We have been working on the Hill for almost twenty years and in that time we have gained a reputation for not only providing quality information about Congress, but for understanding how congressional offices handle constituent communication. Surveys of congressional staff have specifically addressed the issue of double dipping. Overwhelmingly, offices are not impressed by redundant messages from the same person. In fact, the practice can be counterproductive.

The databases maintained by congressional offices quickly identify the redundant messages so the benefit of increased message volume is undermined by an office needing to handle the same message from the same sender twice. If you have ever been in the position of having to repeat an administrative task needlessly you can imagine how the practice of double dipping makes a legislative correspondent feel about such campaigns and by extension the sponsoring organization.

Capwiz sends messages five ways so we’re committed to providing constituents a variety of messaging methods, but each message should build on the last in order to provide the recipient with useful information. Redundant messages from the same person typically serve only to reinforce the notion that the sponsoring organization values quantity over quality, and that they are blind to the administrative burden such campaigns exact on already stretched resources within congressional offices.

Capitol Advantage understands that building fair, professional, and long-term relationships with elected officials and their staffs is the most productive means to influencing the legislative process. Technology that undermines those efforts, while possibly attractive in the near term, doesn’t fit with our mission of giving common people political power.