Submit a Letter to the Editor: California should use its massive surplus to lift children out of poverty with direct cash payments

California is expected to have another massive budget surplus this year, with most estimates projecting revenues in the tens of billions of dollars over expenses. As the Governor and the Legislature prepare to negotiate this year's budget, their top priority should be lifting children up out of poverty. The most effective way to do this is direct cash payments.

Our elected officials are far more likely to take action here if there's a strong showing of grassroots support for making it happen. A great way to show support is by writing a letter to your local newspaper, talking about why these payments are needed and how it would affect you and others in your community.

Write a letter to the editor using the tool on this page. Enter your ZIP code to get started.

Writing Tips

  • Keep It Short: No more than 250 words.
  • Tell Your Story: Begin the letter with a brief story about you or someone you know that demonstrates why you care about this issue.
  • Use Powerful Language: Use powerful verbs and descriptive nouns. Write short, punchy sentences.
  • Focus on Local Impact: How would this affect your local community?

Key Reasons to Support Direct Cash to Lift Children Out of Poverty

You may want to use some of these statements and facts in your letter:

  • The recently-expired monthly federal Child Tax Credit payments cut child poverty dramatically in California by over 33%.1 California has an opportunity now to step in and keep those children from falling back into poverty.
  • California has a budget surplus in the tens of billions of dollars this year.2 Providing low-income California families with $2,000 per child would cost the state less than $5 billion.
  • Data shows that in January, right after the Child Tax Credit expired, the number of children in poverty spiked dramatically with Black and Latino/Latinx children seeing the highest percentage point increase in poverty.3
  • At the same time as families were no longer receiving this money, the price of basic goods like food and gas increased. A Public Policy Institute of California survey found 43% of families with kids suffered "serious hardship”, much more than those without children.4
  • We have a proven method to radically reduce child poverty with tax credits targeted to low-income families. The question is only whether Governor Newsom and the California Legislature will choose to do it.

References

[1] “How a Permanent Expansion of the Child Tax Credit Could Affect Poverty.” Urban Institute. July, 2021.

[2] “California’s budget surplus may be up to $23 billion more than previous projection.” KTLA. Feb, 2022.

[3] “3.7 million more children in poverty in Jan 2022 without monthly Child Tax Credit.” Center on Poverty and Social Policy, Columbia University. Feb, 2022.

[4] “PPIC Statewide Survey: Californians and Their Government.” Public Policy Institute of California. March, 2022.