NOTE: WE NEED A TITLE PAGE AND TABLE OF CONTENTS …



End Bailouts, Stop Big Brother.

Try Freedom!

How to Make Your Voice Heard on

Financial Regulation Reform

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Understanding the Issue………………………………………………………..3

2. The Legislative Process: How a Bill becomes a Law………………………….4

3. Conveying Your Message to Legislators and Staff……………………………6

4. Who to Contact……………………………………………………………….….9

5. Media Overview……………………………………………………………...…18

6. Recruiting Friends and Family…………………………………………….….20

7. Other Ways to Get Involved…………………………………………………..21

8. Email Action Alert Template…………………………………………………..22

Understanding the Issue

Almost everyone agrees that action is necessary to strengthen consumer protections and reform our financial system. However, creating a new federal consumer-protection regulator, the Consumer Financial Protection Agency (CFPA) will not benefit consumers. Instead, it will restrict our personal financial choice, burden small business and create a massive new bureaucracy with too much authority and little oversight. This bill supports Wall Street, not Main Street. Step up and oppose this legislation!!

Big Government = Big Brother

▪ The CFPA’s authority goes far beyond banks or financial institutions. This new bureaucracy would have the power to regulate hundreds of thousands of businesses.

▪ Examples of small businesses that would be subject to CFPA oversight:

o A nonprofit organization that provides financial literacy education

o A software company that creates products to help consumers manage their money

o An advertising company that provides services relating to financial products

o Utilities companies, retailers and even doctors that extend credit to their customers.

▪ Why does the government need to regulate how we pay our electric bills? Or how we pay our doctors?

Burden on Small Business

▪ The bill would adversely affect small business, by restricting their access to credit.

▪ Credit is essential to small businesses: they use it to manage monthly cash flows, start up new businesses and provide working capital.

▪ Small businesses are essential to our economy’s recovery. We should be encouraging small businesses to expand and grow so they can hire more workers and help fix our nation’s unemployment crisis. The government should not be burdening them with too much regulation.

Limits Our Choices

▪ The bill contains a new bureau with broad powers to limit what financial products and services can be offered to consumers. The intended purpose is to “protect” consumers from unfair practices, but it does just the opposite.

▪ Our choices will be reduced, even in cases where a consumer fully understands and accepts the costs and risks. For many consumers, this will make credit more expensive and harder to get.

Massive Spending

▪ The CFPA would have a budget of up to $430 million. That is twice what the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) requested for economy-wide consumer protection activities.

▪ This money would be spent however the CFPA sees fit – with no oversight. This budget would automatically increase by 10 percent over the next two years. So within two years, taxpayers will have given a single federal regulator nearly one billion dollars, to spend however he/she chooses.

▪ Funding for bailouts is to come from a $50 billion “Orderly Resolution Fund” housed within the U.S. Treasury Department, funded by taxes on financial firms. The ultimate cost of these bank taxes will fall on the customers, employees, and investors of each firm.

▪ The FDIC is effectively granted a line of credit to the Treasury Department that is secured by the value of failing firms in its control, providing another taxpayer financial support.

Weakens the Free Market System

▪ A government agency will have unlimited executive bailout authority, including the power to pick and choose which companies are saved and which are left to fail. This creates serious potential for abuse.

▪ Financial institutions and other covered businesses will be required by law to give labor unions “Proxy Access”, enabling union bosses to potentially abuse the system to force unrelated agenda items, like unionizing the firm's employees, before the shareholders

▪ New regulations will control how board of director elections are conducted at private corporations; the same rules also determine whether an individual may serve as both the CEO and Chairman of the Board at a private corporation

▪ Government and labor unions will have “say on pay” for the annual salaries and bonus compensation of executives and other employees. They can determine "at what point someone has made enough money"

▪ The Consumer Financial Protection Agency, or CFPA, created in the bill would be housed within the Federal Reserve, an already secretive and unchecked force of power in our financial system

The Legislative Process - How a Bill Becomes a Law

You are interested in the legislative process because of something you want — or do not want —legislators to do. To be most effective in influencing the legislative process, you must have a feel for how it works.

Introducing Legislation

▪ Any member can introduce a piece of legislation and several members can co-sponsor the same piece of legislation.

▪ The bill is assigned a number. (e.g. H.R. 1 or S. 1).

