PoolCorp is no stranger to the FTC. In fact, in and around 2011 the Federal Trade Commission voted 3-1 approving a complaint and consent order against PoolCorp. In the complaint it alleged PoolCorp threatened Manufacturers not to sell to its competitors over an 8 year pressure campaign. It is important to note that the FTC approves a complaint when it has "reason to believe" that the law has been or is being violated. With that said the FTC agreed to a consent order which did not require PoolCorp to admit, nor was it a finding of wrong doing. What it did do is outline specific actions that PoolCorp has to abide by in the future interactions, specifically instructing PoolCorp to avoid any anti-competitive practices. So PoolCorp tried and failed to Control the Manufacturing side of the supply chain. With only a mere slap on the wrist by the FTC. PoolCorp has patiently waited and now recently implemented the only other alternative way to achieve what they set out to do initially back in 2002-2011. They now are disrupting the supply chain management structure by attempting to control and Monopolize the transaction of tons of swimming pool products from Manufacturer to Distributor, from Distributor to Trade Professional, and from Distributor to the End User.

Millions of Americans will be thrown back into loan repayment even though we face the persistent impact of the pandemic, growing inflation, and so much more. Before the pandemic struck, people struggled to navigate the broken student loan system wreaking havoc on the financial lives of families across the country. Restarting payments will be a financial disaster, but the President has the power to stop it. Continuing the pause on federal student loan payments is an important investment in Americans' financial lives. It gives people the financial freedom to pay rent or purchase homes, afford healthcare or medicine, start small businesses, and support their families. Without the burden of student debt, Americans weathered the pandemic, and many are thriving. We have added our name to this petition to send President Biden a simple message: DO NOT resume student loan payments.

Amazon has abused its monopoly power to hurt small businesses and women in need. Even though it's often hard to talk about, pelvic floor dysfunction is a common challenge for millions of women, especially after birth or sexual trauma. But Amazon is making it difficult to find products that help in affordable and effective ways. After giving birth to my son, my medical professional recommended I use such a product, sold by a small business in Kansas City, to accelerate recovery. What a shock to realize that Amazon has decided to classify these health care devices as "adult products"— no different than sex toys. As a result, these devices will be almost impossible to find on Amazon, while the small businesses who produce them will struggle to stay afloat. When products from one company were misclassified in the past, their sales plummeted by 80 percent. Most men don't even know about pelvic floor problems and, as with so much in women's health, it's unfortunately almost taboo to talk about. But it's Amazon that should be ashamed — not women who are recovering from childbirth or sexual trauma. Combine Amazon's unfettered market power with its corporate indifference to women's health, and what we get is disastrous results for both women in need and small businesses.

We all deserve the basic right of being able to survive with our wage, of being able to afford to feed our families, pay the roof over our heads, and be able to eat, like every other working professional. We are professionals who should be compensated fairly.

Trump was banned by Facebook and Twitter for a reason. He is dangerous, and we have seen that his use of social media incited the deadly white supremacist-led insurrection on our Capitol on January 6, 2021. He also proved negligent in handling the COVID-19 pandemic, using lies to promote anti-vaccine and anti-mask sentiments. Apple should not give Trump a platform which will give further voice to his harmful ways. Apple must do the right thing immediately. As a longtime consumer of Apple products, I must say that my faith in your company is weakened knowing that you support this app currently. I can't imagine that Apple is OK with the negative association and public reception of Trump's nefarious ways. Since other tech companies have done the right thing and stopped him from spreading disinformation, Apple must follow suit. Do not be his outlet for racism, xenophobia, antisemitism, misogyny, anti-vax, or any other form of hate. We are watching you, Apple.

We all deserve the basic right of being able to survive with our wage, of being able to afford to feed our families, pay the roof over our heads, and be able to eat, like every other working professional. We are professionals who should be compensated fairly.

Earlier this year, Democrats in Congress passed an unprecedented Child Tax Credit as a part of the American Recovery Package, which delivers direct payments to tens of millions of Americans every month. This benefit immediately produced historic results: According to one analysis, the August payment of the expanded Child Tax Credit lifted 3.5 million children out of poverty. The expanded Child Tax Credit is extremely popular among all Americans, is proving to be the single most significant measure to slash childhood poverty, and has benefitted tens of millions of middle- and working-class families—but unfortunately, it's expiring soon. That's why we must fight to make it permanent—and President Biden's Build Back Better legislation, which Congress is currently debating, does just that. Democrats and Republicans recognize the impact of this program—and right now Congress has the chance to make it permanent. New research from Columbia University shows that with a permanently expanded Child Tax Credit, American children would be healthier, learn more, and would be less likely to be neglected—and taxpayers would earn back 84 cents for every dollar invested. At a time when the rich are getting richer but working families are struggling to make ends meet, it’s time for Congress to take bold action. Sign the petition, and demand that Congress make the expanded Child Tax Credit permanent.

