Pennsylvania: Pushing Back on Corbett’s Bad Budget
As Pennsylvania continues to suffer under the current state budget – a budget that tore resources and opportunities away from children, students, and people who need essential social services – Pennsylvanians are facing the prospect of another unconscionably brutal state budget. Gov. Corbett’s new budget proposal would jeopardize public school students, kindergarteners, children with special needs, college students, college hopefuls, people with disabilities, working- and middle-class property owners, and people who rely on public transit and Access to get to work and keep their jobs. Gov. Corbett’s budget takes from the aforementioned people so that he can provide tax breaks for gargantuan corporations (including a $100 million dollar business tax break new this year!).
Working America members here are floored by how backwards and disgraceful Gov. Corbett’s budget priorities are. Working America members, unlike Governor Corbett, believe that quality education and people’s basic well-beings cannot be sacrificed so that enormous corporations can enjoy more cash. Consequently, Working America members are organizing to restore the opportunities, educational quality, and human services that reflect our values, and that allow our communities (and economy) to thrive.
Working America members here in PA have been writing, calling, emailing, and organizing meetings with their elected officials to express that we absolutely need a budget that:
- Restores funding for public and higher education
- Restores funding for social services
- And closes corporate tax loopholes
Along with contacting elected officials in support of such a budget, Working America members have been writing letters to the editor, speaking at press conferences, and mobilizing friends and family to take action along with them. One of our members wrote a letter to the members of her church, inviting people to be a part of a state budget solution. She would like to share her letter with everyone:
Dear friends,
Perhaps you’ve noticed that Governor Corbett’s budget is quite austere. Proposed cuts to education and social services this year are an encore of last year’s deep cuts.As I noted in my letter in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
I recall my school days during the ’50s and ’60′s. Parents wanted their children to do better than they, and they knew taxes for public schools would actualize that dream. Students, families, communities and institutions thrive when a country invests in the future, its children. Yet after draconian cuts to education last year, Gov. Tom Corbett wants more cuts this year.
Gov. Corbett’s proposed state budget would gut social services along with education. We constituents must ask ourselves: is the gutting of education and social services in line with our values as Pennsylvanians and as Americans?
A great and free nation acknowledges and acts upon its privilege to tend to the liberty and dignity of those who need assistance in a consistent and responsible manner. Social services are a generous and progressive tradition that express the goodwill instilled in America’s DNA and help us to realize the promise of a more perfect Union.
Would you take a moment to respond to Gov. Corbett’s draconian budget proposal by calling your state senator and state representative? Click here to find their contact information, and see the following 4 points for quick guidance on speaking with your elected officials about our state budget:
-Provide a personal comment in relation to education or social services
eg: “Fully funding education is important to me because it is an investment in our future. Also, there are many poor and elderly people in my community who need help from social services, and this community functions better and is safer when we take care of them. It’s the moral thing to do.”-Express that we need full restoration of education and social service funding
-Express that we can afford quality education and essential social services by closing corporate tax loopholes
-Leave your name and address to demonstrate that you’re a constituent
If we each take action, even just one action, our strength in numbers will be outstanding. Please take 2 minutes to show your support for quality education, essential social services, corporate accountability, and Pennsylvania’s future by calling your elected officials in support of a decent state budget.
Sincerely,
Benita
Tags: budget, Education, Pennsylvania, tax fairness, taxes, Tom Corbett
