At a time when much of the media has bowed to pressure from the White House and kept a tight lid on discussion of the controversial and secretive Trans-Pacific Partnership Trade agreement, the Portland Oregonian has been brave enough to shine a light on the issue. By publishing my Op-Ed on the TPP (see: http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2013/11/what_you_dont_know_about_the_t.html), Oregonian publisher Christian Anderson has demonstrated his respect for the principles of objective journalism, and his willingness to foster an open and public dialogue on local, national and international issues of importance to his readers. I would like to thank him, to encourage him to continue this noble effort, and to encourage other newspapers to follow his example.

We need legislative action to stop the monthly tax-free mass transit limits from being lowered. This hurts everyone that really needs it. Effective January 1, 2014, the monthly tax-free mass transit limit has been reduced from $245 to $130.

The U.S. Senate will be voting on a bill to increase the minimum wage to $10.10 an hour over three years. The bill would also increase the tipped minimum wage, which has been $2.13 an hour since 1991. Huge majorities across the political spectrum support an increase in the minimum wage. It's good for workers, good for local businesses, and it's the right thing to do. Tell Senators Cornyn and Cruz: it's time to raise the minimum wage.

Fast-food jobs pay so little that 52 percent of the families of front-line fast food workers need to rely on public assistance programs, costing taxpayers nearly $7 billion a year. Even at 40 hours a week, more than half of front-line fast-food workers are forced to rely on public assistance to cover basic needs like food, rent and healthcare. Compared to the overall economy, fast-food jobs are twice as likely as other jobs to pay so little that workers are forced to rely on public assistance. We know that workers put their money right back into our economy. Increasing fast food workers’ wages to $15 an hour will not only help struggling families in community make ends meet, it will also spur economic growth. When fast food workers win, this will help lift up all low-wage workers, and improve our entire economy.

New York property tax is out of control - the highest in the nation & Sullivan County if one of the worst. Too many people are losing their homes due to tax foreclosures because of excessive property tax. These are homes, that have been lived in for years or even a life time, these are seniors and families trying to make ends meet, but their homes are going back to the county because they are unable to pay their property tax. The state is giving property tax exemptions to many wealthy developers in Sullivan County, along with all the religious non-profits. The tax burden (which pays for the infra-structure, townships and schools) is pushed on to the average homeowner. The excessive property tax is stopping people interested in buying here and makes it almost impossible to sell. No one is willing to buy into this situation, and this is why Sullivan County is one of the poorest in to county and has been for decades. This is shameful and clearly taxation without representation. For Sullivan County to thrive economically, we need careful planning, balanced budgets and fair-share development.

Walmart's myopic and callous concern with profits is obscene. This petition gives McMillan a painless way to have both profits and respect.

I dislike that I can't spend Thanksgiving Day with my girlfriend. We have to make dinner early so she can be able to eat. She has to juggle having dinner with my family and her family in 3 hours. She has to go in at 5 PM to 7 AM and only rest 2 hours then go back for 4 more hours. Only so people can get deals. Black Friday should be on Friday not Thursday.

On Saturday Nov. 16th, the contract for at L&M Hospital expired. The nurses and techs have filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board and will be going on a 5 day strike, starting Wed. Nov 27th. These nurses and techs, represented by AFT Local 5049 and 5051, have provided quality care for thousands of patients, and have worked tirelessly ensuring L&M Hospital is the place where families can get the care they deserve, and when they need it. In return, the management of Lawrence + Memorial is transferring positions covered by collective bargaining agreements to newly created L&M owned-and-operated entities with no union representation. This is a blatant legal maneuver designed to avoid providing the wage rates and health insurance agreed to in existing union contracts.

 All the while, L&M has built enormous cash reserves and over $250 million in assets. Compensation for Executives has grown to well over 4 million dollars a year. These underhanded legal maneuvers and high salaries sound more like Wal-Mart than a community hospital.
 The hospital has hired paid strikebreakers. They’re investing resources to stand up to the nurses and techs, rather than work to make sure the contract is settled. This is not acceptable. Take a moment to stand up for the nurses and techs at L&M.

The minimum wage has remained stagnant in the District of Columbia at $8.25 an hour for years. Washington, D.C. is one of the most expensive cities in the country, and thousands of workers are struggling to make ends meet. The Business, Consumer, and Regulatory Affairs Committee of the D.C. Council passed a bill raising the minimum wage to $11.50 over three years and tying it to inflation. The full council is expected to vote on the measure on December 3, 2013.

The U.S. Senate will be voting after Thanksgiving on a bill to increase the minimum wage to $10.10 an hour over three years. The bill would also increase the tipped minimum wage, which has been $2.13 an hour since 1991. Huge majorities across the political spectrum support an increase in the minimum wage. It's good for workers, good for local businesses, and it's the right thing to do. Tell Senators Scott and Graham: it's time to raise the minimum wage.

The U.S. Senate will be voting after Thanksgiving on a bill to increase the minimum wage to $10.10 an hour over three years. The bill would also increase the tipped minimum wage, which has been $2.13 an hour since 1991. Huge majorities across the political spectrum support an increase in the minimum wage. It's good for workers, good for local businesses, and it's the right thing to do. Tell Senators Sessions and Shelby: it's time to raise the minimum wage.

The U.S. Senate will be voting after Thanksgiving on a bill to increase the minimum wage to $10.10 an hour over three years. The bill would also increase the tipped minimum wage, which has been $2.13 an hour since 1991. Huge majorities across the political spectrum support an increase in the minimum wage. It's good for workers, good for local businesses, and it's the right thing to do. Tell Senators Vitter and Landrieu: it's time to raise the minimum wage.