Because nobody should have the right to avoid paying taxes it is not fair for the people and hard working families who have to pay taxes

Blue Shield's purchase of a multi-million dollar executive skybox in an NFL stadium is only the recent example of healthcare insurers cheating California patients and taxpayers out of millions of taxpayer dollars. As a result of its non-profit status, Blue Shield is avoiding California's corporate income tax. This generous tax-break, on top of millions of dollars from rising premium rates, contributes to massive surpluses for non-profit insurers. Blue Shield, for example, built a reserve that is $3.68 billion – or 1667% – more than what’s required by state law. On top of that, we’ve seen the healthcare industry spiral out of control for years, with immense increases in premium rates, and with no one in California with power to stop them. That is why voters put Proposition 45 on the November ballot -- to help curb out of control premium increases by requiring healthcare companies to get approval for rate hikes. And if passed, Prop 45 will give the California insurance regulators the power to block excessive rate increases, like the ones that helped funded Blue Shield’s 49er skybox. But before November, only the Attorney General has the authority to hold insurers accountable and protect patient care. That is why it is on us to urge Attorney General Harris to take action immediately.

Back in 2012, billionaire investor Warren Buffett decried the fact that he was able to pay a lower tax rate than his secretary. Now he's financing a dodgy deal that would let a huge American corporation shrink its U.S. tax bill -- and require the rest of us to make up the difference. Burger King is trying to merge with Canadian coffee-and-doughnuts chain Tim Hortons. Once the merger is over, Burger King will change its address to Canada to dodge U.S. taxes. You'll still see a Burger King restaurant every time you drive down the highway, and the corporation's business decisions will still be made in its offices in Miami. The corporation is actually going nowhere. It's a move on paper only. What's more, Burger King will continue to pay low wages, and its workers will continue to need Medicaid, food stamps and other benefits and services that our tax dollars pay for. But now, we'll be paying a greater share of those costs, to make up for every dollar that Burger King doesn't pay. Warren Buffett claims to care about having a fair tax system, where those who have less don't end up paying more than those who have more. He's got to put his money where his mouth is. Tell Buffett: Do not finance Burger King's tax-dodging deal. Instead, stand up for a fair tax system, where corporations and the wealthy pay their fair share of taxes.

Burger King is considering a plan to buy a Canadian coffee chain, Tim Hortons -- this would allow them to move their headquarters out of the country. (1) Surprisingly, outspoken advocate against tax loopholes and billionaire Warren Buffett is expected to invest heavily in the deal. (2) If Burger King does indeed move their headquarters, it will mean they will be taxed at a much lower rate than American-based companies in a scheme that is referred to as a corporate "inversion." The news comes after dozens of companies have pursued similar schemes which will cost us billions in lost taxes. If we don't stop this now, get ready for more and more and more companies to "invert" and move their “headquarters” to avoid paying their fair share. We need champions like Warren Buffett to stand up against schemes like this, and not finance them! That's why we're hoping to show him that investing in this tax dodge is a bad move. I'm confident that if enough of us stand up we can stop these inversions. Earlier this month, Walgreens backed off a plan to move their headquarters overseas after public outcry. But it won't happen unless we speak out, together. LEARN MORE: 1. Burger King in Talks to Buy Tim Hortons and Move to Canada http://goo.gl/OTeCSk 2. Warren Buffett to Invest in Burger King's Planned Deal for Tim Hortons http://goo.gl/54xNlG

In a move that would allow it to move its headquarters out of the country, Burger King is considering a plan to buy a Canadian coffee chain, Tim Hortons. (1) If Burger King does indeed move their headquarters, it will mean they will be taxed at a much lower rate than American-based companies in a scheme that is referred to as a corporate "inversion." The crazy thing is, they don't actually have to move their CEO or any of their central offices, they can just claim on paper to be headquartered in Canada. (2) The news comes after dozens of companies have pursued similar schemes which will cost us billions in lost taxes. We can't let big corporations continue to dodge taxes -- everyone should play by the same rules. How can we invest in education or job growth if large, profitable companies are scheming to avoid paying their fair share? I'm confident that if enough of us stand up we can stop these inversions. Earlier this month, Walgreens backed off a plan to move their headquarters overseas after public outcry. But it won't happen unless we speak out, together. LEARN MORE: 1. Burger King in Talks to Buy Tim Hortons and Move to Canada http://goo.gl/OTeCSk 2. Burger King In Talks To Buy Canada's Tim Hortons To Dodge U.S. Taxes http://goo.gl/0Kxu27

