Here are three good reasons to support the Stop Tax Haven Abuse Act: 1. It would raise $220 billion to replace budget sequester cuts and to invest in America. 2. It would close tax loopholes that encourage U.S. corporations to move jobs, profits and operations offshore and prevent them from paying their fair share of taxes. 3. It would help level the playing field between big corporations and small businesses.

VICTORY UPDATE: We saw a partial victory on this campaign. The DOJ made a $2 billion portion of the settlement - the portion that is explicitly considered to be a "fine" - non-deductible for JPMorgan. This is excellent news and will save taxpayers $700 million. This is an exciting step in the right direction, though it's still far too little - we still have a long way to go to permanently end these tax breaks for corporate misdeeds. Background: JPMorgan is negotiating $13 billion in settlements with the Department of Justice for mortgage lending abuses they allegedly committed during the housing crisis. However, taxpayers could end up underwriting more than $3 billion of those settlements. That's because JPMorgan is likely to claim the settlements as tax deductions. Even though settlements like these are thought of as punishment for corporate wrongdoing, companies claim their settlement costs as tax write-offs all the time. They treat it as just another business expense. We can’t let that happen. The financial crisis caused by banks’ irresponsible practices landed us in a recession that we’re still struggling to recover from. Taxpayers shouldn’t have to pay any more for JPMorgan’s bad actions. Just last week, the Federal Housing Finance Agency, which houses Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, made a separate $5.1 billion settlement with JPMorgan. And, sadly, the FHFA let JPMorgan take that settlement as a write-off - effectively handing JPMorgan a $1.5 billion tax deduction. We need the Department of Justice to do better. The DOJ has the power to include a provision in JPMorgan's settlement that prohibits them from taking the settlement as a tax write-off. We just need to convince the DOJ to do the right thing. They've done it before, including with one of BP's settlements for the Gulf oil spill.

There is a Poor Minority Patriarch of the family, who's wife is in the Hospital on life support incurring financial ruin. They live on a fixed income, and have limited resources. They have no Budget for Medical Care, nor Tow Bills to be able to pay to get their only means of Transportation back. Their Family Automobile that helps provide trips to the Doctor, and Hospital for Medical Care. When they finally received the help to locate, and try to claim their Family Automobile the price was beyond affordable and lost as a profit to the Tow Company. They didn't have the Resources, or the money to get their Family Automobile back that was their only means to get around. Transportation is a right. Don't let the Tow Industry take that right away.

I took a check to the bank that issued it. I was troubled when I found out that even though the check was from the bank I was cashing it, there was a $7.50 fee for cashing the check simply because I didn't have an account there. When it happened to me at another bank on two occasions, I decided to do something about it. One may consider this a non-issue if they have an account where they can easily cash or deposit a check without (maybe) a fee. But for individuals less fortunate it's a real issue. It's simple, if the bank issued the check, they should honor it without penalizing the public for not banking with them. .

As an institution of higher learning, and as the biggest employer in the community, Western Washington University plays a major role in the economic development in the region, and the actions (or inaction) taken by the university affect the quality-of-life of workers not just employed by the university, but those of all parts of the economy Western interacts with. Because of the weight accorded to the voice of the university, it is troubling that, as the only major tenant confirmed to occupy the waterfront redevelopment zone, whose stature would then be used to attract other businesses, Western’s administration has decided to stay silent on the issue of whether workers employed on the waterfront should be paid a decent, living wage. This is even more troubling as the Port of Bellingham is set to approve a plan that would give away 200 million dollars in public money in welfare for the wealthy. The community has noticed the silence on the part of the university, and by not supporting a living wage in the area, it calls into question whether the actions taken by the administration are in line with the values of the university as a whole and of the students, who themselves are paying, now more than ever, to keep the university running. Western plans to start a center to teach on the “Green Economy” down on the waterfront; making our economy environmentally sustainable does not mean continuing to pay workers less than it takes to support a family and letting it fall on the taxpayer to subsidize poverty wages. In this petition, we are calling on the university to recognize this fact and add their voice to that of countless community members who are demanding that the Port makes sure workers in the area are being paid justly.

