Pennsylvania’s budget impasse has reached the three-month mark just as the federal government missed its deadline for a budget, leading to a shutdown of “non-essential” federal programs and services.

 Budgets reflect the priorities of those elected to serve the people. Congress has failed to pass a People’s Budget that works for the people and as a result, American families are left to suffer the consequences.  

We need to tell our Congress members to get to work and pass a People’s Budget.

Here are a few tips to help you write an effective letter to the editor:

Keep it short. Many media outlets have word count limitations (usually around 500 words but it could be more or less) so get to the point quickly.

Submit to your own local outlets. Most newspapers and news websites only publish letters from residents in their distribution area.

Be very clear about the problem and the solution. A tried-and-true method of writing a letter to the editor is a “Values/Problem/Solution sandwich”. Pick one of the talking points from each of the categories below to give you a head-start.

Start with stating your Values.

• Budgets show how well a government represents its constituents. A People’s Budget focuses on supporting hardworking American families instead of billionaires.
• Our tax dollars should support an America that ensures healthcare, education, and economic opportunity for everyone.  
• This budget impasse is not about dollars and cents, it’s about what we value as Americans. It is about whether we defend American democracy and American families, or we fund extremist agendas that only work for the wealthy and powerful.

Next, name the Problem.

• Delayed funding or cuts to healthcare, education, nutrition programs, and health and human services for seniors and children mean families struggling to make ends meet, children going hungry, and seniors without basic necessities like heat, food, and medicine.
• Every dollar taken from education, healthcare, children and seniors is another dollar funneled to the wealthy and powerful. We stand for keeping families whole, protecting seniors, and defending democracy.

Now, tell them what you want for a Solution.

• Congress must pass a budget that values the American people. Our tax dollars should support our well-being, not the desires of moneyed interests.
• Congress holds the power of the purse, and they must use it responsibly and not as a rubber stamp for abuse. They need to come to the table and meet their obligation to pass a People’s budget now.
• Congress needs to take its obligation to pass a timely, responsible budget seriously. We need action today so that American families are not being shortchanged by cuts to vital programs and services.  

Here’s a sample Letter to the Editor that’s under 200 words:

We all want a government that represents our best interests. Our tax dollars should go to a budget that ensures healthcare, education, and economic opportunities for everyone, not just a select few.  But when our Congress spends its time working to pass a Billionaires Budget, all Americans are left holding the bag. Our schools, community programs, health and wellness initiatives, and so many systems that support American families suffer, and then we all suffer as well. Congress needs to take its responsibility as representatives of the people seriously and get to work to pass a People’s Budget that supports American families, not the wealthy and powerful. We need action today so that American families are not shortchanged by cuts to vital programs and services.