vt.Buzz ~ a political blog

Political notes from Free Press staff writers Terri Hallenbeck, Sam Hemingway and Nancy Remsen

4.27.2007

Fill in the issue

When I was a college student a long time ago, I worked for a semester as a congressional intern. One of my tasks was to respond to letters from constituents, who sometimes asked arcane questions about issues that mattered to them and about five other people. My job was to research those issues and write a response on the congressman's behalf. As an unpaid intern just barely old enough to vote, I'm guessing I wasn't given the most volatile letters, but as the most naive person in the office, I also didn't care. The research was usually interesting.

This was more than a few years ago, in the pre-computer days. I must have used a typewriter.
I'm sure I was given guidance on how to structure the letters. I'm sure we didn't use entirely fresh wording for every letter, but I don't recall using a specific formula for the letters.

Technology has changed that, apparently. A Vermonter has shared with us a letter he received from our new congressman, Peter Welch. It reads:

Thank you for contacting me about (INSERT ISSUE). I appreciate your
feedback on this important issue.

I share your concern about (RESTATEMENT OF ISSUE). (2-3 SENTENCES OF
BACKGROUND INFO, FACTS, RELEVANT LEGISLATION

I will keep your thoughts in mind and carefully consider any measures that
come before Congress that may (INSERT ISSUE).

Thank you again for contacting me. Please continue to stay in touch, and I
look forward to seeing you in Vermont soon.

Sincerely,

Peter Welch
Member of Congress

It's nice to know that Peter shares concerns with every constituent about every issue that is brought to him, but it would sound a little more sincere with the issues filled in.

UPDATE: I understand that the recipient of the letter in question received an apologetic phone call from Welch's office.

- Terri Hallenbeck

posted by vt.Buzz | 11:23 AM |

Comments:

Thanks for sharing this one. Classic!!!

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 12:31 PM, April 27, 2007

How much is the Vermont GOP paying you Terri?

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 1:15 PM, April 27, 2007

I would hope that young Mr. Savage would be on top of this one real soon...what a boner

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 1:24 PM, April 27, 2007

No kidding .. what a boner!!!!!!!

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 2:11 PM, April 27, 2007

Get used to it.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 2:11 PM, April 27, 2007

Who says it was a mistake?

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 2:41 PM, April 27, 2007

Oh for crying out loud. It's funny. And it's not a rookie mistake -- it's an intern mistake, as in stuffing the wrong letter into the envelope.

Back off on Terri. She's got a day job, which ain't easy, especially at this time in the session, and even though most of the posts here are cretinous, she takes the time to keep the blog fresh. Which is a lot more than the Rutland Herald does.

By the way, this is an issue that matters if how a congressman sets up his office and establishes protocols is any indication of how he approaches the job. There are a lot of Sens and Reps who still do have issues people review and answer the letters. Except for the mass mail ones, which don't deserve individual responses.

I think it's very interesting that Peter puts constituent relations at the bottom of his llist of priorities.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 3:37 PM, April 27, 2007

Of course Welch's office has a formula - they're not going to let unpaid interns vamp on each letter. There's enoguh space in that formula to personalize every letter to every issue, and legitimately present Welch's credentials in that area, mentioning legislation, etc.

The only problem is that a careless intern didn't personalize the letter. Personally, I think more damage would be done if Welch's office let their interns write however they wanted to.

# Posted by:

Unknown | 3:47 PM, April 27, 2007

You're right about the Herald/Times Argus "Vermont View" what a waste of cyberspace...it's never current. All Dan Barlow could write about in March was more towns voting for impeachment resolutions. He must have pissed his pants every time a new report came in.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 3:48 PM, April 27, 2007

Just to clarify: the formula in many offices is for the legislative aide for that issue area to review the letters and write the responses. They may have an intern do the draft, but they do the final.

So it's not uninformed interns writing letters.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 4:10 PM, April 27, 2007

Big Deal I was an intern for a Republican Congressman (I know my bad) and we had a similar format. Mistakes happen. To Savage's credit he acknowledged the mistake and fixed it. How often has George Bush or Jim Douglas admitted any of their screwups and fixed a mistake without trying to blame the press or someone else? Oh wait that has never happened.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 5:13 PM, April 27, 2007

How often does Jim Douglas even respond to letters from constituents? I am aware of numerous people who have written to Governor Douglas about an issue that is very important to them, and have received no response. Douglas has made it clear over and over that he is too important to answer the concerns of average Vermonters.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 6:33 PM, April 27, 2007

come on guys... you're all taking this too seriously (on both sides).

