Massachusetts Budget Fiscal Year 2009 (July 1, 2008 - June 30, 2009)

Thanks for adding your voice to this request for critical funding for sexual assault and domestic violence services in the Commonwealth.

1. Contact your own State Senator. If you know your State Snator, you can find their contact information here: http://www.mass.gov/legis/memmenus.htm

To find out who your State Senator is and a link for their contact information, go to:
http://www.wheredoivotema.com

2. Contact Senate Ways & Means Chairman Panagiotakos and urge him to play a leadership role in addressing this crisis. Call (617) 722-1630 or email him at Steven.Panagiotakos@state.ma.us

3. Contact Senate President Therese Murray and urge her to play a leadership role in addressing this crisis at (617)722-1500 or email her at Therese.Murray@state.ma.us.

Sample Email to State Senators:

The Honorable [NAME OF YOUR STATE SENATOR]
State House
Boston, MA 02133

Dear Senator [NAME OF YOUR STATE SENATOR],

I am deeply concerned by the high rates of domestic violence homicides in Massachusetts. I urge you to support the amendment filed by Senator Edward Augustus on behalf of Jane Doe Inc. to increase funding for sexual assault and domestic violence services in Massachusetts by $10 million.

I understand that this is a tight fiscal year, but we have both a moral imperative and a fiscal responsibility to meet the needs of victims and survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence. We must ensure that every victim in Massachusetts has access to the services they need and that can save their lives. The crisis hotlines, emergency shelter, legal, medical and economic advocacy, counseling and support groups, services for children exposed to a battering parent, transitional housing and more are essential lifelines for thousands of victims and survivors and their families.

Children cannot pay attention in schools, emergency rooms and health centers will continue to be flooded, employers will lose valuable employees and rates of incarceration and court time will continue climbing if people are not safe in their homes. There is no doubt that domestic violence homicides will continue to rise. In 2007, we saw 55 deaths due to violence and are on course to exceed that this year.

In addition to the life-saving nature of our work, every dollar invested in sexual assault and domestic violence services results in multi-fold savings in terms of law enforcement, health care, housing and other costs. To me the calculus is clear: pay now, or pay later and risk someone’s life.

Thank you in advance for your thoughtful consideration of our request.

[Name]
[Address]
[City, Zip]