Committee Action

▪ The bill is referred to the appropriate committee. A bill may be referred to more than one committee and it may be split so that parts are sent to different committees.

▪ Hearings may be held by a committee or subcommittee. Failure to act on a bill is equivalent to “killing it.”

▪ A committee will hold a "mark-up" session during which it will make revisions and additions. If substantial amendments are made a new bill number may be assigned.

▪ Once the committee votes on legislation it can go to the floor.

Floor Action

▪ Legislation is placed on the calendar

o House: The Speaker of the House and the Majority Leader decide what will reach the floor and when.

o Senate: Scheduling of legislation is the job of the Majority Leader. Bills can be brought to the floor whenever a majority of the Senate chooses.

Vote

▪ Members of the House or Senate may have an opportunity to discuss, or debate, a bill before it is voted on.

▪ If passed, it is then sent to the other chamber unless that chamber already has a similar measure under consideration. If either chamber does not pass the bill then it dies.

▪ If the House and Senate pass the same bill then it is sent to the president. If the House and Senate pass different bills they are sent to conference committee. (Most major legislation goes to a conference committee.)

Conference Committee

▪ Members from each house form a conference committee and meet to work out the differences between the two bills. The committee is usually made up of senior members who are appointed by the presiding officers of the committee that originally dealt with the bill. The representatives from each house work to maintain their version of the bill.

▪ The conference report must be approved by both the House and the Senate.

The President

▪ Once a bill is passed, it is sent to the president for review. The President can sign the bill into law; veto the bill, or send it back to Congress; or "Pocket Veto" a bill (not sign a bill within 10 days and Congress adjourns).

▪ If the president vetoes a bill it is sent back to Congress. The chamber that originated the legislation can attempt to override the veto by a vote of two-thirds of those present. If the veto of the bill is overridden in both chambers then it becomes law.

▪ Once a bill is signed by the president or his veto is overridden becomes a law.

Conveying Your Message to Legislators and Staff

Key Talking Points:

▪ As a constituent, I urge you to oppose the current legislation that would create the CFPA

▪ As it is currently written, this bill would burden small business and intrude on personal financial choice.

▪ The CFPA would have the power to regulate businesses and activities that are not banks or large financial institutions.

▪ $430 million is far too much to spend on a massive bureaucracy that will not effectively remedy the problems in our financial system.

▪ This bill creates a protected class of “too big to fail” firms, allowing them to take on undue risk.

▪ Provides for seizure of private property without meaningful judicial review.

▪ Creates permanent bailout authority.

▪ Establishes a $50 billion fund to pay for bailouts.

▪ Opens a “line of credit” to the Treasury for additional government funding.

▪ Authorizes regulators to guarantee the debt of solvent banks.

▪ Limits financial choices of American consumers.

▪ Undermines safety and soundness regulation.

▪ Enriches trial lawyers by authorizing consumer regulators to ban arbitration agreements.

▪ Subjects firms to hundreds of varying state and local rules.

▪ Subjects non-financial firms to financial regulation.

▪ Imposes one-size-fits-all reform in derivative markets.

▪ Allows activist groups to use the corporate governance process for issues unrelated to the corporation or its shareholders.

▪ Does nothing to address problems at Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

Scheduled In-district Meetings

A face-to-face meeting helps you connect with your legislator and his or her staff on a personal level and can be important in building relationships. Elected officials typically enjoy meeting with their constituents, but many people compete for their time. Scheduling a meeting can be difficult, and it is important that you are prepared to make the most of the time available to you. When meeting with your elected official, you should remember the following:

• Be flexible: When scheduling an appointment, provide as much advance notice as possible and try to be flexible about dates and times. Be ready to estimate how much time your meeting will take and let the scheduler know who will be with you and that you wish to discuss financial regulation reform.

• Be prompt and professional: Once you have made the appointment, be sure to keep it. It is wise to confirm your appointment a day or two in advance and plan to arrive on time, preferably even a few minutes early. In addition, be sure to stick to the topic at hand, keep your comments and questions brief, and allow time for your Member of Congress to provide you with feedback. Dress professionally and make sure you are prepared to deliver your message persuasively.

