Recently, Turing Pharmaceuticals announced that it had raised the price of the drug Daraprim from $13.50 per pill to a staggering $750 per pill, representing a nearly 5,556% increase in price. Daraprim is used to treat toxoplasmosis, a medical condition that can be fatal for people with AIDS and developing fetuses. Turing Pharamceuticals's owner is hedge fund manager Martin Shkreli. After being rightfully criticized over Turing's decision to increase the price of Daraprim, Shkreli has taken to social media and openly attacked progressives and other critics of the Daraprim price increase. According to Federal Election Commission (FEC) records, Shkreli donated $33,400 to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC), an organization that provides financial and other types of support to Democratic candidates running for U.S. Senate seats. The DSCC, which is chaired by Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT), should do the right thing and donate $33,400 to a charity, preferably one that supports research to find a cure for AIDS.

With these rate increases, and over-charging of Alachua County residents, some residents have electric bills almost as much as their rent or mortgage.. Why? And why is there no other electric company competition in this town?

PROGRESSIVE WAS PAID TO HAVE MY BACK WHEN A DRIVER WITH NO INSURANCE IS INVOLVED. AFTER FIVE YEARS OF FIGHTING, I AM EXHAUSTED AND I HAVE NOTHING LEFT. IN JULY 2010 I WAS INJURED IN A CAR ACCIDENT, I NOTIFIED THE COMPANY IN THAT CASE PROGRESSIVE, AND THEY ASSURED ME THAT ALL WOULD BE WELL SINCE I PAID MY PREMIUMS ON TIME. SINCE THE OTHER DRIVER DID NOT HAVE INSURANCE MY UM/UIM KICKED IN AUTOMATICALLY. ONCE THEY FIND THAT OUT, PROGRESSIVE HAS MADE A DECISION TO STALL THE PROCESS. THEY DENIED EVERYTHING, EVEN THOUGH THEIR ADJUSTERS AGREED THAT MY CLAIM IS VALID. PROGRESSIVE REFUSED TO INVESTIGATE. I HAD TO FILE SUIT AGAINST THE DRIVER AND I WAS AWARDED OVER A MILLION DOLLARS FOR MY INJURIES. SINCE I WAS IN ANOTHER PERSON’S CAR, THEIR INSURANCE PAID TWENTY THOUSAND DOLLARS WHICH WAS THEIR LIMIT. I HAD BOUGHT A POLICY FROM PROGRESSIVE FOR 100/300. PROGRESSIVE GOT MY LETTER ON TIME FOR THE UM/UIM POLICY TRIGGER. A PATTERN OF BAD FAITH STARTED TO EMERGE AND PROGRESSIVE PEOPLE DID NOT CARE. THEIR ADJUSTER TOLD ME TO FIRE MY ATTORNEY THEN THE CASE WOULD BE SETTLED, IT WAS A LIE. I RECEIVED A LETTER WITHIN A COUPLE OF DAYS STATING THAT THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS HAS RUN OUT AND THAT SHE WILL NOT BE PAYING THE CLAIM. THEY REFUSED ALL OUR DEMANDS, THEN THEY DECIDED TO NOT SHOW UP IN MEETINGS THAT WE AGREED TO. MY LAWYER AND I AGREED THAT WE HAVE TO FILE A LAWSUIT AGAINST PROGRESSIVE FOR THE POLICY THAT I AM OWED AND FOR BREACH OF CONTRACT AND BAD FAITH. THIS COMPANY HAS IN-HOUSE COUNSEL TO DEFEND THEIR INTERESTS. THEY HAVE THROWN EVERYTHING AT ME. FIRST, A MOTION TO STRIKE, SECOND AN ANSWER WITH SPECIAL DEFENSES AND THIRD A MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGEMENT. REMEMBER WHAT I SAID ABOUT STALL TACTICS, NOW THEY ARE USING THAT SAME TACTIC TO GET RID MY CASE, CLAIMING THAT MY CASE WAS NOT FILED ON TIME, THEREFORE THE JUDGE SHOULD THROW IT OUT. THEIR LAWYER ADMITTED THAT THE CASE IS STRONG AGAINST PROGRESSIVE BUT STILL FILE A MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF HIS MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGEMENT. ASKING THE JUDGE TO RULES ON THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS