Free to petition as Freedom of Speech!

Companies refuse to hire eligible candidates based on past criminal records. My husband was in a car wreck 8 years ago and received a felony. He was laid off 4 years ago and has received numerous job offers. He listed the felony on the application, was in negotiations, a background check was completed and each time the job offer was withdrawn due to the felony conviction. According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics there are 12-14 Million ex-offenders of working age in the United States. Costing the US economy $65 billion in lost output through unemployment and welfare services. Not to mention the mental health costs and risks of recidivism related to unemployed and discriminated ex-felons. This is a preventable financial loss. Equal Employment Opportunity for ex-offenders is step one in lowering the strain of welfare programs on the US economy. Every ex-offender I speak with would rather have a job and be a contributing member of society. There are jobs available but companies are refusing eligible applicants who already paid their time and were determined ready for society. In researching positions my husband applied for we found they generally remain open and are not filled quickly by other applicants because the best candidate for the job had a criminal history and the company is still hunting for someone with the same qualifications. It is illegal to discriminate based on Race, Color, Religion, Sex, National Origin, Disability, Age, and Genetics. This petition is to add the existence of a criminal record to the list. Those who completed their sentencing and are not on any registered offender lists should have an equal employment opportunity.

We live in a time where change is all around. We are evolving as a people, and as we evolve, our laws need to as well. I see many Gay and Lesbian families that are not complete, because their rights have not been recognized. It is time to make these changes so that all can be treated equally under the law!

Many states are now taking actions in conflict with federal drug policies regarding cannabis and hemp. There has never been a better time to diffuse this situation by decriminalizing cannabis and hemp.

My twins will start Kindergarten in the fall of 2013, and I believe it is the parents right to choose, rather than the schools', whether the twins should be separated or kept in the same class. Our children's emotional, social and psychological stability should be top priority especially when entering this major time of transition, so as the child can focus on their educational experience.

US citizen & NC resident

Full impact of this bill has not been studied. This legislation is “a sword to be used against minorities” and is unconstitutional. This legislation could justify discrimination with legal authority to do so. The Constitutions of Kentucky have, since 1792, assured the citizens of Kentucky freedom of worship according to their own conscience, unless “dangerous or detrimental to the lives, safety or health of the participants or to the public.” HB279 as worded, has the potential to deprive certain citizens of the Commonwealth of their freedom to exercise their own rights of autonomy.

Making sure students vote in the Mayoral race.

These brave people who videotape and expose the abuse of animals, like cows too sick to walk to their slaughter, so they are forklifted, and veal calves (babies) skinned alive and then thrown, still living, still breathing, still suffering, into a pile to slowly die - are having their FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS TO FREE SPEECH VIOLATED by laws by big business that want to curtail their ability to document these atrocities. If these companies are going to abuse these sick animals, skin them alive and torture them, treat them worse than being in a Nazi Death Camp - and expect us to EAT the meat thereafter, then people should be allowed to show the truth of what they are doing. How DARE big business come in and place severe limitations on exposes and their reporters' ability to showcase these horrors!

Getting Warren Ballentine back on the Air

The right to vote is essential to democratic government. Those who pass laws to take that right away under the guise of "protecting" legitimate voters are actually trying to subvert democracy. They should be voted out of office.

I am asking you to Repeal of Section 115 of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act of 1996 prohibited Sates from providing Food Stamps (now the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) to convicted drug felons unless the State passes legislation to extend benefits to these individuals. This Act denies benefits disproportionately to one group of people with convictions and not others. I want a change to the laws and offer equal rights for Formerly Incarcerated Persons that have served all of their time so that they can contribute to society, work, find housing and not be a continued burden on their families. People can steal millions from banks and are eligible for benefits if needed, they can steal from this agency and are only banned for a period of time. People can murder and be eligible for assistance, but they could have not ever received benefits if they have a drug offense and are ineligible for these benefits if they need it during their lifetime. Who are the people that are targets of this discrimination? **Drug charges and convictions disproportionately affect African American and Hispanics. All people with prior convictions should be made whole citizens after they have served their time, they should have the opportunity as any other citizen with rights afforded by the Constitution of the United States to have life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. We believe that is being denied to them.