I want the United States of America to recognize and act on the fact(s) that "felons" are everyday being discriminated against when seeking employment. I know employers have the right to hire whom they please and may, but it is ridiculous when the employer wants to hire you, but the headquarters of that company tells the employer not to hire you. I want the President along with the House of Representatives (both Republican and Democrat) to all come together and create a solution to this problem. I am not alone in this situation. As a youth I never predicted I would become a man with two felonies, but I am as of today and for the rest of my life. There are many felons here in America. Life is nearly hopeless as a felon. I have been turned down from jobs with Wal-Mart, Target, and many other great jobs I sought to re-integrate me, only because of my background check. I never understood these truths until I became a felon myself. Why do they (felons) end up back in prison? Hardly anyone wants to hire a felon, and if they do they are not willing to pay them enough to survive. This is a matter that has NOTHING TO DO WITH COLOR. I want to see justice done here. I want the EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION to end. Felons are still human beings. The only difference between a felon and a non-felon is at least you know what the felon's struggles are. There is no deadline for this petition I am creating. I just hope this can be the beginning of this movement and hopefully end with a change in the employment field. Discrimination is real and it hurts. This is a serious matter. I can be contacted at [email protected] or (903)353-4896. Justice for all means FOR ALL.

WPEA’s bargaining teams have been arguing all summer that classified state employees need a fair COLA along with stable health care costs, but management still doesn’t get it!

Obesity in America! We need time to practice a healthy lifestyle, like getting exercise and cooking real food instead of eating highly processed foods because it is faster. We need time to raise responsible, healthy children. We need time to actively participate in our communities. We need time to pursue our own personal goals.

I live in Broward County, FL., where $17 BILLION dollars of real estate value is NOT taxed! In the USA, that amount is estimated to be about $80 BILLION dollars. Churches own recreation centers, stores, apartments, trailer parks, TV and radio stations ALL WITH OUR TAX MONEY. Preachers get a "parsonage exemption" for their living quarters, ALL WITH OUR TAX MONEY. THIS NEEDS TO STOP! Our country needs to get into the 21st century and stop supporting sky gods that don't exist.

The State’s proposal radically threatens the health care benefits that Teamster families depend on. As Correctional Workers, we are subject to the state's budget, and the state continues to show that they don't respect us enough to provide decent wages in comparison to our local counterparts. We seemingly have to fight for mere COLA increases, which we don't receive regularly.

Big banks like Bank of America helped cause the mortgage crisis that crashed the economy in 2008. Now Bank of America could get a multi-billion dollar tax break for its wrongdoing. Sketchy mortgage practices put hundreds of thousands of American families in dire straits. Bank of America just announced a settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice for some of those improper practices that will reportedly include paying $10 billion to the government. But thanks to a loophole, big banks can deduct these payments from their taxes, unless they’re specifically forbidden to do so. Bank of America could get a tax break of almost $3.5 billion in this case, while the rest of us pick up the tab. We don’t get to write off the costs of fines from our taxes. When big corporations do something wrong, they should pay the full price for it. Tell your Senators to support the Government Settlement Transparency and Reform Act (S. 1654), introduced by Sens. Jack Reed (D-RI) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA). This bill would restrict corporations from deducting any of the costs of their settlements for wrongful behavior from their taxes and require greater public disclosure of these write-offs.

The Cost of living is going up every year and the price of food is sky high. You can't live on 7.85 an hour as the minimum wage .