SOLELY, HOPING IT HAS RUN OUT, THEN I WOULD HAVE NO CASE TO PURSUE. MY ATTORNEYS SAID THAT IT WAS FILED ON TIME, WHILE THEY HAVE A RIGHT TO DEFEND THEMSELVES, THEY HAVE BEEN VERY DECEPTIVE, AND THEY’VE BREACHED THE CONTRACT WHICH MAKES IT BAD FAITH. EVERYTHING THEY HAVE DONE IN THIS CASE IS MISLEADING; BASICALLY THEY WERE SETTING TRAPS FOR MY CLIENT IN ORDER TO AVOID RESPONSIBILITY. THEIR WILFUL AND WANTON CONDUCT HAS CAUSED A LOT OF DAMAGES AND PAIN. THE LAWS ARE COMPLICATED BUT THE LAWYERS CLAIMED IT WAS FILED ON TIME AND THEIR OWN POLICY SAYS SO AND THE LAW ALSO. BUT YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT CAN HAPPEN IN THESE CASES. I HAVE HAD 4 SURGERIES IN MY SHOULDER AND LAST YEAR I HAD TO TOTALLY REPLACE THE SHOULDER. THIS PAST MAY I HAD TO HAVE KNEE SURGERIES. MY BILLS ARE IN EXCESS OF 120 000 DOLLARS. SUDDENLY THEY ASKED FOR MEDIATION, IT WAS A BAD IDEA. I WAS OFFERED 5000 DOLLARS AND I WAS TOLD THAT WOULD BE ONLY OFFER. I WAS HURT BY THIS BECAUSE IT SHOWS THAT NO ONE CARED ABOUT AND I STARTED TO ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT ME SINCE I BELONG IN THE MINORITY CLASS, I WAS TOLD BY THE MEDIATOR WE << WE ARE TRYING TO PUT SOME MONEY IN YOUR POCKET>> NO ONE TALKS ABOUT POLICY , PAST AND FUTURE MEDICAL BILLS. I HEARD EVERYTHING THAT COULD GO WRONG FOR ME AND BECAUSE OF THOSE THINGS I SHOULD TAKE WHATEVER PROGRESSIVE GIVES ME. I HEARD NOTHING ABOUT MY PAIN AND SUFFERING AND BELIEVE ME I SUFFER EVERYDAY. I HAVE TO TAKE PAIN MEDICATIONS, THEY HELP ME FUNCTION BUT OVERALL MY LIFE SUCKS. NOW I FACE THE POSSIBILITY OF BEING HOMELESS , SINCE I HAVE LIMITED INCOME, IT IS NOT ENOUGH TO HELP MY CHILDREN AND I , THE ONE PERSON WHO WAS HELPING ME HAS FOUND OUT SHE HAS CANCER , MY MOTHER HAS MULTIPLE MYELOMA , SHE HAD TO STAY IN HOSPITAL . SHE IS THE ONE WHO WAS ABLE TO HELP ME WITH A PLACE TO STAY SINCE SHE OWNS THE HOUSE. WE HAVE NOTHING LEFT, MY GOAL WAS TO HELP HER IN ANYWAY I COULD, IF PROGRESSIVE DECIDES TO FOLLOW THE RULES. BUT I REALIZED THAT PROGRESSIVE DOES NOT CARE ABOUT ANYONE, THE COMPANY CARES ABOUT MAXIMIZING THEIR PROFITS NO MATTER THE COST. DON’T BUY INSURANCE FROM PROGRESSIVE; YOU ARE PAYING THE PEOPLE WHO WILL STAND AGAINST YOU. I HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT MY MOTHER WHO IS EVERYTHING TO ME. CANCER DRUGS COST A LOT OF MONEY AND THERE IS NO WAY I WILL BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THEM TO HER SO I WILL HAVE TO CHERISH THE MOMENT.

Rupert Murdoch's 21st Century Fox just bought a majority stake in National Geographic's media assets, including its iconic science magazine. That's bad news for anyone who cares about an independent and informative media, if Fox's flagship news network is any indication—a study by the Union of Concerned Scientists found 72% of Fox News' climate science coverage to be "misleading." Voters need accurate information about the world around us that's based on science, not ideology. For more than a century, National Geographic's non-profit journalism has given us that, and Fox says this sale won't change anything -- but we need a guarantee. National Geographic must immediately adopt policies—including appointing a Public Editor—to ensure the magazine's editorial independence.

Those of us on fixed incomes, or trying to help our children establish themselves, cannot be penalized financially. We seniors are encouraged to live with the times and embrace a tech lifestyle, and when we do, we are hit with more fees!

