always a matter of sifting through it, validating it - and that’s not always easy. And also making sure their concerns are given a fair hearing and acted upon when and how we can.”
That’s all information for when you struggle with a federal agency. But remember: if you ever have a complaint about how your lawmaker’s vote, just ring them up, send an email or pen an old fashioned letter - because they always want to know just what’s on your mind.
