Dear Senator(s): I understand you don’t want to be see as “vot[ing] for a shutdown,” but the president has ALREADY partially and illegally shut down the government by unlawfully refusing to spend appropriated funds. Voting for a budget that ratifies unlawful conduct (1) hurts Americans by inviting further unlawful, arbitrary, and harmful unilateral cuts, (2) hurts Congress by sidelining the appropriations process, and (3) is on the wrong side of history. Don’t let the other side fool you; don’t vote for a silent coup by giving the president unilateral power over Congress.