FIGHT FOR A FAIR BUDGET!

Tell Representatives TODAY - Support a fair state budget by

using the surplus, taxing gas drilling and closing corporate tax loopholes!

The Time for Calls and E-Mails is NOW!

SAMPLE TEXT:

Right now the state budget is being negotiated. It is critical that your state representatives hear from you as they prepare to vote on a state budget plan. That's why we're asking that you call or e-mail your state representative today to tell them to take a balanced approach to the state budget by using the state's $540 million taxpayer surplus, enacting a fair Marcellus Shale drilling tax and closing corporate loopholes before cutting our kids’ education and critical health care services.

Gutting basic education, higher education, and health care for our elderly and most needy, is unconscionable, especially when there are sensible ways to increase state revenues by passing a drilling tax on the Marcellus Shale, closing corporate tax loopholes and investing the $540 million taxpayer surplus back into our communities.

The budget approved by the Pennsylvania House cuts almost $1 billion from public schools and slashes $471 million in funding for health care, services for people with disabilities and vulnerable children. At the same time, the budget proposal protects corporate tax loopholes, fails to enact a Marcellus Shale drilling tax, and puts $540 million of our taxpayer money in a “Rainy Day Fund” instead of using that money to prevent devastating cuts and save jobs.

Working families need a fair budget in Pennsylvania!

Call your state representative today and say:

Gutting basic education, health care for our elderly and most needy, and services working families rely on is unconscionable, especially when there are sensible ways to increase state revenues. Before you make deep budget cuts:

- Utilize the over $540 million in currently available surplus revenues;

- Enact a meaningful fee on Marcellus Shale drillers that invests a portion of those revenues into statewide priorities including funding for schools, health care and environmental regulations;

- Close corporate tax loopholes which potentially generates up to $650 million annually.

E-mail your state representative today and tell them:

I urge you to support a fair state budget.  Instead of huge cuts to education and services working families rely on, enact a meaningful fee on Marcellus Shale drillers that invests a portion of those revenues into statewide priorities including funding for schools, health care and environmental regulations.  Also close corporate tax loopholes and use the $540 million taxpayer surplus to restore cuts.

These cuts reflect the wrong priorities and will hurt working and middle class families.  I am counting on you to invest in our children and families, and to stand up for a fair budget.

Thank you.

Your Name

Address

To find your State Representative please go to www.clearforpa.org

Be sure to edit the email to personalize it and let your representative know how the proposed cuts will be harmful to you, your family, and your community.