Break the Wall Street control of our government. We need a Robin Hood Tax on Wall Street … and a movement that forces the legislators to care about our communities… Economic Justice for every American. $350 Billion annually that can be spent on Human needs - not Billionaire or Corporation needs. It is the game changer for a better funded, fairer, more democratic, humane, balanced, and moral American Tax System. It begins in our town, with you …

This campaign started with strikes at two companies: Potomac Disposal and Unity Recycling and Disposal. Potomac Disposal has now signed a fair agreement with its employees. Thanks so much for speaking up for these workers! And thanks to Potomac Disposal for doing the right thing! Unfortunately, the Unity Disposal and Recycling still won’t recognize the workers’ union or discuss their demands for fair wages or affordable health insurance. Currently, Unity only offers health insurance to some employees, and it’s not affordable. Furthermore, several workers have come forward with paystub evidence of missing wages or overtime pay and uncompensated work hours, in addition to potential Montgomery County living wage law violations that we are currently investigating. Several workers say they have been met with harassment or intimidation when they’ve tried to resolve these problems on their own. The workers want a union contract to give them the resources and procedures to resolve wage problems like these without facing retaliation, as well as to negotiate for affordable health insurance and fair wages. The workers are headed back to work tomorrow to show their commitment to the community, but they will be continuing the conversation in their workplace. You can help by contacting Unity Disposal at: 301-490-8604 or 301-990-2049 and telling them that their employees deserve a fair contract. Then, SIGN THE PETITION to let us know you called. We can't trust Unity to count your calls accurately. Signing on will make sure we can tell Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett exactly how many residents support us. Thanks so much for your support!

Archer Daniels Midland, a highly profitable company, is demanding over $20 million in tax breaks to keep its headquarters in Illinois. With net profits of $1.7 billion dollars in 2012, on which they paid state taxes of less than 1% instead of the statutory requirement of 9 1/2%, ADM does not need more tax breaks. Their spokesperson admitted as much when it was said that the only reason they are requesting a tax break is because Illinois set a "precedent" by giving other profitable companies undeserved tax breaks. With Illinois financial situation in a state of crisis, it is time to break with that precedent and say "no" to tax breaks for profitable companies.

The goal is to stimulate private enterprise success, job growth and entrepreneur education. Many small businesses fail as a result of lacking federal support. This will assure every community has the ability to thrive. This will also encourage transparency in reporting and give alternative savings leading to stronger long term establishments. USSBDC

Government shutdowns cost us a lot of money (approximately $24B for the most recent shutdown Oct 1-16, 2013), disrupts average citizens' livelihoods and lowers our economic output. By keeping the current budget until another one is agreed upon, the government should not have to shutdown while Congress works towards consensus on the next budget.

Because it is time that we get 100% participation when it comes to paying for government services.

As off budget spending, tax exemptions lack the accountability that other state spending undergoes when the state approves its biennial budget. Tax exemptions are expenditures of state money that would otherwise be available to fund state services. Tax exemptions reduce available funds for education, health care and other important state services. Many tax exemptions are actually tax loopholes that benefit special interests but don't meet state priorities for funding. Tuition doubled for my son and daughter between when they started college and graduated. Washington State needs to provide sufficient revenue to keep college affordable for all students so we have an educated workforce for the future. Washington State currently has over 650 tax exemptions. According to the State Department of Revenue in the last biennium, while Washington State collected some $21 billion in B&O, sales and use taxes, it excluded from collection over $20 billion in tax exemptions. The system is broken when if everyone paid the same in taxes, the state would have twice as much revenue.. Requiring that the Washington State Legislature adopt a Tax Expenditure Budget every two years as part of the biennial budget process would make tax exemptions more transparent and accountable to Washington taxpayers. The Legislature needs to prioritize tax exemptions and close tax loopholes not meeting state needs. Creating a Tax Expenditure Budget detailing the tax expenditures (exemptions) and the amount of revenue the Legislature is not collecting, will help Legislators to prioritize closing tax loopholes not meeting state priorities and needs. Petition by Steve Zemke, Director Tax Sanity www.taxsanity.org

