Gas stations are charging upwards of fifteen cents and in some cases a dollar more per gallon for the use of a credit or debit card. This should be a "cost of doing business" or a they should charge a small percentage of the TOTAL sale not per gallon.

According to its 2013 Annual Report, “As a leader in the healthcare industry, Johnson & Johnson is committed to supporting the development of sound public policy in health care.” Yet the company opposes state governments’ efforts to make pseudoephedrine a prescription drug, as it was until 1976. Pseudoephedrine is used to manufacture methamphetamine. Since Oregon and Mississippi removed pseudoephedrine from the over-the-counter category, methamphetamine production in those states has fallen by 96% and 99.5%, respectively. The other 23 states that have tried to pass similar legislation have been stymied by the efforts of the Consumer Healthcare Products Association (CHPA), a lobbying and public relations firm. Johnson & Johnson is one of the biggest supporters of this organization. Drug companies earn about $605 million a year on the sale of pseudoephedrine. The failure properly to regulate these sales costs society much more. A 2009 study by the Rand Corporation concluded that methamphetamine abuse costs the nation between $16 and $48 billion annually. These billions are paid by the public for jails, hospitals, police and foster homes to address the consequences of methamphetamine abuse. Since drug companies that benefit from these sales are not paying for the negative health and social impacts of their product, the public is in this sense subsidizing these drug companies' operations. As a stockholder, I am appalled that my company chooses to make money from easy access to a drug that leaves children burned and dying, facilitates crime and domestic abuse and leads to ruined health. Mississippi and Oregon have shown that making pseudoephedrine available by prescription only substantially mitigates the terrible consequences of methamphetamine abuse. Johnson & Johnson’s support for efforts to defeat this sensible legislation is not the “love” it advertises; it truly tarnishes the image of Johnson & Johnson.

My name is Carmen Navarrette, and I have been a loyal and hardworking employee of McDonald's for more than nine years. While I was at work last week, I had a severe diabetic episode and ended up throwing up. Because I was feeling so sick, I asked my manager if I could go home and rest. Instead of offering to help me, he said that I could not go home and should just put a bullet in my head. This is just one example of the type of verbal abuse that McDonalds workers like myself are subjected to on a daily basis. The workers of McDonald's are standing up and demanding an end to the severe verbal abuse that we have had to endure over the years. We should be treated with respect and dignity, not as if we are expendable. If you believe that McDonald's should be a safe working environment for ALL workers then sign on to this petition and stand with the workers of McDonald's!

On January 17, 2014 a former student of mine took her own life. Madison Holleran was a freshman at U Penn, and she was also an extremely talented runner on U Penn's track team. Her suicide left a void in the hearts of so many people across the United States. This law would allow us to keep Madison's legacy alive, and help other young adults from choosing suicide as a way of escaping the pressures of college expectations.

Since the disastrous Citizens United ruling, billionaires and other special interests are funneling record amounts of money through secretive non-profits, trying to buy our elections. Federal prosecutors even say that a foreign tycoon exploited loopholes to try to rig the outcome. This kind of dangerous secrecy must stop. Assemblymember Maienshein didn't vote Yes on S.B. 27 -- the bill that will make sure billionaires, foreign tycoons, and other special interests can't hide behind dark money non-profits – even though polls show 84% of Californians want more disclosure. He didn't vote No, but abstaining counts the same as voting No in deciding whether a bill passes. Fortunately, S.B. 27 passed the Assembly anyway, and is now in the Senate. But we have to make sure legislators know their constituents are watching. So, sign our petition asking Assemblymember Maienshein why he didn't vote for S.B. 27, and demanding that he vote Yes on two other crucial disclosure bills: the Sunshine in Campaigns Act and California DISCLOSE Act.

The Shockoe Bottom is the site of the nation's second-most active slave market. This is a historic and sacred area! This further wounds and re-opens wounds with further disrespect!

Where is Massachusetts going to get the money to improve the T, expand early education to every child or invest in job growth? Well, we can start by looking at the Cayman Islands. Corporations dodge taxes by booking profits made here to offshore tax havens that levy little to no tax. It’s about time that these corporations start living by the same rules as the rest of us. It’s time to close these loopholes and invest in an economy that works for everyone. And the best part is, we don’t need to wait for Congress -- but we need Massachusetts legislators to act. Oregon is about to enact a law to recoup money stashed in offshore tax havens this year and Montana has already done so. If we enacted the same policy here in Massachusetts, it would generate $79 million dollars. They are debating revenue and the budget in the state house right now. But in order to convince Massachusetts legislators to take on the big corporations and their lobbyists, they need to hear from you.