• Be organized for the meeting: A face-to-face meeting is an ideal venue to demonstrate the problems the CFPA will cause for your business and/or your community. Be sure to review the talking points and any recent news coverage before you reach the meeting. If several people will be attending, designate one individual to act as spokesperson for the group and make sure you are all agreed on the message you are there to deliver. When you arrive at the meeting, introduce all of the attendees and allow the spokesperson to explain why you have requested the meeting. Be as specific as possible to help your legislator better understand the big picture.

• Clearly state your position: Explain specific reasons you oppose the CFPA, including the impact of the issue on your company/community/industry. Stick to the issue at hand; bringing up other topics will lessen the force of your message.

• Avoid arguing: While you are entitled to disagree with your elected officials, remember that you are not just there to win: You are there to clearly convey your message and becoming argumentative will not help. Even if you are unable to persuade your legislator to your point of view, it is always best to leave on friendly terms so that you will be welcome another time. The fact that you took the time to meet with the legislator personally will still have an impact on the strength of his or her position, even if it is different than yours.

• Follow up with a personal letter: Be sure to send a thank-you letter after the meeting, regardless of whether you were able to reach an agreement. A thank you letter demonstrates that you appreciate the value of your elected official’s time and allows you to reiterate your position and underscore your concerns.

Town Hall Meeting or Community Forums

Legislators spend much of their time in their home districts. They often meet with constituents and special interest groups, hold community meetings or town halls, or when running for re-election, candidate forums for the public. Going to an event where your legislator is speaking and asking questions is an excellent way to thank your legislator in public or call them to action on a particular issue.

The media are often at these events and cover the questions asked of the member. Media coverage will help influence your legislator, educate the community in the room, and have it covered by a local paper!

Before the event

▪ Call your legislator’s district office to learn when and where your legislator will be holding events. This information is sometimes available on the legislator’s website.

▪ Review your legislator’s biography and his/her stance on financial regulation reform. This can also usually be found on the legislator’s website, but it’s also a good idea to scan local newspapers for timely information.

▪ Prepare questions ahead of time. Your question should be brief, but complete. Be sure you state the issue clearly, and use an example or personal story to “put a face” on this issue. End with a clearly stated question, like “Do you support the creation of the Consumer Financial Protection Agency?”

At the event

▪ Arrive early; legislator events can get very crowded.

▪ When you have the opportunity to ask a question, be confident, considerate, and persistent about getting an answer to your question.

▪ Stay on message - Do not get distracted or angry if your question is not answered. Be persistent in repeating the question and asking for an appropriate response.

After the event

▪ Email endbailoutsnow@ and tell us about the event and your legislator’s response to your question.

Contacting your legislators

In writing:

Whether you fax or email, here are some tips for writing to your legislators:

1. Be specific. Deal with just one subject or issue in your letter, and state your topic clearly in the first paragraph. If you know the bill number, include it in your letter along with how you want them to vote.

2. Be brief. One or two paragraphs are sufficient. Focus on one issue in each letter. Refer to legislation by name. If you don’t know the bill number, you can go to (for federal legislation) or your state legislature’s website (for state legislation) and find it using a keyword search.

3. Get to the point. Start your first paragraph by stating who you are and why you’re writing. Support your position in the remainder of the letter with facts, information, and examples from your own experience, including why this issue is important in you.

Phone Calls:

Calling your legislator’s office is a quick way to make an immediate impact and share your opinion on financial regulation reform. When you make your call, you will speak with congressional staff. The point of your call is not to argue with the staffer, it is to voice your opinion in a clear and concise way. Be sure to remember the following tips:

▪ When you call, start your conversation by telling the staffer that you are a constituent. Provide your name and address if asked.

▪ Ask the staffer for the legislator’s position on financial regulation reform and whether he/she supports the CFPA.

▪ Explain in two or three sentences why you are opposed to the CFPA (see talking points above).

▪ Thank the staffer for their time.

