The H.R. 3 bill would create a law that women and small businesses provide health insurance covering abortion to pay more on taxes. So a woman would have to provide documentation to IRS, that the abortion was due to forcible rape, incest, a life threat to the mother, OR that the health insurance she has doesn't cover abortions. It would prevent most women from receiving any financial help from health insurance companies for abortion. We should put our money and efforts in sex education and prevention and ASSIST victims of rape and assault, not make it harder. And remember... All this is following a recent budget cut threat to Planned Parenthood.

Appointment of Emergency Financial Manager (EFM) disenfranchises Benton Harbor voters by stripping power away from officials they elected. Appointment of EFM places an onerous burden on the already stressed finances of Benton Harbor by forcing the city to pay $12,000 a month for EFM. Appointment of EFM creates an anti-democracy situation that further weakens the basic tenets of our free society.

NYC Community Boards are advisory bodies which could benefit from the input of informed and engaged teens on youth related issues. At the present time, 16 and 17 year olds can participate as non-voting public members. Revision of the NYS Public Officers Law would allow them to become appointed, voting members, giving recognitiont to their contributions, and benefitting communities with enlightened youth contribution.

Orange County GOP Central Committee member Marilyn Davenport sent a racist e-mail depicting President Obama as an ape, with a caption, questioning his birth certificate. She has asserted in a private email to Orange County GOP leaders that she will not be stepping down, and she apologizes to anyone who may have been offended. She maintains that "in no way did I even consider the fact he's half black when I sent out the email" and decries the "double standard" that applies to President Barack Obama. See the OC Weekly for the full text of the email. Marilyn Davenport in her press conference stated that she sent this racist e-mail to selected people in her press conference April 20, 2011, which further proves she knew it had racist overtones. She maintains that she did not know it was offensive, and that she has African American friends. Why didn't she send the e-mail to her non-white friends? It was deliberate and inflamatory. She should resign as a public servant in politics. The Associated Press reports that Republican Party of Orange County Chairman Scott Baugh wants to launch an ethics investigation about the incident, and that he thinks she should resign. Baugh said, "It's just highly inappropriate, it's a despicable message, it drips with racism and I think she should step down from the committee."

In Washington, DC, our nation's capital, we have no voting member of Congress, and our local taxes and laws are subject to the control of Congress. This violates every principle of democracy and it is un-American.

Often, blood-banks or other organizations will have a specific question about sexual contact between two men, and answering such a question in the affirmative can make a possible donor ineligible for donation! This promotes negative stereotypes and stigma about gay people and venereal diseases or, worse, HIV/AIDS. This should not be relevant as long as it was protected!

Enact public funding of legislator's campaigns by a 28th amendment to the Constitution. Citizens best interests will not be honestly represented until private funding is eliminated from public official's campaigns and non persons are permanently 'de-personated'. This must be done by enacting a 28th amendment to our Constitution otherwise, the issue will be fought repeatedly in Congress. Publicly funding all election campaigns during a presidential election cycle will cost less than $45 per registered voter, and less for off cycle elections - cheap for real representation. Sign the petition and tell our representatives we demand the end of the biggest conflict of interest on this planet - the flagrant purchase of our elected officials by those who stand to profit by that purchase.

Limit the total term for all Congressional Representatives to serve to 12 years maximum for both House and Senate reps. Similar to how Presidents have a max of 8 years to serve. Also Congress can no longer vote to give themselves pay raises. Serving in Congress is an honor not a career.

Missouri's legislature is continuing its wholesale assault on working people by attempting to gut Missouri's civil rights statute, the Missouri Human Rights Act. Under SB 188, corporate reactionaries have: 1. Removed harassers and discriminators from any personal responsibility for their acts. 2. Placed outdated and unfair caps on damages, including economic damages. 3. Lessened protection for private and governmental employees who blow the whistle on illegal conduct. 4.Made it more difficult for employees to prevail or even reach a jury of their peers in employment discrimination cases.