Let's get positive!!! When was the last time you rallied in favor of a corporation? Costco give us a reason to celebrate. Watch how. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fse-eSVZgXM

We know by now the GOP loves to stall. They continue to keep the government shut, separate immigrant families, and hold our economy hostage for their own political gain – and companies like Home Depot continue to line the pockets of these same Republican leaders. Last year alone, Home Depot PAC gave more than 1.2 million dollars to GOP extremists. Frank Blake and his corporate PAC continue to fund John Boehner, Eric Cantor and GOP leadership while our families suffer. Tell Home Depot PAC to STOP bankrolling elected officials who refuse to lead. It’s time that Home Depot stop assisting the GOP in political pandering while taking advantage of families.

The MBT Tax is American's solution for fixing the political gridlock that results when MBTs have the power to demand legislation for their benefit. On Oct. 1, 2013, greedy MBTs shutdown the government and slapped every American in the face forcing a fight. The question is, who will win? http://mbttax.org

Our community of Roxbury is in dire need of wealth-building opportunities, in particular the opportunity to build wealth through home ownership, which was expressed in the RFP for Bartlett. We see these opportunities as a way to stabilize the community. But Nuestra's first phase of the Bartlett Place development offers only rental and is out of balance with the income mix expressed in the RFP. Tell Nuestra you want a stable neighborhood. Homeownership should be part of phase 1!

The problem in Washington DC is related to the amount of money in the Elections trough. Were it not for the Money Power of Special Interests, the elected officials would be free to act according their enlightened Conscience. Instead their thought and action are beholden to the Money that will keep them in Special Interest Powers.

Staples.com advertised the Copic marker sets they sell at unusual low prices. People such as myself took advantage and ordered them accordingly. we were given an order number for our purchases. Staples, unlike companies Zappos and United Airlines, chose to not inform the customers of their mistake and cancelled orders without notification. No formal action from Staples executives has happened, but instead chose to not honor their prices they posted. they also claim to be fixing the issue, but the prices have stood on the site after making the claims of typographical error. Staples should follow in the footsteps of Zappos and United Airlines and take responsibility for their actions. They should honor the price and fulfill orders made. People are sick and tired of being misled with bait and switch tactics and Staples should honor their customers.

To whom it may concern at Block Communications: This is not a threat. I understand my words and few dollars cannot hurt you. I understand your position, as a company, in this community is not going to be immediately knocked down by the opinion, or even actions, of a few. However, please do not disregard what I am saying because long term, it will matter. Your lawsuit against Toledo Free Press is a frivolous one on many levels but I'd like to point out the main ones. Firstly, our courts are already bogged down with people and/or business suing other people and/or business for gain, financial or otherwise. You are tying up the courts in an attempt to shut down a business that is not even a competition to your daily newspaper. The frivolity is a waste of tax payers dollars that would be better spent on other things in this community. Especially when you truly don't care if you win this or not, which brings me to my second point. Secondly, suing a small business for the sole purpose of financially burdening them into shutting down is not the ethical way of doing things. I understand that what you're doing is becoming fairly common, but that doesn't make it anymore acceptable. You don't care about winning this lawsuit and collecting your “damages;” you care about making sure this lawsuit costs the Free Press too much money to go forward. Your “I will crush you, little guy” mentality isn't doing you any favors. No one likes a bully. If you think people (your customer or potential customers) aren't going to realizing what you're doing, you have greatly underestimated the intelligence of your demographics. We see what you are doing and we don't like it. You may think because your paper is the largest daily paper, or your cable company is the only option in this city, that you are infallible. However, I can make this promise to you: When another option comes along (and it will), we will choose it rather than you. We will choose a company that doesn't bully with dollars. We will chose the one that embraces the American hub of small business. We will choose the ethical and moral company rather than you. Your fall from grace wont be today with the dollars I will no longer be giving you. Nor the hundreds of others that will also no longer be supporting Block Communications or it's affiliates. Nor will it be our very loud boycott of your advertisers (believe me, they will know why we are no longer giving them our money). Instead it will be a slow death of your company as others move in and take over because your company is known for it's unethical tactic of using wealth to suppress small business. And I am one person that is looking forward to watching it happen. I once heard someone say that it was a losing battle to fight with a newspaper or other media outlet. That may be true, but it's one I am willing to fight on principles, loss or not. Consumerism is a beautiful thing. My dollars will loudly go to businesses not affiliated in anyway with Block Communications or its affiliates. Sincerely, All of the signed Small Business Supporters First Amendment Supporters Toledo Free Press Supporters