Who to Contact – Connecticut

|Senator Chris Dodd (D) |Senator Joseph Lieberman (I) |

|Washington, DC |Washington, DC |

|448 Russell Senate Office Building |706 Hart Senate Office Building |

|Washington, DC 20510 |Washington, DC 20510 |

|Phone: 202-224-2823 |Phone: 202-224-4041 |

|Fax: 202-224-1083 |Fax: 202-224-9750 |

|Hartford |Hartford |

|30 Lewis St Suite 101 |One Constitution Plaza 7th Floor |

|Hartford, CT 06103 |Hartford, CT 06103 |

|Phone: 860-258-6940 |Phone: 860-549-8463 |

|Fax: 860-258-6958 |Fax: 866-317-2242 |

Who to Contact – Delaware

|Senator Thomas Carper (D) |Senator Edward Kaufman (D) |

|Washington, DC |Washington D.C. |

|513 Hart Senate Office Building |383 Russell Senate Office Building |

|Washington, DC 20510 |Washington, D.C. 20510 |

|Phone: (202) 224-2441 |Phone: 202-224-5042 |

|Fax: (202) 228-2190 |Fax: 202-228-3075 |

|Wilmington |Wilmington |

|301 North Walnut Street |1105 N. Market St. |

|Suite 102L-1 |Suite 2000 |

|Wilmington, DE 19801 |Wilmington, DE 19801-1233 |

|Phone: 302-573-6291 |Phone: 302-573-6345 |

|Fax: 302-573-6434 |Fax: 302-573-6351 |

|Dover |Milford |

|500 W. Loockerman St. |24 NW Front St. |

|Suite 470 |Windsor Building Suite 101 |

|Dover, DE 19904 |Milford, DE 19963 |

|Phone: 302-674-3308 |Phone: 302-424-8090 |

|Fax: 302-674-5464 |Fax: 302-424-8098 |

|Georgetown | |

|12 The Circle | |

|Georgetown, DE 19947 | |

|Phone: 302-856-7690 | |

|Fax: 302-856-3001 | |

Who to Contact – Florida

|Senator George LeMieux (R) |Senator Bill Nelson (D) |

|Washington, DC |Washington, D.C. |

|356 Russell Senate Office Building |716 Senate Hart Office Building |

|Washington, DC 20510 |Washington, DC 20510 |

|Phone: 202-224-3041 |Phone: 202-224-5274 |

|Fax: 202-228-5171 |Fax: 202-228-2183 |

|Orlando |Orlando |

|201 S. Orange Ave., Suite 350 |Landmark Two |

|Orlando, FL 32801 |225 East Robinson Street, Ste 410 |

|Phone: 407-254-2573 |Orlando, Florida 32801 |

|Fax: 407-423-0941 |Phone: 407-872-7161 |

| |Fax: 407-872-7165 |

| Jacksonville |Miami-Dade |

|1650 Prudential Drive, Suite 220 |2925 Salzedo Street |

|Jacksonville, FL 32207 |Coral Gables, FL 33134 |

|Phone: 904-398-8586 |Phone: 305-536-5999 |

|Fax: 904-398-8591 |Fax: 305-536-5991 |

|Fort Lauderdale |Tampa |

|642 N. Federal Hwy. |Sam Gibbons Federal Court House |

|Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304 |801 N. Florida Ave., 4th Floor |