This week I had to bury two of my beloved cats, Abby and Arsenic. They caught some fleas and, while I waited for my check so I could treat all my animals, complications developed, resulting in both cats passing on after a two-day valiant struggle - all because flea treatments are so expensive. Lack of wealth should not mean lack of love and responsibility for the family pets. This summer's flea infestation has been virulent on many pets; treatment should be affordable.

I have personally been affected by this issue. My electric bill has been high for the last 2 months, but there hasn't been anyone living there. The bill is a little under what it was the previous year when a family of four lived there with a tracheotomy ventilator-dependent child that required electricity to be run 24/7 for all of his machines. This does not make sense and we are forced to pay because we do not have any other options. It really saddens my soul to know that people are struggling with something that they think they have control over, just to find out that all of their conserving energy efforts were just in vain.

President Obama has signed an executive order forbidding federal contractors from discriminating against LGBTQ Americans -- but there's no way to know if those same contractors are financially backing anti-LGBTQ candidates for office. A worker has the right to know if their employer is spending money to take away hard-won civil rights. Investors have a right to know how their money is being spent. And the American people deserve to know who is trying to influence our elections -- no matter what the purpose. President Obama can help make that happen with a stroke of his pen. Urge him to issue an executive order requiring federal contractors to disclose their spending today.

1.5 billion people live in countries rich with natural resources – but many never see the benefits. Instead of sharing in the wealth generated by oil, gas and mining, many communities face poverty, environmental damage, loss of land and human rights abuses. There's one tool that could help communities hold their governments accountable: transparency. Five years ago, an oil transparency law passed that requires Big Oil to make their payments to foreign governments public. But this provision still hasn't been implemented. Citizens in oil-rich countries haven't been able to track where oil money has gone. Oxfam's researchers estimate that $1.5 trillion should have gone back to the governments of poor nations – funds that could have been used to build schools, hospitals, roads and more. The Securities and Exchange Commission has the power to make this transparency law a reality. Speak up with us and demand action!

Hillary Clinton must reject for-profit incarceration, disavow the private prison industry, and oppose private prisons in policy platforms. We are appalled that Secretary Clinton is using private prison industry lobbyists as "money bundlers" to raise huge sums of money for her presidential campaign. These bundlers are lobbyists from the same private prison companies that make billions from our broken and discriminatory criminal justice system by disproportionately locking up Black and brown people in the country's most dangerous prisons, for profit. And, influenced by the private prison lobby, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is required to keep at least 34,000 immigrants locked up (most in private prison owned facilities) at a cost to taxpayers of $2 billion per year! We expect more from those who seek our votes. We urge Secretary Clinton to sever all ties with the private prison industry immediately.

Due to the economy, many homeowners fell behind on their mortgage. The Federal Government and President Obama signed into law many programs to assist homeowners to stay in their homes. The banks and mortgage companies accepted the monies/grants and do not assist the homeowners; they hold onto these funds for corporate greed and profits. I unfortunately know several people who qualified for these programs and were never assisted and had their homes foreclosed. I am also personally in this situation. I have had two predatory lenders. Instead of assisting and informing me, they added over $200K to my principal and then sold my loan to another lender. I now allegedly owe $425 on a home I purchased for $160K in 1998 and have over 12 years of perfect payment history. Where did my 12 years of payments go to ? Who is in charge of this Federal government program ? Who is overseeing this program that is supposed to keep people in their homes and not thrown out into the street with nowhere to go and who have a family to care for. Someone needs to be held accountable and needs to enforce the mortgage companies to assist the homeowners to stay in their homes, And not to be put into the street. The banks wins twice by double dipping; they get the funds for assisting the homeowners foreclosure and get even more revenue. We need to stand united and stand up to these giant conglomerates that squash the helpless homeowners like bugs.

While Netflix reaped tons of positive press for their new maternity/paternity leave policy, the company left many of their own workers behind. Their streaming employees recently received unlimited paid maternity/paternity leave, but their hourly workers on the DVD side didn't. An employee at one of Netflix's DVD hubs, where hourly workers package DVDs for Netflix customers, told Huffingpost anonymously that the hourly hub workers would not be included in the unlimited paid maternity/paternity leave. Instead, hourly workers only received 1-month paid maternity/paternity leave and an option for longer partial pay. Netlfix has declined to comment. Regardless of whether Netflix employees work on the streaming or DVD side, everyone at Netflix deserves their company's generous paid leave benefits. Read more here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/certain-netflix-workers-dont-get-new-unlimited-parental-leave_55c38156e4b0f1cbf1e3edf6?qfzjjor