While the minimum wage was raised not too long ago, inflation has gone higher than Minimum Wage across the country. Even if you're making $10 an hour, the money is still very tight between the cost of gas, groceries and bills that you have to pay. The minimum wage in all states should be at least $11 an hour. Higher wages means that people could afford to buy more stuff, thus driving the economy out of the recession.

The Congress must amend the Federal Income Tax laws so that no one earning, from any and all sources, above $1,000,000.00 per year pays less than 35% income tax.

After over 500 South Dakotans signed our petition opposing HB 1261—which would have taken away collective bargaining rights for hard-working public workers—the South Dakota House Commerce and Energy Committee voted 13-0 to table the bill. The committee heard you loud and clear that using firefighters, police officers, and teachers as scapegoats to make a political point isn't right for South Dakota. Now, I'm launching a new SignOn petition, thanking committee members who stood with working families. Will you add your name?

We need to get Sen. Harry Reid, US Senate Majority Leader, to bring to a vote the 30 jobs bills that are languishing on the Senate floor because he prefers to play political games rather than help the economy or those Americans who are suffering.

Apple Computer is using sweat shop labor in China to manufacture its iPods, iPhones and Mac computers. Workers are forced to work more than 60 hours a week for very low wages. They are exposed to chemicals that maim and kill. The factories pollute. Apple is making billions in profits and should come home and invest in American workers, now!

An aviation safety and security bill is no place to impose unrelated and controversial labor provisions that will ultimately serve to harm both airline and railroad workers. The proposed Railway Labor Act changes would drastically rewrite a statute that was crafted by labor-management cooperation and has not been changed for over 75 years without the agreement of both employer and employee representatives. Airline and rail workers would suffer significant losses as contracts are jettisoned, collective bargaining rights are cut and legal hurdles will be placed in the way of gaining a voice at work.

Update: Victory! This morning (Wednesday), after over over 500 South Dakotans signed my petition opposing HB 1261—which would take away collective bargaining rights for hard-working public workers—the South Dakota House Commerce and Energy Committee vote 13-0 to table the bill. The committee heard you loud and clear that using firefighters, police officers, and teachers as scapegoats to make a political point isn't right for South Dakota. Now, I'm launching a new SignOn petition, thanking committee members who stood with working families. Will you add your name? Go here: http://signon.org/sign/thank-you-for-standing HB1261 is a new addition to the Commerce and Energy Committee's agenda, but it is the same old partisan politics. It is a bill pushed by out-of-state special interests, identical to those that have been bogging down state legislatures around the country. It attacks South Dakota's firefighters, teachers, police officers and other public workers that provide vital services to our communities. This misguided bill is the same sort of divisive legislation that has been pushed in Wisconsin and Ohio by extremist politicians. It would take away collective bargaining rights for hard-working public workers, leading to higher class sizes and more dangerous working conditions for first responders, making our communities less safe.

President Obama, should provide real assistance to lower working middle class to refinance/modify their loans. The lower middle class - people who work and gross 69,000 and net 35,000 a year- who do not qualify for anything- ie food stamps and fuel assistance-b/c they work and earn 150.00 over the federal guidelines. The lower middle class are caught in this vicisious cycle. Stop this madness-help the lower working middle class

The Top 1% depend on the bottom 99% to buy goods and services from big, publically-owned businesses. Then, the Top 1% get dividends from these companies and pay only 15% or less in taxes on their "earnings." When you buy from small businesses, you cut out the Top 1% and contribute to U.S. jobs (21.9 mil from small bus vs. 1.8 mil from big), lessen pollution (shorter supply lines) and increase community support (small businesses give 250% more to charity and non-profits than big ones do)

Every time someone from the DNC repeats the Conservative phrase "Private-Sector Job Growth" it implies public workers don't matter. They do matter. We need to end this phrase and support ALL workers in America.

People with poor credit are not criminals. With a job, they have a better chance of fixing their credit and the economy might benefit too.

Wall Street earnings are at record highs, yet they pay a much lower tax rate than the middle-class American's income tax rate. Our education system is crumbling, states cannot afford to keep parks open, people cannot afford to earn a living as an artist, and we are less able to create and enjoy cultural activities. We want to see Wall Street earnings taxed like Income Tax and funnel the revenue to fund education, parks & recreation, arts & entertainment, and other cultural activities.