|Phone: 954-760-4124 |Tampa, Florida 33602 |

|Fax: 954-760-4598 |Phone: 813-225-7040 |

| |Fax: 813-225-7050 |

|Tampa |West Palm Beach |

|3802 Spectrum Boulevard, Suite 106 |413 Clematis Street, Ste 210 |

|Tampa, FL 33612 |West Palm Beach, FL 33401 |

|Phone: 813-977-6450 |Phone: 561-514-0189 |

|Fax: 813-977-6593 |Fax: 561-514-4078 |

|Fort Myers |Tallahassee |

|2120 Main Street, Suite 200 |US Court House Annex |

|Fort Myers, Florida 33901 |111 North Adams Street |

|Phone: 239-332-3898 |Tallahassee, Florida 32301 |

|Fax: 239-332-3447 |Phone: 850-942-8415 |

| |Fax: 850-942-8450 |

|Miami |Jacksonville |

|8669 NW 36th St., Ste 355 |1301 Riverplace Blvd, Suite 2218 |

|Miami, FL 33166 |Jacksonville, Florida 32207 |

|Phone: 305-418-8553 |Phone: 904-346-4500 |

|Fax: 305-594- 4014 |Fax: 904-346-4506 |

|Pensacola |Broward |

|1 N. Palafox Street, Suite 159 |3416 South University Drive |

|Pensacola, FL 32502 |Davie, FL 33328 |

|Phone: 850-433-2603 |Phone: 954-693-4851 |

|Fax: 850-433-2554 |Fax: 954-693-4862 |

| |Fort Myers |

| |Justice Center Annex Building |

| |2000 Main Street, Suite 801 |

| |Fort Myers, FL 33901 |

| |Phone: 239-334-7760 |

| |Fax: 239-334-7710 |

Who to Contact – Indiana

|Senator Evan Bayh (D) |Senator Richard Lugar (R) |

|Washington, DC |Washington, D.C. |

|131 Russell Senate Office Building |306 Hart Senate Office Building |

|Washington, DC 20510 |Washington, D.C. 20510-1401 |

|Phone: 202-224-5623 |Phone: 202-224-4814 |

|Fax: 202-228-1377 |Fax: 202-228-0360 |

|Indianapolis |Evansville |

|1650 Market Tower |101 NW Martin Luther King Boulevard |

|10 West Market Street |Room 122 |

|Indianapolis, IN 46204 |Evansville, Indiana 47708 |

|Phone: 317-554-0750 |Phone: 812-465-6313 |

|Fax: 317-554-0760 |Fax: 812-421-1883 |

|Evansville |Fort Wayne |

|101 MLK, Jr. Blvd |Covington Plaza |

|Evansville, IN 47708 |6384 A  West Jefferson Boulevard |

|Phone: 812-465-6500 |Fort Wayne, Indiana 46804 |

|Fax: 812-465-6503 |Phone: 260-422-1505 |

| |Fax: 260-424-1342 |

|Fort Wayne |Indianapolis |

|1300 S. Harrison St. Suite 3161 |1180 Market Tower |

|Fort Wayne, IN 46802 |10 West Market Street |

|Phone: 260-426-3151 |Indianapolis, Indiana 46204 |

|Fax: 260-420-0060 |Phone: 317-226-5555 |

| |Fax: 317-226-5508 |

|Hammond |Valparaiso |

|5400 Federal Plaza Suite 3200 |175 West Lincolnway |

|Hammond, IN 46320 |Suite G-1 |

|Phone: 219-852-2763 |Valparaiso, Indiana 46383 |

|Fax: (219) 852-2787 |Phone: 219-548-8035 |

| |Fax: 219-548-7506 |

|Jeffersonville | |

|1201 E. 10th St. Suite 106 | |

|Jeffersonville, IN 47130 | |

|Phone: 812-218-2317 | |

|Fax: 812-218-2370 | |

|South Bend | |

|130 S. Main St. Suite 110 | |

|South Bend, IN 46601 | |

|Phone: 574-236-8302 | |

|Fax: 574-236-8319 | |

Who to Contact - Louisiana

|Senator Mary Landrieu (D) |Senator David Vitter (R) |

|Washington, DC |Washington, DC Office |

|328 Hart Senate Office Building |516 Hart Senate Office Building |

|Washington, DC 20510 |Washington, DC 20510 |

|Phone: 202-224-5824 |Phone: 202-224-4623 |

|Fax: 202-224-9735 |Fax: 202-228-5061 |

|Shreveport |Acadiana |

|300 Fannin Street, Room 2240 |800 Lafayette Street, Suite 1200 |

|Shreveport, LA 71101 |Lafayette, LA 70501 |

|Phone: 318-676-3085 |Phone: 337-262-6898 |

|Fax: 318-676-3100 |Fax: 337-262-6373 |

|Lake Charles |Baton Rouge |

|Capital One Tower |858 Convention Street |

|One Lakeshore Dr., Suite 1260 |Baton Rouge, LA 70802 |

|Lake Charles, LA 70629 |Phone: 225-383-0331 |

|Phone: 337-436-6650 |Fax: 225-383-0952 |

|Fax: 337-439-3762 | |

|Baton Rouge |Central Louisiana |

|Room 326, Federal Building |2230 S. MacArthur Dr., Suite 4 |

|707 Florida Street |Alexandria, LA 71301 |

|Baton Rouge, LA 70801 |Phone: 318-448-0169 |

|Phone: 225-389-0395 |Fax: 318-448-0189 |

|Fax: 225-389-0660 | |

|New Orleans |Northeast Louisiana |

|Hale Boggs Federal Building |1217 N. 19th Street |

|500 Poydras Street, Room 1005 |Monroe, LA 71201 |

|New Orleans, LA 70130 |Phone: 318-325-8120 |

|Phone: 504-589-2427 |Fax: 318-325-9165 |

|Fax: 504-589-4023 | |

| |Northwest Louisiana |

| |920 Pierremont Road, Suite 113 |

| |Shreveport, LA 71106 |

| |Phone: 318-861-0437 |

| |Fax: 318-861-4865 |

