Write to the media about the hidden cost of this tax plan

When your senators are home for the Thanksgiving break, what will they see when they pick up the local paper? Let’s make sure it’s a clear message from you to reject the harmful new tax bill.

One crucial detail has been missing from most of the coverage of the tax plan: who will end up paying for the massive tax cuts for corporations and the rich. It’s the lowest-income, most vulnerable Americans.

This is plain wrong – and it’s time to get that message in print. The House passed its version, but the bill’s path in the Senate is still unclear. You can help stop it.

You can use our online tool or – better yet – use the template below to craft a letter of your own.

Here’s what we can expect if the tax proposal passes: The deficit will predictably skyrocket, and lawmakers will demand cuts to federal programs that help millions of Americans put food on the table, get affordable health care, and make ends meet.

How do we know? Because we’ve seen the same pattern all year, from the many harmful heath care bills to both the House and Senate budget resolutions. All have threatened critical anti-poverty programs — whether through direct funding cuts or devastating structural changes.

Advocates like you have already published almost 400 media pieces this year against these kinds of harmful proposals. We’ve stopped many of them. We can stop this one too.

Letter to the Editor Template

Remember, the best letters are the ones that come straight from the heart. But you can use our template to get you started.

To the editor:

It’s clear who will benefit from the new tax plan in Washington: the rich. What we’re hearing less about is who will pay the consequences – and that’s hardworking, low-income Americans.

This year we’ve already seen attempts to gut essential programs like Medicaid and SNAP (formerly Food Stamps). So after giving away $1.5 trillion in tax breaks to millionaires, those same critical programs would likely wind up back on the chopping block. Meanwhile, the bill would unravel our health care system by repealing the individual mandate.

With one in eight Americans below the poverty line, this is both bad public policy and just plain wrong. I hope we can count on our Senators [insert yours] to stand up against this plan.

[Your name]

More Media Tools

• Never written a letter to the editor before? Here’s a step-by-step guide.
• Ready to take the next step with an op-ed? Here’s an editable template to get you started. Be sure to customize and make it your own!
• Interested in reaching out to your editorial board? Here’s a media memo on the tax plan.
• Check out your incredible work so far this year: almost 400 pieces of media in 48 states, calling on Congress to protect anti-poverty programs.