Sample Letters to the Editor: Federal Budget Priorities

#1

As a member of the [state chamber], I am pleased to add my name to the Women Legislators’ Lobby (WiLL) budget letter to Congress, a letter reflecting the values and best interests of [your state] and all Americans.

The recent economic recession has provided a difficult and challenging lesson for policymakers about the importance of spending wisely. Over the past few years, revenues have dwindled, unemployment has increased, and our constituents have needed us to do more with less.

Simply put, there is no money to waste. Our constituents count on their representatives – both here and in Washington – to prioritize the vital most-needed programs: education, healthcare, and investment in jobs and infrastructure.

Wasteful military spending is not prudent, nor is it effective. Pentagon leaders agree that there are a number of cuts that can be made without compromising the safety of our troops or our country. At 56% of the discretionary budget, defense spending should not be exempt from cuts, not when teachers are being furloughed, the long-term unemployed are losing benefits, and our national security is being compromised by not investing in our nation’s best asset – its people.

Congress, the American people know that we must cut spending, but we must do so responsibly. Please consider responsible cuts to military spending.

 

#2

This month I joined more than 330 women state legislators from across the country to send a message to Congress about our nation’s budget priorities. We urged Congress to consider sensible and responsible cuts to military spending. Congress has spent months in heated budget debates. Here at home, we face some of the toughest budgeting decisions in our history. Proven and effective programs [insert examples] – job training, senior at-home services, trauma care services, meals-on-wheels, pre-kindergarten, college scholarships, technical schools, public health clinics, domestic violence shelters, -- are on the chopping block right now in our state and federal budgets.

With all this focus on cutting spending, I am disappointed that so little attention has been paid to military spending. In the President’s spending proposal for next year, military spending makes up well over half of the discretionary budget. Congress cannot realistically expect to cut spending without addressing the military budget, which has risen by almost 50 percent in the past 12 years. While other programs have their spending levels frozen, military spending is allowed to rise.

I support our troops and I want our nation to be safe and secure. I agree with experts, including our Secretary of Defense, that we can find ways to reduce military spending and be just as safe here at home.  Every dollar we spend on an unnecessary weapon designed to fight the wars of 30 years ago is a dollar we can't use to educate our future workforce or rebuild a crumbling bridge. Money misspent on military waste would be much better spent elsewhere. I urge [insert names of your senators and member of congress] to balance the budget with responsible reductions to military spending

 

 

#3

This month I joined more than 330 women state legislators from across the country to send a message to Congress about responsible reductions to military spending.  As Congress has engaged in epic federal budget battles, in [your state], we face some of the toughest budgeting decisions in our history.  Programs to provide vital services are on the chopping block in both state and federal budgets.

With all this focus on cuts, I am disappointed that so little attention has been paid to military spending. Congress cannot realistically expect to cut spending without addressing the Pentagon budget that makes up over half of annual discretionary spending. Military spending has risen almost 50 percent in the past 12 years and while other programs have their spending levels frozen, military spending continues to grow.

We can find ways to reduce military spending and be just as safe here at home.  Every dollar we spend on an unnecessary weapon designed to fight the wars of 30 years ago is a dollar we can't use to educate our future workforce or rebuild a crumbling bridge. Money misspent on Pentagon waste would be much better spent elsewhere. I urge [insert names of your senators and member of congress] to balance the budget with responsible reductions to military spending.