The good news is that the campaign to mobilize the lighting industry to fight the proposed Texas House Bill 2649 appears to be working: reports coming out of ESTA and IALD indicate that the legislators offices are being flooded with calls.
The bad news: some of those calls have been a little rude.
The legislator's offices are reporting some nasty comments mixed in with the reasoned pleas, and both ESTA and IALD are hearing from the legislators offices that they are taking notice of the issue but will not tolerate rude behavior. They are also apparently not happy that they are getting so many calls from outside of Texas.
So, if you plan on calling to voice your opinion on this issue, but don't live in Texas, don't waste your dime. If you do live in Texas and haven't placed your call, try to keep your anger in check.
Here's a recap of the recommendations by the IALD:
1. IF YOU ONLY HAVE TIME TO CONTACT ONE PERSON, call Texas Rep. Wayne Smith at +1 512 463 0733. Rep. Smith initiated the bill in the Texas State House of Representatives without the language restricting the lighting design profession, and/or email him and let him know your opinion on the bill before it goes into committee Friday evening.
2. Since the Senate added the Lighting Designer language after the House approved the bill, the House must review the bill once more. Contact your representative or just email them all at once to make sure they know that the lighting designer language impacts too many people. Twitter to Texas Representatives : @aaronpena, @AllenFletcher, @RepHughes, @Dan_Flynn, @dangattis, @TXRepErodriguez, @gfcoleman, @jddeshotel, @SpeakerStraus, @RepHancock, @lhbcampaign, @MarcVeasey, @MikeVillarreal, @TMF116
3. Call Texas Senator Bob Deuell, Senate sponsor of the bill, at +1 512 463 0102 and/or email him and let him know your opinion on the bill ASAP.
4. Call Texas Senator Kip Averitt, who introduced the amendments to the bill specific to lighting designers, at +1 512 463-0122 and/or email him and let him know your opinion on the bill ASAP.
5. Make sure Texas State Governor Perry knows this bill is coming to him and ask that he veto it. Phone in your opinion to +1 512 463 1782. Fax to +1 512 463 1849. Email using his contact form. Twitter to @TexGov and @GovernorPerry.