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Sample Letter: Protect the environment in the state budget

The Honorable [Your Assemblymember/State Senator]
State Capitol
Sacramento, CA 95814

Dear Assemblymember/State Senator:

As your constituent, I urge you to support efforts to reform the process to pass the state budget. A handful of legislators exploited the state’s financial crisis to repeal laws that protect the health and safety of Californians—laws that had nothing to do with the budget. We must prevent future attempts to hijack the state budget.

The governor and a minority of ideologues in the legislature and California’s 2/3 super-majority rule held the budget hostage, and the drawn out negotiations resulted in many upsetting losses for the environment, education, healthcare and more. This process is becoming messier each year. It’s time to make sure the hijacking of the state budget never happens again.

Please support efforts to prevent a future manipulation of the budget process. Possible solutions include:

• a law to make it illegal to modify state policies unrelated to budgets in budget talks; and
• an initiative to repeal California’s unique status as one of only three states requiring a supermajority (2/3rds vote) to pass a budget.

The budget system was manipulated and used to subvert our legislative process. It’s time for those who care about the future of our state to work for reforms that will protect Californians and keep environmental, health and other social protections from the chopping block in budget negotiations.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

Your Name
Your Registered Voting Address
City, State, ZIP
Phone