What Do You Do... What Do You Do?

Another way I know I becoming an old codger far before my time: I actually write my political representatives, both State and Federal. So sue me, I think it's important to be heard.
   Which brings me to my point...
   What do you do when your elected representative doesn't understand the legislation before the very committee he serves on?
   I wrote to one of my Senators - Federal - about a piece of legislation that had come before the Senate Finance committee. Which he serves on. I got a very polite letter back explaining that my issue wasn't really a Federal government issue, and that I should take it up with my State representatives.
   Let me make this point again - this was concerning a piece of legislation that has been pending business on the Senate Finance committee since November. He's telling me that my issue isn't a Federal issue, when there's a piece of Federal legislation on his desk HE SHOULD ALREADY KNOW ABOUT.
   Choking on my own bile, I wrote him back and explained that this was indeed a Federal issue, and as a matter of fact the entire reason I wrote him was to voice my support for a Senate-sponsored bill referred to the Finance committee. Which, I reiterate, he serves on. I was polite, don't worry, I don't need the FBI knocking on my door.
   While I wish I could say I'm surprised that my elected representative is ignorant of a piece of important legislation that he should be considering carefully, I'm not surprised at all. Very disappointed, but not surprised. And I'm stuck with this nimrod until 2014. I don't know what to do. Other than vent my spleen online, that is.
   I'm trying not to become a cynical and jaded old man, really, I'm trying hard. But crap like this isn't making it easy.