The Senate could vote to override the Governor's veto of certain line items in SB 850, and force cuts to important programs like Child Care Works, County Child Welfare, and CHIP. Some in the General Assembly might think Pennsylvanians want any budget now that the we are almost 2 months late getting a budget done. Please contact your Senator to say that you want the RIGHT budget for our children.  

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

As your constituent, I want you to know that I oppose the effort underway in the Senate to override the Governor's line item veto of important programs like Child Care Works, County Child Welfare, and CHIP. I don't want you to pass just any budget. I want you to pass the right budget for Pennsylvania. And proposed funding levels in Senate Bill 850 for Child Care Works, County Child Welfare and CHIP are not the right levels for Pennsylvania's children.

An override vote would mean harmful cuts to these programs, as contained in SB 850, including:

-$10 million less for protecting children from neglect and abuse than the governor proposed.

-Adding nearly 8,000 children to the child care waiting list that currently stands at 16,000 children; and

-Placing thousands of children on a waiting list for CHIP for the first time since 1997.

I support Child Care Works, County Child Welfare funding, and CHIP. These programs help Pennsylvania's children and their families. At this tremendous time of need, these programs should not be cut, as provided under SB 850. We need a state budget that places a priority on programs such as these that benefit children and families. We need the right state budget.

I respectfully urge you to oppose overriding the Governor's vetoes.

Thank you

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
August 18, 2009