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We need your help to fix the state budget!
Your help is needed to ensure a state budget which meets the most basic health care needs of struggling Georgians!
The State House passed a budget for the 2010 Fiscal Year beginning July 1st, 2009. While we are pleased with many aspects of the House’s budget there is a lot of concern that the House budget does NOT include sufficient funds for anticipated growth in Medicaid for the coming year. With an increase in unemployment comes the loss of health insurance, and more Georgians will be turning to Medicaid for their health care coverage.
The economic downturn has meant a huge decrease in state revenues from sales tax and income taxes. In order to meet the basic needs of Georgia citizens during these challenging times, we need additional revenues. One proposal is an increase in the tobacco tax and direct the funds toward Medicaid.
NOTE: Although the tobacco tax bill itself is considered dead for the session – another bill can be amended to include the tobacco tax.
| Sample Letter for Campaign |
Subject: Help Struggling Georgians!
Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,
Your help is needed to ensure a state budget which meets the most basic health care needs of struggling Georgians!
While we are pleased with many aspects of the House's budget [which restores money for school nurses, for mental health and substance abuse services, for public health departments which provide essential health care services to low income families, and includes money to expand family planning services to low income women] there is a lot of concern that the House budget does NOT include sufficient funds for anticipated growth in Medicaid for the coming year. With an increase in unemployment comes the loss of health insurance, and more Georgians will be turning to Medicaid for their health care coverage.
There is no doubt that the economic downturn has meant a huge decrease in state revenues from sales tax and income taxes. In order to meet the basic needs of Georgia citizens during these challenging times, we need additional revenues. One proposal is an increase in the tobacco tax and direct the funds toward Medicaid. This proposal is particularly appealing because
1) such a tax will discourage young people from starting to smoke (studies have proven that cost is a big factor in deterring teens) and will motivate others to quit;
2) smokers cost the state a great deal in health care expenditures; a tax would help recoup some of those expenditures;
3) directing revenue from the tax to Medicaid would help ensure that the program remains fiscally sound.
Please amend another bill to include the tobacco tax, pass the tobacco tax and use the funds for Georgia's Medicaid program.
Sincerely,
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