| |Southeast Louisiana |

| |2800 Veterans Boulevard., Suite 201 |

| |Metairie, LA 70002 |

| |Phone: 504-589-2753 |

| |Fax: 504-589-2607 |

| |Southwest Louisiana |

| |3221 Ryan Street, Suite E |

| |Lake Charles, LA 70601 |

| |Phone: 337-436-0453 |

| |Fax: 337-436-3163 |

Who to Contact – North Carolina

|Senator Richard Burr (R) |Senator Kay Hagan (D) |

|Washington, DC |Washington, DC |

|217 Russell Senate Office Building |521 Dirksen Senate Office Building |

|Washington, DC 20510 |Washington, DC 20510 |

|Phone: 202-224-3154 |Phone: 202-224-6342 |

|Fax: 202-228-2981 |Fax: 202-228-2563 |

|Asheville |Greensboro |

|Federal Building |701 Green Valley Road, Suite 201 |

|151 Patton Ave, Suite 204 |Greensboro, NC 27408 |

|Asheville, NC 28801 |Phone: 336-333-5311 |

|Phone: 828-350-2437 |Fax: 336-333-5331 |

|Fax: 828-350-2439 | |

|Rocky Mount |Raleigh |

|100 Coast Line St., Room 210 |310 New Bern Ave |

|Rocky Mount, NC 27804 |Raleigh, NC 27601 |

|Phone: 252-977-9522 |Phone: 919-856-4630 |

|Fax: 252-977-7902 |Fax: 919-856-4053 |

|Winston-Salem |Charlotte |

|2000 West First St. Suite 508 |1520 South Boulevard, Suite 205 |

|Winston-Salem, NC 27104 |Charlotte, NC 28203 |

|Phone: 800-685-8916 |Phone: 704-334-2448 |

|Phone: 336-631-5125 |Fax: 704-334-2405 |

|Fax: 336-725-4493 | |

|Gastonia |Asheville |

|City Hall |82 Patton Ave, Suite 635 |

|181 South St., Room 222 |Asheville, NC 28801 |

|Gastonia, NC 28052 |Phone: 828-257-6510 |

|Phone: 704-833-0854 |Fax: 828-257-6514 |

|Fax: 704-833-1467 | |

|Wilmington |Greenville |

|201 North Front St., Suite 809 |301 South Evans St., Suite 102 |

|Wilmington, NC 28401 |Greenville, NC 27858 |

|Phone: 910-251-1058 |Phone: 252-754-0707 |

|Fax: 910)-251-7975 |Fax: 252-754-0766 |

Who to Contact – Virginia

|Senator Mark Warner (D) |Senator Jim Webb (D) |

|Washington, DC |Washington, D.C. |

|459A Russell Senate Office Building |248 Russell Senate Office Building |

|Washington, DC 20510 |Washington, DC 20510 |

|Phone: 202-224-2023 |Phone: 202-224-4024 |

|Fax: 202-224-6295 |Fax: 202-228-6363 |

|Abingdon |Danville |

|180 West Main St. |308 Craghead St., Suite 102A |

|Abingdon, VA 24210 |Danville, VA 24541 |

|Phone: 276-628-8158 |Phone: 434-792-0976 |

|Fax: 276-628-1036 |Fax: 434-972-0978 |

|Norfolk |Hampton Roads |

|101 W. Main St., Suite 4900 |222 Central Park Ave, Suite 120 |

|Norfolk, VA 23510 |Virginia Beach, VA 23462 |

|Phone: 757-441-3079 |Phone: 757-518-1674 |

|Fax: 757-441-6250 |Fax: 757-518-1679 |

|Richmond |Northern Virginia |

|919 East Main St., Suite 630 |7309 Arlington Boulevard, Suite 316 |

|Richmond, VA 23219 |Falls Church, VA 22042 |

|Phone: 804-775-2314 |Phone: 703-573-7090 |

|Fax : 804-775-2319 |Fax: 703-573-7098 |

|Vienna |Norton |

|8000 Towers Crescent Drive, Suite 200 |756 Park Ave, N.W. |

|Vienna, Virginia 22182 |Norton, VA 24273 |

|Phone: 703-442-0670 |Phone: 276-679-4925 |

|Fax: 703-442-0408 |Fax: 276-679-4929 |

|Roanoke |Richmond |

|129B Salem Ave, SW |507 East Franklin St. |

|Roanoke, VA 24011 |Richmond, VA 23219 |

|Phone: 540-857-2676 |Phone: 804-771-2221 |

|Fax: 540-857-2800 |Fax: 804-771-8313 |

| |Roanoke |

| |3140 Chaparral Drive |

| |Building C, Suite 101 |

| |Roanoke, VA 24018 |

| |Phone: 540-772-4236 |

| |Fax: 540-772-6870 |

Media Outreach Guide

Key Points for Talking to the Media:

▪ I oppose the current legislation that would create the Consumer Financial Protection Agency.

▪ As it is currently written, this bill would burden small business and infringe upon personal financial choice.

▪ The CFPA would have the power to regulate businesses and activities that are not banks or large financial institutions.

▪ $430 million is far too much to spend on a massive bureaucracy that will not effectively remedy the problems in our financial system.

Talking to the Media is Important.

The public learns most everything they know about the financial reform bill debate through the media. Too often what they hear is misinformation and political rhetoric rather than fact. Proposals are discussed and debated, massive figures in the billions or even trillions are bandied about, but the average person never really understands how these proposals will impact them.

