HELPFUL TIPS FOR WRITING YOUR LOCAL WYOMING STATE LEGISLATORS
IMPORTANT:
- You’ll write your message in the text box on Step 2, where it says “Personalize your message.”
- Your message will go to both your local state legislators, in the Wyoming House and Senate.
- Don’t click the “Send message” button until you write your message.
- REMEMBER TO DELETE THE TEXT THAT SAYS “[DELTE THIS TEXT AND INSERT YOUR MESSAGE HERE]”
YOUR MESSAGE SHOULD HAVE THREE SHORT PARTS:
1. Say who you are.
This message is going to your local state legislators, who are responsible for representing you. Make sure to tell them that you’re a voter in their district.
My name is ____. I live in _____ and I’m a voter in your district.
2. Say what you want.
I’m writing today to ask you to support the proposed corporate income tax during the 2020 Legislative session to provide funding for Wyoming schools.
3. Say why you want it.
[This is where you can add a sentence or two about why this is important to you.]
PRO TIPS
Keep it brief: Lawmakers are very busy, especially during the legislative session. If you write them a novel, they’re not going to read it.
Change the message subject: This will make your email look less like spam.
Include your cell number: Lawmakers’ email messages are public record. They are often very careful about what they write. If you include your cell phone number and ask them to respond, you might get a call back (though not during the Legislative session).
TALKING POINTS
Maybe mention a few of these things in your message. For more background, check out this article and this one.
– The Wyoming Legislature desperately needs to figure out new, stable revenues to fund our public schools. We cannot count on the coal industry to come back.
– The Wyoming Legislature has cut $100 million from the public school budget over the past four years, forcing teacher layoffs, school closures, smaller materials and activities budgets, and generally worse education for our kids. Nevertheless, the state’s education budget faces a $300 million shortfall that needs to be addressed.
– The proposed National Corporate Profit Recapture Act would generate tens of millions of dollars per year for Wyoming schools while sparing Mom and Pop businesses increased tax burdens. (See this article for more information.)
– Huge corporations like Walmart demand that Wyoming communities have things like roads, police, schools, and fire services, but they currently pay nothing to support our public infrastructure. The National Corporate Profit Recapture Act would have big business pay its fair share.
– National chains suck profits out of our communities, sending them to corporate shareholders and their headquarters in other states. This proposed corporate income tax would capture some of these profits before they leave the state and use them to fund Wyoming schools.
– Wyoming needs quality schools to support thriving communities. And education is critical to diversifying Wyoming’s economy.
– The state of Wyoming has lost roughly a half a billion dollars per year over the past decade as a result of the coal industry’s plummet.