Dear Gov. Crist,

As a lifelong public servant yourself, you know firsthand the importance of government employees and the work they do. Whether on city streets, in Tallahassee offices, or on the ground after a hurricane strikes, state workers help keep Florida running. Their impact on our daily lives cannot be undervalued.

State workers already give up a lot. They are paid less than their counterparts in 30 other states, and for the past three years, they have seen no increase in their salaries while inflation has risen eight percent.

Now, in the midst of the worst economic conditions Florida has experienced in decades, the legislature would have some state employees take a two percent pay cut. These short-sighted cuts would affect the amount of money state employees have to spend in the local economy, further perpetuating the downward economic cycle we are in today.

I urge you to use the line item veto power vested in you by the constitution to say no to any pay cut for working class families.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]