Pennsylvania’s budget impasse has passed 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, and the state legislature’s failure to pass a timely balanced budget reflects their lack of desire to represent their communities.

We need to tell our state lawmakers to get to work and pass a budget that values Pennsylvania families.

 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 by stating your Values.

• Budgets show how well a government represents its constituents. A People’s Budget focuses on supporting hardworking Pennsylvania families instead of billionaires.
• Our tax dollars should go to a budget that ensures healthcare, education, and economic opportunities for everyone, not just a select few.  
• This budget impasse is not about dollars and cents, it’s about what we value as Pennsylvanians and as Americans. It is about whether we defend 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.
• Pennsylvania schools, community centers, health and safety programs, nutrition and childcare, and programs for seniors are all being harmed, and every day the harms grow.
• 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.

• The Pennsylvania legislature must pass a budget that values all Pennsylvanians. Our tax dollars should support our well-being, not the desires of moneyed interests.
• The Pennsylvania legislature holds the power of the purse, and they must use it responsibility and not as a rubber stamp for abuse. They need to come to the table and meet their obligation to pass a balanced budget now.
• The Pennsylvania legislature needs to take its obligation to pass a timely, responsible budget seriously. We need action today so that Pennsylvania families are not 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 legislature can’t even pass a constitutionally required budget on time, Pennsylvanians are left holding the bag. Our schools, community programs, health and wellness initiatives, and so many other systems that support Pennsylvania families suffer, and then we all suffer as well. Our legislature needs to take its responsibility seriously and get to work to pass a balanced budget that works for the people. We need action today so that Pennsylvania families are not shortchanged by cuts to vital programs and services.