HELPFUL TIPS FOR WRITING THE LEGISLATURE’S REVENUE COMMITTEE

You’ll write your message in the text box on Step 2, where it says “Personalize your message.”

Your message will go to each member of the Revenue Committee.

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.

Make sure you mention you’re a Wyoming voter (or future voter, in case you missed the last election).

My name is ____ and I’m a Wyoming voter from _______.

2. Say what you want.

I’m writing today to ask you to support proposals that would decrease Wyoming’s dependence on mineral tax revenues. Specifically, I would like you to support _______.

I’m writing today to ask you to support the proposed corporate income tax 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.]

IMPORTANT: KEEP IT BRIEF

Lawmakers are very busy and if your message is more than a few sentences, they’re not going to read it.

PRO TIP: CHANGE THE MESSAGE SUBJECT

This will make your message look less like spam.

TALKING POINTS

Maybe mention a few of these things in your message

– The Wyoming Legislature desperately needs to figure out new, stable revenues to fund our public schools and other state programs. 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.

– A proposed corporate income tax before the Revenue Committee would generate tens of millions of dollars for Wyoming schools while sparing Mom and Pop businesses increased tax burdens. See this article for more information.

– 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. The bankruptcy of Blackjewel confirms that Wyoming can no longer count on coal.

– Wyoming must diversify its economy and industries to provide non-mining jobs to its residents. But this will be impossible without diversifying our tax structure, because Wyoming has no real way to collect non-mineral revenues.

– Wyoming needs to build infrastructure to support thriving communities—from good schools to quality hospitals to fast broadband to attractive parks to adequate mental health care and senior services. We can’t do this relying on tax revenues from a dying industry like coal.