The media does not often hear directly from American people on financial reform. You can help to educate the public by talking to the local media about the threats to small business, personal freedom and the health of our economy.

The public needs to know how you feel about financial reform and how legislation will affect you personally! By talking to the media you can help them to understand what is at stake and how it could affect the public.

Ways to talk to the Media.

It is unlikely that you will be on CNN or in the New York Times; they have more than enough voices discussing financial reform legislation and the CFPA. However, there typically are not many strong voices on this issue in your local community. You can serve the public by being a voice on the issue in your in your local paper and on your local news programs. Here are suggestions for speaking through the media:

• Write letters to the editor: Letters to the editor are the primary way the public can communicate through newspapers. They are usually in response to a particular news story or editorial, and are rarely longer than 150 words (that is often a limit set by the publication). When you read a story about the CFPA, contact endbailoutsnow@ for help writing and sending a letter to the editor.

• Write op-eds: Op-eds are longer opinion pieces in newspapers, usually between 600 and 1,000 words. They generally appear on the page facing the newspaper’s own editorial comments (op-ed is an abbreviation of “opposite the editorials”), and reflect the opinions of community leaders or organizations. An op-ed should include how the CFPA will impact your business and/or your life, express your views and educate the public with facts to back up your opinion. If you would like to write an op-ed for your local paper, contact endbailoutsnow@ for help writing and sending the op-ed.

• Contact local radio programs: Another effective medium is talk radio or drive-time radio. Phoning a radio talk show takes only minutes and reaches thousands of listeners. It is best to focus on local radio programs, since those programs are easier to reach. Call as soon as possible during the show, even before the lines are announced as open.

o Be ready – Have your talking points ready before you call. Practice what you are going to say aloud before you call. Turn your radio down once you are on the air to avoid being confused by the broadcast delay.

o Keep it simple – Speak slowly and make your point simply and succinctly. Avoid jargon or acronyms. Plain language persuades more people than political speak.

o Stay calm – If a host argues with you, just repeat your point and avoid an argument. Even if a host or guest gives you a hard time, listeners will have heard you.

o Stay on point – Hosts will often get off topic or take the conversation to something you are not prepared to speak on. If this happens, bring it back to your main point of calling. You can bridge it back to your message by saying something like, “That is interesting, but what I really wanted to talk about today…”

o Talk about what you know – If you do not know the answer, do not make it up. Simply tell the Host that you don’t know the answer to those questions, but what you do know is...

o Make it personal – Share any personal connection you have to the issue of financial regulation reform, or grab listeners’ attention with a local angle about how the CFPA will affect local business.

o Be positive and nice – Thank the host and address her or him by name. If you think your question or point might meet some resistance, make a positive connection to a point made by a previous caller or the host to open things up. People are nice to nice people, even if they do not agree with them.

o If you plan to call a radio show and would like more media training, please email endbailoutsnow@.

Spread the Word: How to Recruit New Participants

The success or failure of a movement depends on the participants’ ability to recruit others to the cause. Share your knowledge and opinions on financial regulation reform with your friends, family and community members. Joining forces with like-minded individuals makes your voice even more powerful!