Small Business owners and White Center organizers ask for your support by signing below and CALLING: Joe McDermott, King County Councilmember: 206-477-1008 Dow Constantine, King County Executive: 206-263-9600 Senator Joe Nguyen, 360-786-7667 John Taylor, Department of Local Services Director: 206-477-3800 Phone Script - “Hello my name is ______ and I am a resident/supporter of White Center. I am calling because I am concerned about the recent rash of fires in White Center and your lack of action. I support the White Center Business Petition and I urge you to take action now.”

All child care workers are among our communities’ most valuable assets. They should, and must, be recognized equally for the herculean task of caring for children during the pandemic. Every child care slot has equal value in moving our economy forward. Larger providers should not be penalized because they are meeting the charge to open their doors to more children and families. The DCYF draft literature makes it clear that funds are available are for stabilizing child care businesses. An equitable distribution of all funds available will stabilize both small and large sites.

This country cannot move forward while Blue and Red continue infighting. Something must be done. Republican Senate leaders have been known to say they will not vote for anything just because the Democrats put it forth. This, coming from a man as old as Mitch McConnell, and being agreed to by the others in the same party, is ludicrous. We did not elect them to play games. The censuring of senators for not voting the way they want them to (for having minds of their own) is also a very telling indicator that the Republican party is more concerned that their members play "follow the leader" than think for themselves. The people who voted for each senator did so for the purpose of looking out for their interest... Not so they can sit around, smoking cigars, drinking whiskey, and thinking about how they can get back at the unpopular members of their group, or play tit-for-tat with the Dems. Pointing fingers, blaming each other, and threatening "if you do that, we'll do this" makes every single one of you look like a playground bully!

Plastic containers like pop bottles can be recycled, they cannot be recycling infinitely. When plastic is recycled it requires "virgin plastic" to be turned into a new pop bottle. The other kind of plastic, the kind that you find wrapped around packages or what your produces comes in, is not recyclable. Additionally, the production of plastic has immense environmental impacts. According to the World Economic Forum, about 4-8% of annual global oil consumption is associated with plastics. In 2015, the CIEL reported that manufacturing polyethylene plastics are responsible for 184.3 to 213 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent, which is about as much as 45 million passenger vehicles emit during one year. The data is clear; plastic is bad for our planet.

WHAT IF YOU NEEDED POWER TO LIVE AND YOUR POWER WAS DISCONNECTED OVER $79. Then your utility distributor refused to restore service unless you paid an additional $75 in reconnect fees (while knowing you need power to live)! We are NOT asking not to pay. We are only asking for adequate reasonable accommodations or protections to Griffin Utilities policies and procedures so customers who need power to live are NOT AT RISK of disconnection; or Risk LOSS OF LIFE DUE TO DISCONNECTIONS. THE RESOLUTION ADA Reasonable Accommodations and/or Protections to Griffin Utilities Policies & Procedures to Protect Power-dependent Patients (PPP). A. Payment Extensions - Consider offering Payment Extensions prior to an account becoming delinquent for power-dependent individual customers. B. Grace Period - there are NO grace periods. Consider establishing a delinquent payment grace period. Provide this delinquent account Grace Period prior to sending a disconnect notice or warning of disconnection to power-dependent individual customers. C. Late Fees - Waive Late Fees or allow fees to be distributed over time without fear of disconnection for power-dependent individual customers. D. Reconnect Fees - Waive Reconnect Fees or allow fees to be distributed over time without fear of disconnection for power-dependent individual customers. E. Budget Billing - Consider the establishment of Budget Billing for power-dependent individual customers. F. Advance Notice of Disconnection - Provide a 24 to 72 hour advance notice of disconnection. G. Priority List - Maintain separate data or a Priority List of Griffin Utilities power-dependent individual customers. Consider adding Power-Dependent Individual Services to the current Priority List; and at a heightened state such as major medical facilities, nursing homes, and hospices. H. Scheduled Outages - Advance notice of scheduled outages/rolling blackouts for power-dependent individual customers. Help us advocate to PPP (PROTECT POWER-DEPENDENT PATIENTS); for some of the most vulnerable on local and state levels. Please sign this Petition.