Everyone does this and I'm sure everyone can have a good laugh about an honest mistake. It really is pretty funny, and you know what?

In 10 years, when this intern is a Pulitzer Prize winning journalist he/she will have a great storty to tell his/her colleagues at the bar!

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 8:48 PM, April 27, 2007

As the legislative session draws to a close, the spitting between the Governor and the legislature seems to increase daily. Less obvious are the many ways that the administration regularly sabotages legislation Douglas has actually approved and signed. We all know that the Commissioner of Taxes hates the income sensitivity provisions of education funding. He has done his best to stir opposition. His department has shirked its duty to clarify the law, preferring to make political points from the public confusion.

Last year it came to light that the Tax Dept. had reinterpreted the homestead tax calculation rules to include a category of income never counted before. After much debate, the legislature passed a provision specifically directing the Tax Dept to reverse the past assessments and refund money to homeowners. This year we discovered that the refunds did not include late payment penalties that had also been assessed. The Tax Dept. explanation? The law did not expressly mention “penalties” collected on the improper tax. So, to avoid further adolescent pranks, this year the legislature is specifying that those penalties must also be refunded. It is ironic that the Governor complains about how little gets accomplished when time must be devoted to unearthing and countering such gamesmanship.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 12:50 PM, April 28, 2007

I'd like to see them more of a "mad lib" style...the interns would enjoy it, and it would make for some good quotes in the local paper.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 4:32 PM, April 28, 2007

I think Gaye Symington could use the Mad Libs - nothing else is working for her and she should look for a replacement for the next term.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 10:15 PM, April 28, 2007

Why isn't the Free Press writing about Gov. Affordability's salary increase to $150,000? Some man of the people. In fact, why not explore what the entire executive branch is pulling down? I think the average Vermonter would be surprised at how much of their tax money goes to Douglas's ruling junta. When asked to provide this info in committee, Comm. Reardon blew a gasket.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 8:09 AM, April 29, 2007

$150,000 is not really much of a salary for someone at the top!
Move on.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 3:20 PM, April 29, 2007

wait, there seems to be a larger issue at play here...was this letter actually signed by welch? either way, a number of interesting possibilities are implicated.
1) if he did sign it, did he do so after or before the error was made? he must have done so after, which means that he does not read what he signs. this would be bad. why? because that's pretty much his whole job. if he can't can't be bothered to take the time to actually read what he signs his name to, why is he there?
2) if he did not sign it, what method was incorporated to ensure that he even knew what he was supposed to be saying? from what i gather, welch actually met with this constituent, live and in person, in his DC office. is this the standard treatment one gets from the person whose salary that constituent is literally paying? "send him a standard form letter," he says, on his way out to lunch at the monocle. now thats service.
3) the old saw that "everyone does" this is a) not true and b) a red-herring. isn't vermont supposed to be "different?" don't we expect our public servant's to treat us personally, not like just another number? thats supposed to be what's so great about our small state. bernie is a walking, talking example of this: he may not always be right, but bernie cares about the little guy. "he remembers your name," people say. apparently his replacement could use a few lessons...

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 11:54 AM, April 30, 2007

Its the same as a Sam Hemingway article.

This person said this (something really bad).

This is what this person did (something really bad).

This is what another person said about this person (something really bad).

This is what you all need to get from this article (something really bad).

The other side of the story......heck, who needs one.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 7:37 AM, May 01, 2007

Zuckerman for Governor!

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 8:26 AM, May 01, 2007

Hey, Welch spent enough of his time with the great unwashed during the campaign! He has better things to do now, i.e., grub for money from the union bosses, Hollywood big shots, trial lawyers, and the rest that bought him last year.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 11:31 AM, May 01, 2007

Zuckerman needs to stop leaving posts on every individual blog saying "Zuckerman for Governor," or telling his friends to do it. It's a little unseemly.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 6:05 PM, May 04, 2007

here, here!

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 1:28 PM, May 07, 2007