There are a variety of ways to raise awareness about this issue and encourage others to join our cause.

Email: Send an email to your friends and family telling them about the issue of financial regulation reform and why you oppose the CFPA. Keep your message simple and straightforward. The most effective message is one that includes a personal example of how this legislation will negatively impact you or your community. If there is an event or rally being held in your community, invite your friends and family to join you and express their views on financial regulation reform.

Social Media: Post articles and news on financial regulation reform on your Facebook page or Twitter feed. Be sure to post content from only reputable sources – the fastest way to lose credibility is to post incorrect information.

Recommended News Sources:

▪ The Washington Times

▪ FOX News

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Your Involvement is Important: Speak Up and Be Heard

While the issue of financial regulation reform and the CFPA is immediate, we all know that the debate over financial regulation and the role of government in our economy is going to go on for a long time. The question is: are you going to stay involved in the process? Below are some ways you can become more involved in the political process and ensure your voice is heard on the issues that matter to your company, your colleagues and your community.

 

1.   Register to Vote.

      Make certain that your registration is up-to-date with your current address.

 

2.   Vote in Every Election.

      Vote in the federal, state, local, municipal, school board, special elections and primaries. They are all important in shaping the world in which you live!

 

3.   Volunteer Your Time.

      Candidates for elected office cannot succeed by themselves. They rely on volunteers to help in their campaign office or with door-to-door communications. Simply contact a candidate’s campaign office in your locality and tell them you would like to volunteer. They’ll appreciate the help.

 

4.   Learn More About Your Elected Representatives.

Do you know where all your legislators stand on the issue of financial regulation? What about your state legislators? These are important questions and are critical to your involvement in the legislative process. Frequently visit your legislators’ websites, and stay informed on recent local and national news on the issue. Being informed is your best asset in the fight to protect your financial rights!

 

Email Action Alert Template

Please use this template to send an email alert to your local groups, friends and family. Be sure to fill in your state's Senators' name and contact info in the last paragraph of this template letter.

Begin Copy and Paste Below:

Recently, the Obama Administration and its allies sent over half a million communications to the United States Senate urging Senators to support financial service reform under the guise of “protecting American consumers.”

Meanwhile, Obama allies like Organizing for America are also using the issue as a fundraising opportunity.

[pic]

They say they are trying to fix the abuses of Wall Street, but read the fine print of the legislation. It actually does quite the opposite, invading your privacy, restricting your choice, raising credit costs and burdening small business while bailing out the big banks - permanently.

Invades Your Privacy

This legislation creates an Office of Financial Research, which has the authority at any time to review your credit, monitor your mortgage payments, see how much money you make and the loans you take, and how you use credit. Do you really want a new government agency knowing exactly how you spend your hard-earned money?

Limits Your Choices

The bill contains a new bureau with broad powers to limit what financial products and services can be offered to consumers. Designed to “protect” consumers from unfair practices, it really limits your choices—even in cases where a consumer fully understands and accepts the costs and risks. For many people, this will make credit more expensive and harder to get.

Massive Spending

The bill creates an oversight agency with a $430 million budget, which can be spent with no oversight. This budget is set to increase by 10 percent over the next two years meaning that as taxpayers, we will give a single federal regulator over half a billion dollars to spend however he chooses!

Burdens Small Business

The bill creates a bureaucracy that gives authority far beyond “fixing” Wall Street. It gives bureaucrats the power to regulate hundreds of thousands of businesses including nonprofits that provide financial literacy education; software companies that create products to help consumers manage their money; and even utilities companies, retailers and doctors that extend credit to their customers. Do we really want to give the government the authority to regulate how we pay our electric bills? Or how we pay our doctors?

The government has already tried to control the health care, automobile and energy industries, but let’s draw the line with the government regulating our financial choices and invading our privacy.

The U.S. Senate is set to vote on this legislation next week. Before they do, make sure your Senator hears your voice and represents you accordingly when casting his vote.

By taking five minutes of your time today you can help secure your financial future. Write or call Senator (INSERT NAME) today at (INSERT NUMBER)! Attached are talking points to help you communicate your message easily either over the phone or through a personal letter, which you can fax to (INSERT FAX). After you take action, please email us at endbailoutsnow@ and let us know how it went.

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