Corporate welfare is just wrong. U.S. citizens pay our fair share of taxes, and when Congress does anything concerning the budget, they want to eliminate programs that benefit ordinary citizens while many corporations pay no taxes. Corporations use our roads and other resources to make profits while we pay them subsidies. That makes no sense to me.

Every Detroit homeowner paying the 18 mills in property school taxes, is affected, because there is a 2 Billion deficit created by the Governor, and taxpayers get nothing for their taxes. Taxation without representation.

The United States and eleven other nations are working on a massive new trade agreement called the Trans-Pacific Partnership or TPP. This deal is the latest and largest in a series of international agreements that have attacked working women and men, fueled mindless and carbon-intensive consumption, and prevented governments from enforcing their own laws to cut greenhouse gas emissions. Trade deals such as NAFTA and the TPP bestow corporations with outrageous new powers, including the right to directly challenge participating governments for enacting any measures that jeopardize their profits. These corporate grievances are heard by unelected, unaccountable trade tribunals—and as history has shown, the energy and mining giants will seize on them to try to gut all manner of environmental laws. The expansion of such agreements has gone hand in hand with the accelerating rise in greenhouse gas emissions. In short, this corporate free trade model that the TPP represents isn't only destabilizing our economies—it's also a key reason why our governments have failed to come to grips with the climate crisis. If President Obama and the U.S. Congress are going to be serious about climate change, they need to start by rejecting the TPP.

If the Trans-Pacific Partnership is passed, like other trade agreements it will hurt workers by exporting U.S. jobs and it will allow trans-national corporations to sue to block U.S. environmental, health, consumer safety and financial regulations by alleging they would decrease future profits.

New Mexico needs to keep jobs and create new jobs. If the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission rejects PNM’s request for a Conditional Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity for San Juan Unit 4, more than 700 New Mexicans will lose their jobs at the generation plant and coal mine. This equates to a loss of $100 million in annual payroll to our state, and take a toll on the service-based businesses that rely on PNM’s employees and the company’s purchases. Additionally, it’s a potential loss of more than $31 million annually in state and local taxes. The negative consequences of rejecting PNM’s request for the Conditional CCN reach far beyond direct job loss in the Farmington region, however. It would also damage our state’s efforts to put New Mexicans back to work and negatively affect the future of the Albuquerque metropolitan area. For the last few years, New Mexico’s Governor and Legislature have worked together to pass a series of laws to improve New Mexico’s ability to recruit manufacturers and other employers. For example, legislation enacted in 2015 allows utilities to offer an economic development incentive rate to expanding employers, an important tool that other states have used against us to create jobs for their residents. Rejection of PNM's request would render worthless this critical legislation, designed to boost the state economy and get New Mexicans back to work. In addition to higher commercial electric rates, it is anticipated that PNM's residential electric rates will increase more than double what they would under PNM's plan if the PRC rejects PNM's request. It could unnecessarily raise PNM's costs and could prevent PNM from being able to offer discounted rates, which is critical to economic development and the recruitment of new employers. It also will likely lead to a shutdown of all San Juan generation, which is the backbone of PNM's system and its cheapest source of power. The company will have to replace coal generation with expensive generation sources. This will mean much higher electric bills for Albuquerque businesses and create financial hardship for many residents. I urge you to protect job creation in Albuquerque and New Mexico and grant PNM’s request for a Conditional CCN for San Juan Unit 4. Supported by: Albuquerque Economic Development, Inc. Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce Associated Builders and Contractors of New Mexico Associated General Contractors of New Mexico Commercial Association of Realtors of New Mexico Commercial Real Estate Development Association – New Mexico Economic Forum of Albuquerque Estancia Valley Economic Development Association Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce Home Builders Association of Central New Mexico NAIOP, the Commercial Real Estate Development Association New Mexico Association of Commerce and Industry Realtors Association of New Mexico Sandoval Economic Alliance

Worker wages have been under attack in Indiana based upon a false belief that lower wages are good for business and taxpayers. There is no support for these positions. In fact, workers making a living wage are more productive and also contribute to the building up of the local economy thereby creating a better business community.

Under current law, a California worker employed full time, year round, will earn $18,000 before taxes at the current rate of $9/hour. This is below the current poverty level and must be changed!

The Trans-Pacific Partnership is a corporate trade deal that would ship U.S. jobs overseas, endanger our environment and even undercut regulations like Wall Street reform. It is being negotiated in secret, and even those who divulge its details could go to jail. Congress is dangerously close to giving the President (and any President for the next six years) “fast-track” approval for the TPP and other trade agreements. Most House Democrats have come out against it, but the rest are under intense pressure from the White House and big business to go along. As the Democratic front-runner for President in 2016, Hillary Clinton can show true leadership on fast track. She has already come out against some parts of the trade agreement, but has to date only said she has been for some agreements—and against others. Hillary Clinton opposing fast-track would be a game changer in helping us defeat it. Sign the petition to Hillary Clinton: Please oppose fast-track for the TPP.

The growing gap between what Americans need for retirement and what they have is in the trillions of dollars. That’s why it’s critically important that those representing different interests have an ample amount of time to submit comments to the Department of Labor on this proposed rule.

Massachusetts Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren has warned that passing Fast Track for the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement would cost American jobs and threaten U.S. financial regulations. [1] Doctors Without Borders warns the agreement would delay the availability of affordable drugs. [2] Oxfam warns the agreement would undermine efforts to reduce poverty in developing countries. [3] Human Rights Watch warns that current Fast Track legislation would protect trade with Israeli settlements in the West Bank that violate international law. [4] But President Obama says Senator Warren is “absolutely wrong” in her criticisms, claiming “her arguments don’t stand the test of fact and scrutiny.” [5] Urge President Obama and Senator Warren to agree to a televised debate on these issues that will inform the American people by signing our petition. References: 1. http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/10/us/politics/obama-calls-elizabeth-warren-absolutely-wrong-on-trans-pacific-trade-deal.html 2. http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/help-us-fix-tpp 3. http://www.oxfamamerica.org/press/fast-track-and-tpp-bad-for-development/ 4. http://www.hrw.org/news/2015/05/15/don-t-protect-israeli-settlement-trade 5. http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/10/us/politics/obama-calls-elizabeth-warren-absolutely-wrong-on-trans-pacific-trade-deal.html

Nearly 400 corporations — including four dozen with over $1 million in Oregon profits — paid no 2012 state income taxes. But the names of those companies are not public information. Yet. If you think Oregonians ought to know, sign the petition asking the Oregon legislature to require corporations to disclose how much they pay in Oregon income taxes. It's wrong that working families are paying more in income taxes to support our schools, seniors and health care than some large, profitable corporations. Oregon children sit in overcrowded classrooms and tuition at our colleges and universities continues to climb, while some corporations pay little or nothing to support vital public structures. That’s wrong.

Despite being the first state in the nation to pass an equal pay law, women in Oregon still only earn about 79 cents for every dollar earned by their male counterparts. Here’s a big part of the problem: You can’t ask for equal pay if you don’t know you’re being paid less. Too often, employers discourage workers from talking about pay, benefits, and working conditions – sometimes they even punish or fire them for doing it. That needs to end. Oregon has a chance to lead on the issue of pay transparency. The Oregon House recently passed the Paycheck Fairness Act, which would outlaw retaliation against employees who talk about salaries and working conditions. Now, it’s up to the Oregon Senate to act. Sign the Petition: Tell the Oregon Senate to pass the Paycheck Fairness Act without delay!