Merck's business practices & lobbying priorities pit the global company against members of the Rahway community and all working class Americans. Merck's actions reduced corporate tax contributions by increasing the share of government expenses paid for by working people, homeowners and other segments of society. Merck is turning its back on the obligations of citizenship, from stashing $55 billion in profits overseas to skirt federal tax obligations to support America, to knocking down buildings at the Rahway plant -- which Merck called its global headquarters for a century -- to reduce by one-third local tax payments funding police, fire and sanitation services in the company's hometown. These actions may be legal, but they are morally wrong and we call for corrective action: 1) Take pride in being American; 2) Come back home to Rahway; 3) Pay your fair share in taxes!

Unemployment benefits need to be extended ASAP. People are going to lose what little things they have. Congress has forgotten who they work for. American do not desert each other. Anyone who calls the unemployed lazy needs to be better informed, & I urge them to take the time to talk to people who are unemployed. I'm unemployed, for 6 months now, in the State of NY. I put 10+ years of my hard earned $ and have never once regretted my taxes helping others. In my case my medical conditions caused my dismissal at work. New employers DO NOT want the problem of the disabled. Unemployment isn't supposed to last forever, But 3 months is better than 0 months. We are only as strong as those around us.

i have been a server for 23 years and now we having to pay the salaries of busboys and bartenders. we are required to tip out 2.25 % of our sales even when we don't make even 15% of our sales. the IRS has taken away adding 18% gratuity on the bills of large parties..but in reality we hardly ever make that. we must pay taxes on of the sales we make(which if by choice would be small)and we never see a paycheck but we are forced to cover taxes on the people who dont even tip..never mind taking out the insurance we are forced to have. we need someones help please

I am a ten year duel Military Veterans wife. Due to the limited government funds my husband has not been able to reenlist in the Military even though he is fully qualified. He has applied for hundreds of jobs, yet still has none. It took the Army 6 months to inform my husband who was waiting on a contract that he could not reenlist because he had been serving in the Marine Corps and was out of his Army MOS too long. During these six my family was homeless and living in tents. We now have a place to live, but due to the cut of extended unemployment will be soon be homeless again. My husband is still applying for jobs, anything and everything, yet he has only had one interview. We do NOT qualify for most of the state programs and I am permanetly disabled and my SSDI is just a few dollars too high.We have a handicap child that is suffering because of the negligence of Army recruiters not knowing the policy and having us wait six months to ship. My husband is trying to enroll in school, however he is on the MGIB and this does not allow for income to survive for our family of five, and even if he does there won't be a penny until March, by then we will have lost our home, our belongings and even our car. Our incident is not an isolated situation. Please sign this petition so honest families like ours who are actually trying to find work can keep a stable environment and be able to actually work when a job is found.

Because it is affects relatives and friends of mine who are still looking for stable employment in Nevada, especially Las Vegas which has an unemployment rate of 9%...also I am certain Americans are sick and tired of hearing that the economy is getting better; but are still underemployed/laid-off/& unemployed.

I feel it is time for all good men and women come to the aid of their respective parties. We need to convince all that our individual voices will increase in volume until the recognize who they work for. And that soon our voices will hold more influence than corporate America.

Many Americans have contributed to the unemployment fund for a significant period of time while gainfully employed. After losing their jobs through no fault of their own and continuing to searching for jobs on a daily basis and going to interviews, many are still unemployed. Citizens in this predicament will cease contributing to the economy and supporting our local merchants without extended benefits. If unemployment is truly "insurance," these Americans should be able to collect on that "policy" now that they qualify. Please pass the pending legislation to extend unemployment benefits, including Tiers 2, 3 and 4.

The cost of this program pails in comparison to spending in government in other areas. I'm unemployed but I am not a freeloader. I try every day to find a job and volunteer my time in my community. The economy isn't fixed yet and there are hundreds of us competing for the same poorly paying jobs. Food banks are running out of supplies. Resumes are fading to that yellowish color inside of dusty briefcases. I'd rather see the economy fixed, but until then, I just want to pay my mortgage, utilities. And for a bag of dried beans each week. What are your personal financial concerns?

Until a viable jobs bill is instituted and more jobs are provided the American unemployed deserve their unemployment benefits to continue- that's what unemployment insurance was created for!

I am the leader of 1200 out of work people that are members of Neighbors-helping-Neighbors USA www.nhnusa.org and a Jobs Advocate on a national basis.

There are thousands of working moms and dads with full-time jobs — sometimes two or three jobs — who some days cannot afford to put adequate food on the table. Governor Jay Inslee called on legislators to increase the minimum wage in his State of the State address. We need our legislators to act now and raise Washington's minimum wage!

I have worked full time for over 30 years and paid into the unemployment insurance fund. I was laid off from my job 8 months ago and have been diligently looking for work. I am not a slouch or a freeloader. I worked hard all my life to support myself and my children. I am 61 years old and am getting ready to lose my house and my car. I can't believe that I will be homeless at age 61. If I don't have a car, I can't even get to a job but I can't afford the car payment or the car insurance without my unemployment benefits. How can this country leave 1.6 billion people without any income at all? How is that going to help the economy when all of these people will be homeless and in the welfare lines just to be able to get food to eat? I thought this Nation was better than that. I thought we were the land of the free but I am finding out it is all about the rich and corporate America and what they will lose to help their fellow Americans. I am so disilusioned. Please sign my petition today. Thank you.