In Washington State, the middle class and poor pay a higher percentage of their income in state taxes than do the rich, due to a reliance on the regressive sales tax to fund state government. Even the Business and Occupation tax is regressive: it taxes revenue, not profit, and so it favors profitable corporations over struggling small businesses. Another cause of unfairness is the existence of tax loopholes for certain wealthy corporations. In fact, according to the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, Washington State has the most regressive tax system in the nation. The poorest 20% of non-elderly Washingtonians pay 17% of their income in state taxes; the richest 1% pay under 3% of their income in state taxes. (Source: http://www.itep.org/pdf/wa.pdf .) The state desperately needs a reliable source of funds to pay for education pursuant to the State Supreme Court decision in the McCleary case, which declares that the legislature is underfunding K-12 education. Additionally, in recent years the state has had to slash funding for social services and for higher education, causing real suffering among vulnerable people, threatening our prosperity and safety, and drastically raising the cost of a college education. Voters in 2010 rejected I-1098, the initiative to establish a high earners' income tax in Washington State. Most voters were voting against their own self-interest, because only the richest 2% of citizens would have seen their taxes rise. But up until now, only a few advocacy groups have spoken up about this issue. Our political leaders should make the effort to educate the public about all the ways we need government and about progressive taxation. In other words, our political leaders should actually lead and not just follow. There are proposals afloat to raise the gas tax and to pass a carbon tax; both of those are regressive. A capital gains tax and a tax expenditure budget are also under consideration. These changes to our tax system deserve thorough discussion and analysis. The proposed high level commission, hearings, speeches and essays will help move the state towards a sustainable and equitable funding model. Note: this petition was co-authored with Steve Zemke of TaxSanity.org . For discussion of this effort, please visit: https://groups.google.com/d/forum/wafairtaxes http://fairtaxesnow.us/ To see the list of signers and their comments, please visit: http://waliberals.org/WATaxFixers.html Here is a resolution which your political organization might pass: http://waliberals.org/resolution-in-support-of-fixing-washington-states-unfair-tax-system/2013/11/19/

There is a strong feeling among workers today that they would be willing to support a union and even join or organize one in their workplaces. It is a known fact that the business lobby and their GOP allies have met Labor with resistance and pushback over many decades, eroding hard-won rights that have proven beneficial to everyone who works. Therefore, We the People, in order to form a more perfect Union, call upon You, Mr. President, to issue three (3) separate Executive Orders, the first of which would prohibit the destructive so-called Right to Work laws in all states across the country. The second request is for an order mandating the all-but forgotten EFCA bill, and the third would mandate the posting of workers' rights under Section 7 of the NLRA. The troops are ready to go.

The appropriate time to discuss the level of government spending is at the time of budget negotiations. The need to increase the debt ceiling has become a dangerous tool in the hands of a small minority who have shown themselves capable of harming not only our economy but also the world economy in order to achieve their goal of small government.

I grew up in this area and have lived here all my life. We didn’t have much growing up -- I remember Christmas with very few presents. I want to give my kids a better life, and working at GE, I’m on my way to doing that, but only if the plant stays open. There aren’t a lot of other good jobs around here. I started working at GE eight years ago. I just got onto first shift, so now I can go to my son’s hockey games and help my daughter with her homework. If they close the plant, I’ll probably have to go back to working two jobs, working off shifts, only seeing my family on the weekend if at all. None of us are getting rich working at GE. We’re not stashing away money in offshore tax havens or buying yachts, we’re spending money at local businesses. If GE destroys 200 good-paying jobs here in Fort Edward, it’s going to hurt small business and devastate the local economy. I’ve worked hard, I’ve never slacked. Every year this plant has been profitable. GE should keep this plant open, and our politicians should stand up and do everything they can to save our jobs. It’s only right.

Recently released research shows how low-wage, no-benefit fast food jobs force workers to rely on public assistance programs, leaving our tax-dollars to foot the bill-- to the tune of $708 million. If you think it’s outrageous that our tax dollars are being used to line the pockets of fast food corporations instead of going to schools, park and other public services that would benefit all New Yorkers, sign our petition to the members of the New York State Legislature demanding they investigate this fast food swindle.