There are countless horror stories. Mine is that I unknowingly purchased a home in a "Limited District" (most people have no idea what it is - I didn't, nor do most officials I've raised the issue with, yet they are spreading). I did not receive the statutorily required Notice To Purchaser, or the restrictions, in the contract (is the contract valid, is a buyer bound to participate?) - I would not have bought it. I now pay extra (double) taxes to fund duplicated services already paid for through City taxes, under the premise of "maintinaing pool and parks". I clearly stated upfront I did not want to live where any small group sought to exert power with fear, and homeowners paying for the abuse. I had naively lived in an HOA, saw the entrenchment, misues inflicted, fear mongering propaganda, and moved to get away from it with no intention of ever living in any such contrivance again. It was a extremely traumatic when I was sued, after 3 months of work reinvesting in conservation projects on my new home and participating in the City Landscape Conversion program, for not "getting permission" for a landscape fence 3.5 feet past front of the house due to the existing sidewalk - it is beautiful, and homeowners like it. This, in contrast to years of ignoring pervasive violations is suspect, and discrimination with no good intent. Aging neighborhoods need redevelopment not obstruction and oppression. Instead of granting a variance for improvement, the regressive board via property management via the law firm was allowed to run up fees and walked away with 30k+ of homeowners money, zero value to homeowners - Who won?

Elimination of the Virginia gas tax will not assure a concurrent reduction in the price of gas, although the sales tax increase will raise costs to Virginia residents. Elimination of the gas tax should include a provision that preclude "windfall" profits for the gas companies, distributor, or station owners.

When Gov. LaPage got into office he started full scale assault on Maine State Gov. positions as a result I chose to leave my 30 year job supporting people with mental retardation so I could continue to get my health insurance. Now as a property owner on a fixed income I am worried I will no longer be able to afford to live in Maine. The local property taxes doubled for me last year and every thing has gone up in price since I left my dream job 2 years ago. Lets be more open to raising taxes on folks who can afford to pay them like tourists.

Right to work does nothing to create jobs or make jobs better that are in existence now. It simply is an attack on unions and union members in Mo. It has been proven in states that have right to work laws the per capita income is lower than in states which do not have the law.

Governor Lepage wants to freeze pay increases until June 2015, this could mean six years of flat wages for employees, with essential costs of living increasing daily and the retention of and recruitment of quality staff so diificult; this freeze is outrageous.

The next time you hear phrase 'shared sacrifice' or 'austerity cuts', keep in mind that the recent fiscal cliff deal missed a large source of much-needed revenue -- closing corporate tax loopholes. With the upcoming budget and sequestration matters coming before Congress, here's a chance for them to begin making changes. Large, multinational U.S. corporations and wealthy individuals have avoided paying taxes in the U.S. by taking advantage of tax haven schemes such as the Dutch or Double Irish Sandwich that costs the U.S. Treasury an estimate $150 billion dollars yearly. This, in turn, places the burden on the middle class and small businesses who cannot take the same advantage of the tax code and enacts a very real cost for regular taxpayers who are told austerity cuts to state and local budgets are necessary, increases the national debt and leaves taxpayers, such as you or I, on the hook to pay for the tax subsidies corporations and the top 2% enjoy. Chances are you will have paid more in taxes last year than companies such as Google, Exxon, GE, Wells Fargo or Verizon. It's time to put the 'share' in 'shared sacrifice' and for these companies and wealthy individuals to pay their fair share.

Governor Brownback proposed even more tax breaks for the wealthy and big corporations.

My job is laying off 5 housekeepers due to the fact that we have no funds to pay. We only make 7.25 as it is. I hope you sign the petition Ms. Christy.

Help bring a reasonable balance to the budget-making process in Olympia! Sign our petition!

Are you unemployed or underemployed? If so, you are in good company. This can be easily fixed with the stroke of a pen, much like it was fixed during the Great Depression.

WHile incomes in Oregon are going down, and many are out of work, and retirees are having less money to live on...property taxes are going up. We need to rectify this situation. I do not think government should be increasing revenue in the form of propert tax increases, when the rest of us are suffering. I built my home in 2004. It has taken all I can muster to pay the payment. The property taxes have increased over 24% since I built . The economy has not increased by 24% since 2004. Where is the fairness?

right to work agenda of the political right means right to work for lower wages to the working class.