I lost my Service Dog, Bruiser on December 6, 2013. Bruiser is one of the FDA's "statistics," or "numbers." Bruiser was diagnosed with a severely damaged liver & renal failure October 2010, after having consumed Chicken Jerky Treats. The same treats that the FDA had known about sickening & killing dogs since 2007, yet did not post warnings about these products where unsuspecting pet owners could see them. Not everyone has a computer, they had warnings on their website, but not in stores, on store shelves where the products were/are sold, or on the packages. There are warnings on everything else, BUT not on pet treats. The Petfood Corporations had also known about the illnesses and deaths, as early as 2007, yet did nothing to protect its consumers. Many still did/do not list where a product is made or sourced. Why should they, when the FDA only "encourages" companies to list it. There are no fines, or penalties, if where the product is made, or manufactured is omitted from the packaging/product. The AKC (American Kennel Club) is listed as a non-profit organization, yet they continue to "endorse" products that are made in China. They don't make them, but they do reap the rewards, from putting their stamp of approval on these same treats. Which in my eyes makes them every bit, just as guilty as the petfood corporations. Also, every one of these entities knew about these treats causing the exact same illnesses: Liver Damage (often severe) Renal Failure Fanconi Syndrome Anemia Vomiting (sometimes bloody) Diarrhea (simetimes bloody) Pancreatitis Gastrointestinal Bleeding Severe Thirst Stomach Cancer Yet they did NOTHING to warn us, or keep our dogs safe. This was not simply negligence, this was in my eyes intentional; because God forbid they lose any money. Purposely poisoning, harming, injuring or killing an animal is known as Felony Animal Abuse. These entities should be held accountable for their actions, and charged, just like any other criminal, or offender would be. Regardless of how much money, or political pull they have. There needs to be stiffer penalties for anyone, (regardless of whom they are) for harming or killing a Service Dog. Bruiser was far more than "just a dog," he was my working partner. He was on many days my life line. He kept me safe, just like a Police K9 keeps his, or her Officer safe. I know what killed, my "Bruiser" Bellehound Scrawny Tawny Lion, JC & I refuse to just stand by & do nothing! There is a special bond, between a Service Dog & their partner, it is like no other. Bruiser knew things, that I never trained him for. He could pick up on subtle cues & knew just what he needed to do to keep me safe. I owe it to Bruiser to seek the Justice that he so deserves. As well as other Service Dogs, and their handlers to keep them safe & partnered for as long as possible. Bruiser always gave me 110%, it is my turn to repay him, for his 12 1/2 years of service, because that is what partners do for each other. Please help me, to help others before their world is ripped out, from underneath them, for nothing more than greed. I want a Bill to be named in his honor. I don't want anyone else to have to go through this. These entities need to be held accountabIe for their actions. I can't do that with out you, please help me. Thank You, for not letting Bruiser die in vain.

I'm just just like the next person affected by this bill. I've always had a manageable bill until I opened my last bill which was more than triple than the norm. The excuse given by Salamanca Board of Public Utilities was suspicious and we as residence need to band together to fight this.

Elderly in our state were under contract with UPG to receive propane at 1.69 a gallon. When they need a fill-up during the recent extremely cold weather, they called Quality Propane, or any of the other UPG suppliers in the area, their calls went unanswered. One 89 year old woman went to the suppliers office to order gas since the propane tank was down to 20 percent. The truck driver delivered only 5 percent more. The elderly lady now fears she'll have to stay with relatives since more sub-freezing temperatures are expected. This scenario is being repeated all over our state this winter. I tried over four days to reach the company I was under contract with. They refused to answer my calls and had turned off the answering machine.

California is the only place in the world where oil companies can come, drill, and extract oil without paying a dime in royalties. But that oil is our inheritance, and if we're not leaving it for our children, we should at least be using it to help build a better future for them. After all the cuts to services we've had to endure, this is an obvious way to add revenue to the treasury, and it hits an industry that has no need for special tax treatment, nor moral argument for it.

Our family was involved in an auto accident over 5 years ago and are still dealing with the ramifications of this life altering event. Their proposed legislation would force: *Drivers to have to purchase MORE insurance to protect themselves from underinsured drivers *Seriously injured drivers will be FORCED onto welfare programs to pay for their care once their auto insurance hits the proposed cap limits , costing taxpayers tens of millions of dollars each year. Who is actually saving money from this proposed legislation? Auto Insurance companies; not US, the customers.