Russ Diamond Christmas Truce — Pennsylvania State Rep. Russ Diamond (R-102) has penned this open letter to Gov. Tom Wolf regarding the budget impasse. It is worth passing on to all, especially one’s legislators, political leaders and media sources.
Dear Governor Tom Wolf,
Pennsylvanians get it. We don’t see eye to eye. There’s a huge gap between our differing opinions on the Commonwealth’s future. We will likely continue this argument, in one form or another, for another three years.
That said, real people are depending on us. Folks who work hard to educate our children. Counties that provide critical services to the most vulnerable. Victims of domestic violence who have nowhere else to turn. The list goes on and on.
For their sake, let’s call a Christmas truce.
The House of Representatives is putting together a plan to allow them to keep functioning. It is NOT a budget. It is NOT a permanent solution. It is merely an offer to keep the lights on until such time as we can resolve our differences.
You don’t have to sign it, but you don’t have to veto it either. You can just let it sit on your desk for ten days and let it happen. It will not represent a political victory for either one of us.
It’s been nearly six months. We’ve been collecting taxes all along, and there’s federal money sitting around just waiting for us to act. It belongs to neither one of us. It should be used for its intended purposes.
The previously agreed to budget ‘framework’ has fallen apart. The votes to support the revenues required to pay for it simply don’t exist. Finger pointing and the blame game will not do anyone any good.
Look, we’re both new at this. As one freshman to another, I implore you to do the right thing. Not for you, not for me, but for the people of Pennsylvania who depend on us the most.
It’s the least we can do. We can come back next year to argue and fight. But right now, we can do something responsible to prevent a calamity of epic proportions.
It’s Christmas, sir. Please join me in declaring a temporary truce.
Sincerely,
Representative Russ Diamond