Professional sports organizations, as defined in 28 USCS § 3701(3), have enjoyed certain privileges, immunities, and tax exemptions normally accorded to traditional 501(c) 3’s. Understandably, such privileges were awarded in 1966, in the context of the NFL's merger with the defunct AFL, in order to promote a) growth in the league, and b) to disallow the NFL from shrinking the number of competing teams and organizations under its corporate umbrella. Certain types of organizations inferred to in the tax exemption have outlived the tax exemption's purpose: to ensure growth and stability. In light of the NFL's $50 million executive payroll, the players' salaries, the billion dollar contracts awarded to various media - all of which have been virtually tax free and paid to the NFL - we, the United States Congress' constituency, in promoting fairness and integrity, are demanding that Congress act with all due expedience in accordance to the NFL's - and all professional sports organizations' - current financial portfolios.

Last month, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Sen. Mark Udall (D-Colo.) asked the U.S. Food & Drug Administration to finalize its 2001 guidance on voluntary labeling of genetically modified organisms (GMOs). The senators advertised their request as a move intended to benefit consumers. But in fact, a federal voluntary labeling plan plays right into the hands of Monsanto and big food. Sometimes it's appropriate to contact a senator who doesn't directly represent you, because his or her actions could result in a federal law that could affect all Americans, not just the citizens in one state. This is one of those times. Please tell Senators Warren and Udall that FDA guidance on voluntary GMO labeling would be great for Monsanto and big food, but bad for consumers. How would finalizing the FDA's 2001 guidance hurt consumers? Worst-case scenario, the biotech and food industries could use the FDA guidance to preempt state laws requiring mandatory labeling of GMOs. Currently, states have the right to enact GMO labeling laws precisely because the FDA has not formally ruled on GMO labeling. Second, the FDA’s guidance on voluntary GMO labeling could be used to put an end to existing, legitimate voluntary non-GMO labeling efforts. By allowing the FDA, which has previously (and controversially) ruled that GMO and non-GMO foods are “substantially equivalent,” the FDA could rule against non-GMO or GMO-free labels on the basis that they mislead consumers by implying that there’s a difference between GMO and non-GMO foods. Monsanto and the Grocery Manufacturers Association, two of the biggest funders of campaigns to defeat state GMO labeling laws, support the FDA’s guidance on voluntary labeling of GMOs. Consumers don't because we know who will benefit from the FDA's rule - big corporations, not us. We need to get Senators Warren and Udall back on our side.

Why are Oregon Republicans insisting on a massive giveaway to big, out-of-state chemical companies like Monsanto? Governor John Kitzhaber has proposed a “grand bargain” package of reforms on taxes and the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) in an upcoming legislative special session. But Republicans are refusing to consider the proposals unless a proposal called the Oregon Monsanto Protection Act is included. Oregon’s Monsanto Protection Act is awful policy and sets a dangerous precedent. It would take away the right of Oregon counties to decide whether to outlaw GMOs. It all boils down to a simple question: Who are more important to Oregon -- our family farms and food producers, or massive, out-of-state chemical companies? House Democrats defeated the Oregon Monsanto Protection Act once before. But it’s back now thanks to extreme Republicans in the Oregon Legislature. Only together can we stop this awful idea from becoming law.

The Monsanto Protection Act is an outrage. It allows big agricultural and biotech corporations to ignore food safety regulations and sell genetically engineered foods even after a court order to stop. The good news? The Monsanto Protection Act expires on September 30. The bad news? Some in Congress want to extend the Monsanto Protection Act as part of the must-pass budget bill that will keep our government operating past September 30. The Monsanto Protection Act was written anonymously and in secret - and prevents courts from doing their jobs. For Americans concerned about health and environmental damage, it leaves no legal recourse. We have to act now to stop big special interests from running roughshod over our democracy.

I have Hashimoto's disease. They are natural drugs out there that can help me and millions of others who are suffering just like me. I can't get these drugs legally, even though they are cheap and effective and have been used for a very long time including here in the US. We can't get these meds because big pharma is not going to make money from natural drugs they can't patent. FDA would go after any medical practitioners if they would dare to prescribe you something that is legal in Canad and around the World. However, the problem doesn't end with my condition. They are many others just like me who have different conditions and need different treatments and we are forced to support the "business of drugs". For how long? I am still alive so I will try to change it while I still can. Please, help if you could.

The repeal of the Affordable Care Act, corporate control of legislation, and the fundamentally corrupt practice of our legislative branch.

Sen. Carl Levin's Stop Tax Haven Abuse Act is our best shot for closing the worst offshore corporate tax loopholes, which cost the U.S. around $100 billion each year. To pass it, we'll have to stand up to an army of powerful corporate lobbyists. No one can sit this out. Say you'll fight alongside Sen. Levin to pass the bill -- and make sure that big corporations pay their fair share of taxes.

It has been five years since Lehman Brothers collapsed, bringing the house of cards known as Wall Street crashing down and catalyzing a global economic catastrophe. While the people of Main Street have barely even begun to recover, the banks on Wall Street — after getting bailed out by the American taxpayers — are back to business, and profits, as usual. In fact, the very banks that cried “too big to fail” have only gotten bigger. In 2008, the four biggest banks in America — JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, Citigroup and Wachovia/Wells Fargo — held $6.4 trillion in assets. Today, those four banks have grown nearly 22% bigger, with $7.8 trillion in assets. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. We simply must break up these colossal institutions so that they can never again hold us hostage to their own greed and shortsightedness.

For three years, a group of some 600 multinational corporations and trade associations have been quietly negotiating a trade pact IN SECRET that could void American laws that protect workers, jobs, health, and the environment. During negotiations in Washington last summer, news leaked of some of the provisions U.S. trade officials were prepared to approve, and a public outcry derailed the talks. Trade Representative Ron Kirk resigned. Now that Michael Froman has been confirmed as the new U.S. Trade Representative he is pushing to renew "fast track" authority so President Barack Obama -- a DEMOCRAT -- can sign the agreement first, and then force a quick vote in Congress without any public scrutiny, floor debate, or revisions.

To keep our neighborhood strong and well connected. Zocalo is a part of the San Leandro community and it would be a shame for it to not remain in it's current location.

A new study co-authored by the Friends of the Earth and Pesticide Research Institute found that seven out of 13 samples of garden plants purchased at top retailers in Washington D.C., the San Francisco Bay Area and Minneapolis contain neurotoxic pesticides known as neonicotinoids. Neonics, made by Bayer CropScience and Syngenta, are the fastest-growing class of synthetic pesticides. They’re also linked to the mass die-off of honeybees. How do we get bee-killing plants out of garden centers? We start by asking the CEOs of two of the largest national chains – Home Depot and Lowe’s – to stop selling them. Help us, and our partner organizations, gather 300,000 signatures. When we reach that goal, we will meet with the CEOs of Home Depot (Frank Blake) and Lowe’s (Robert Niblock) and ask them to do what garden centers in the U.K. have done – commit to getting bee-killing garden plants out of their stores. About 100 crop species provide 90 percent of food globally. Of those species, 71 are pollinated by bees. In the U.S. alone, a full one-third of the food supply depends on pollination from bees. Can we afford not to pressure Home Depot and Lowe’s into getting neonics out of our gardens?

To prevent Congressmen for profiting from connections in office while they are serving constituents, thus preventing them from benefitting from special interest groups.