The Department of Transportation must stop funding self-driving cars, a technology that the DOT and Uber are spearheading, risking the jobs of almost 10 million people. We’re calling on Secretary Elaine Chao to end taxpayer-subsidized job loss and keep Uber from deleting drivers. Uber has been under fire recently for leaked footage of CEO Travis Kalanick’s gross behavior towards one of his company’s drivers, telling him that drivers “don’t like to take responsibility” for the problems they face working for Uber, plus several allegations of a hostile and sexist work environment by current and former employees. This is nothing new for Uber -- the company has profited from the exploitation of its workers for years. Since Uber drivers are classified as independent contractors, they don’t have access to full benefits and health insurance. While Uber claims its drivers get to “be their own boss,”they are victims of constantly changing rates, which only keep getting lower and lower. This means poverty wages for the drivers Uber relies on. Adding insult to injury, the Department of Transportation is funding research for self-driving cars, which Uber plans to use so they can get rid of drivers to increase their profits. While the company claims that driverless cars will be cheaper for riders, they haven’t said anything about how self-driving cars will impact the lives of their own drivers. The Department of Transportation should not be funding Silicon Valley billionaires so they can line their pockets even more. DOT must stop funding a technology that will leave over 300,000 Uber drivers unemployed.

The White House budget is targeting these programs for removal. These programs provide support to families trying to work their way out of poverty. Cutting these programs will remove supporting programs and prolong the cycle of poverty.

I, myself, have been personally affected by the policies currently in place, of hiring ex-offenders, for some or most positions in the state of Alaska, mainly in Anchorage, and the larger ciities.

The Business Council's appalling attempt to take benefits away from injured workers to increase profits for insurance companies is a disgrace and must be opposed.

The district teacher’s union states that currently, “at stake is retroactive salary increases for the district’s teachers — at a time when both sides agree there is a significant shortage of teachers and a focus on recruitment and retention.” Over recent months, we have watched teachers struggle for a minimal raise in salaries, despite the fact that this raise still will not be commensurate with the invaluable service they provide to our children and our community. However, the clock is ticking toward a March 15 deadline for “payroll processing.” Santa Rosa County Schools Superintendent Tim Wyrosdick claims that if the current impasse exceeds this deadline, it will prevent the district from making retroactive payments, denying Santa Rosa teachers their rightful opportunity to receive this modest raise for the 2016-2017 school year. “There is nothing more important to the future success of Santa Rosa County than our children,” said Sarah Coutu, Chair of the Santa Rosa County Democratic Executive Committee. “Santa Rosa County employees, whether they are teachers, deputies, or other county workers, are unfortunately some of the lowest paid county employees in the state. Our neighboring counties to the east and west both pay better wages than we do. This must change!” said Coutu. According to the district website, the Santa Rosa District Schools consist of a total of 26,144 students; 2,582 employees; and 91 administrators countywide. The school system includes: 17 elementary, 8 middle, and 7 high schools; a pre-kindergarten center; a technical center; an adult school; a community schools program; an adult literacy program; a variety of alternative programs, and 4 administrative/support locations. As one of the fastest growing counties in the nation, we need to recognize that as people move here from all over the country, including many military families, they look first and foremost at our educational system. Our reputation as a family-centered community depends greatly on retaining qualified and professional teachers. Santa Rosa District Schools have identified on their own webpage that they struggle in maintaining “availability of certified teachers for high need courses.” Teachers in Santa Rosa work tirelessly for our children. It is time we stand in solidarity. Let us show the educators of our county that no teacher stands alone. Let’s invest in our children, invest in our teachers, and invest in a brighter tomorrow. Residents of Santa Rosa County: it is time to make an investment in our schools and stand with teachers of our county. We are asking you to sign this petition in support of a 2.77% teacher’s salary increase for the fiscal year of July 1, 2016 - June 30, 2017.

No future tax abatements should be approved to any developer with current or previous business dealings with Jared Kushner or Donald Trump companies. Tax abatements increase the property taxes I have to pay. They should be used to attract community minded companies and not those who have a history of buying political influence and fraudulent business practices.

Please go to http://www.kansasbudget.com to see that the common Republican initiative to cut taxes on the wealthy to improve the economic condition of all DOES NOT WORK! The failed State of Kansas experiment in this regard CLEARLY VERIFIES that the THEORY that cutting taxes on the wealthy to create increased economic activity which benefits everyone, including the poor, DOES NOT WORK! We do not need President Trump and the Federal Congress to impose this rediculous theory on all of us.

Philadelphia City Council has decided that all of Philadelphia is blighted, enabling developers to build homes that qualify for the 10-year tax abatement anywhere in Philadelphia. The 10-year tax abatement was implemented to encourage redevelopment of deteriorating, blighted neighborhoods. Instead, the deteriorating, blighted neighborhoods stay deteriorated and blighted, and ours continue to be overdeveloped!

Retailers face many challenges including competition from online sellers, rising rents, scarce parking and state and local taxes, fees and bureaucracy. Unlike surrounding states, Maryland has a complicated 21-tier traders license fee system that was set up in the 1850s. And unlike most states, Maryland requires businesses to annually locate, track, and value their inventory, pay burdensome municipal inventory taxes and pay high state annual report filing fees.

Pennsylvania Unemployment Compensation has not had working phone service since November of 2016, which has prevented thousands from being able to file for benefits or open up an unemployment claim, as well as taking away hundreds of jobs.

Right to work is wrong for Missouri and the governor had no right to sign that into action! He is not the people and the people still have the voice in Missouri!

UPDATE 11/27/17 The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is under attack. Last Friday, Director Richard Cordray stepped down. Following secession protocol that was set up by Congress, Deputy Director, Leandra English became the Acting Director. In an unprecedented move, Donald Trump appointed his own Acting Director of the CFPB, OMB Director, Mick Mulvaney. Now the bureau has TWO DIRECTORS and it is up to the courts to decide who will run the CFPB until a new permanent director is appointed and approved by Congress. We stand with Acting Director, Leandra English and applaud her for her years of dedication to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau fights for students and student loan borrowers. The CFPB has returned nearly $12 billion in relief to over 29 million Americans wronged by big banks, credit card companies, and predatory student loan servicers. Supporting students and student loan borrowers is central to The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s mission. For years, families dealt with the impact of a dangerously deregulated student loan industry. As a result, more than 43 Million Americans are buried under $1.4 Trillion worth of student debt. Unchecked student loan companies caused families major hardships forcing them to carry the burden of college costs for life. Fortunately, the CFPB is an independent federal agency dedicated to holding these companies accountable. The CFPB is the first line of defense for defrauded borrowers. Recently, the Bureau filed three lawsuits against Navient, the nation’s largest student loan servicer, accusing the corporate giant of countless abuses - including overcharging borrowers and ruining the credit scores of veterans. The CFPB also shut down illegal student debt relief companies and challenged the deceptive practices of for-profit colleges, like ITT Tech. To date, millions of dollars in relief have been returned to those impacted by these predatory businesses. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau continues to take important strides to defend students - we must do our part to defend the CFPB. We believe it is extremely important to level the playing field for ALL consumers. Student loan borrowers depend on the CFPB to ensure that their interests are defended against bad actors in the student loan industry. We urge Congress to oppose any efforts to weaken the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and its critically important role and to reject any attempts to unseat their effective Acting Director, Leandra English who has been a powerful advocate for students and consumers everywhere. All Americans, including more than 43 million with student loans, must be able to count on a strong, independent Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.