Calling your congressman (or congresswoman)

I got a phone call this morning from a gentleman who is having trouble with his wife's Medicare coverage. I gave him a couple of phone numbers for federal lawmakers he can call for help.

Members of Congress, regardless of their partisan stances on various issues, all have staff members who spend considerable time fielding questions about federal programs and intervening when constituents have problems with them. If you are having trouble with a federal bureaucracy, always go to a lawmaker for help (or at least a second opinion.)

We periodically run a "write your lawmaker" section on our editorial page, but I thought it might also be helpful to post contact information on my blog, where you can go get it any time you might need it. (All my blog entries are archived at Jackson Street Beat.)  Note also that clicking on a lawmaker's name takes you to her or his Web site.

U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur, D-Toledo, represents you if you live in Erie or Ottawa counties. Phone her at 1-800-964-4699

Huron County residents are represented by Rep. Bob Latta, R-Bowling Green. Call his office at 1-800-541-6446.

Everyone in Ohio is represented by U.S. senators Sherrod Brown (1-888-896-OHIO) and George Voinovich (1-800-205-6446).

All of these folks, by the way, have e-mail newsletters available at their Web sites to keep up with Washington doings. Liberals should certainly read the newsletters from the Dems, while conservatives should pay attention to what their Republican lawmakers are up to.