An economic hiccup would devastate the finances of more than 10 million "underwater" homeowners, throwing many into foreclosure. Mortgage lenders would be swamped with foreclosed homes. Already strapped homebuilders would be brought to their knees. In brief, we're one housing financial hiccup away from a National financial death spiral. Yet, without spending a dime or raising taxes a penny, the threat of fiscal calamity can be avoided by passing legislation that: (1) relieves banks of their capital requirements vis-a-vis mortgages, (2) mandates that lenders re-write "underwater" mortgages at current market value (marked-to-market), (3) mandates that homeowners cede to their lenders the difference between the amounts owing on their mortgages and FMV, and, (4) mandates that lenders re-write mortgages for 30 years at "preferred" interest rates and terms.

Stopping forclosures.

Congress is set to vote on a bill that would raise the bond for a transportation broker from $10,000 to $100,000 putting thousands of small business out of work all around the country. We should be protecting and encouraging small business and entrepreneurship.

Congress can help ease the high cost of gas by giving the oil subsidies to American citizens instead giving it to the already rich OIL companies.

The news reporters and papers make it sound like a great thing. But what people don't realize is that Right to work means the right to work for less. The unions actually hold the prevailing wages where they are for everyone. It will be a trickle down effect. Everyone will be affected by this. If everyone's wages go down people will be spending less money else where. This issue doesn't only affect union workers it affects everyone. Please vote no on the Right to Work amendment this coming November!!!

Despite bipartisan opposition, supporters of the irresponsible "Right to Work" Constitutional Amendment are trying to move the bill forward in the Minnesota Senate. They know that Minnesotans oppose this unsafe, unfair and unnecessary law, and have resorted to desperate gimmicks to try to pass it. This bill is not what its supporters say it is. Plain and simple, this isn't a right to work; it's the right to hurt workers, our economy, and the middle class.

In February 2012, the U.S.P.S. announced the closing of the mail processing facility on Nandino Blvd. in Lexington, KY, thereby rerouting mail processing to Louisville, KY and Knoxville, TN. This will be devastating to the area for several reasons. It will impact several hundred employees and there families, who may have to relocate to different areas, it will impact the delivery of important mail such as prescription medication and bill payments being delayed, and local businesses where these employees and there families frequent. This will be devastating to the economy in Lexington.

Arizona House Majority Leader Steve Court and his fellow Republicans in the State Legislature still just don't get it when it comes to protecting a liveable wage for low income Arizona workers. Last week, Rep. Court sponsored HCR 2056, a proposal to cut the minimum wage by $3 per hour for workers under the age of 20, and by $2 per hour for tipped employees. This economically draconian bill was endorsed 5-3 by the Arizona House Commerce Committee and looked poised to become law. The good news is that the 99% in Arizona are vigilant. Due to public outcry and widespread media attention both within and outside of our state, the worst has been averted and the proposals affecting tipped workers and youth have been dropped. But the resulting bill is small comfort to Arizona's working poor. It would reverse a 2006 voter approved measure allowing for inflation adjustments to the state minimum wage, freezing the current $7.65 per hour state minimum and limiting further increases except when required by federal law. A strong minimum wage is a critical part of bringing back jobs and opportunity to Arizonans. It puts money in the pockets working people who will spend the money immediately and locally. This helps everyone, the 99% and the 1%: businesses small and large see increases in demand for goods and services, leading them to hire more people to keep up with demand. With the economy making small, fragile improvements, now is not the time to freeze the wages of those who will spend money in our communities and contribute to our local economy. We need our Legislature to invest in workers, not force them further into poverty. If we keep speaking up, maybe our state legislature will finally realize that assaults on low income workers are a "lose, lose" proposal.

On February 27, 2012, the Town of Littleton Selectmen voted to discontinue the 20+ year policy of plowing and sanding the 4.27 miles of private roads. The Town failed to notify us of this decision, although we had requested to be notified of any changes to this policy.

This petition is addressed to the Alaska Legislature to ask them not to undo the Alaska Clear and Equitable Share act (ACES) which greatly benefits Alaska. ACES has provided much extra revenue for many necessary and beneficial projects in Alaska, and the jobs to build them. There will be a loss of jobs and project revenue and benefit to Alaska if it is overturned. When Alaska became a State, we didn't model our constitution after run-of -the-mill constitutions, but after the best at the time. This was the case with the creation of ACES, which was long overdue in it's creation, and a miracle it actually happened under a Republican administration. It provides strong incentives for exploration and development our oil resource, but still gives Alaska a fair share. If anyone should profit from the price of oil skyrocketing worldwide, Alaskan projects are as worthy to benefit, if not more so, as anyone standing to profit incidentally may be. The Petroleum Industry is financing a full-scale campaign to persuade us to fatten their profit margins. Not that it is hurting in this state. It is profiting, significantly. But they want even more wealth, which would probably not remain in Alaska. The facts belie many of the industry's arguments. Petroleum Industry employment and projects on the north slope have not gone down since the creation of ACES. And the spending on Alaskan infrastructure development has been able to go up. It is probably a good bet that the oil development will expand in Alaska in the near future no matter what, given the huge resource and profit incentive. And if it didn't happen immediately, it would be there for our children. Norway shares the diverse latitudes and climate of Alaska, and also an oil industry; yet it has over $500 Billion of oil resource wealth in its permanent fund, after paying for benefits for a population six times larger than our state. Norway's petroleum royalty is the only to exceed that of Alaska, at current rates, and yet and the oil industry is in no hurry to leave Norway. They are doing fine. When it comes to this current big push to overturn ACES, we should not be so dense as to not consider the source at this time - Governor Sean Parnell. It is often overlooked that he has been a long-time lobbyist for ConocoPhillips, who is financing much of the current campaign to overturn ACES, and who would stand to make billions in return for their media campaign investment in this regard. Let's not get caught up in the emotional propaganda generated by the "undo ACES" campaign, and keep a very sound policy for Alaska. It is something to be proud of, without apology!

Landlords in the City of Lewiston are facing greater difficulty maintaining quality housing amidst the current economic climate. As a City with the highest poverty rates in two of the most densely populated census tracts, the rental market is unable to respond to increases in operating expenses by spreading costs amongst tenants who have limited ability to pay. Landlords are asking the City of Lewiston to remove the trash collection fees that were formerly included as a benefit of being a tax payer.

The PA State Legislature has the opportunity to save lives by adding a tax to non-smoking tobacco products and by increasing monetary support for tobacco cessation and prevention programming. PA is the only state that does not tax non-smoking tobacco products. These changes may prevent youth from becoming tobacco users.