President Trump said that will not rule out of another government shutdown. He cannot hold 800,000 federal workers and their families hostage again. Sign this petition to tell Congress to stop Trump from starting another government shutdown.

The cancerous growth of the national debt will soon destroy any future for this Republic and doom all citizens to stagnant growth and missed opportunities to reach their full potential. The Progressive Agenda will be the first destroyed in this environment.

Howard Schultz came from nothing and built an empire. He tried to align the practices of Starbucks with more civic mindedness than most. He's made it the firm’s mission to hire veterans and refugees. He offered sick leave and college assistance and health plans when so many other American giants exploited economic dislocation and cultural decay to grind their people into the ground. If he wants to run for president, he has every right, and he has a case to make. But there is only one place to make that case, and it’s in the Democratic primaries. The alternative would destroy his legacy as an accomplished executive, divide the country, tilt the presidential election toward Trump, and turn his name into a permanent joke, or worse. Let’s dive in. A year before the first votes are cast in Iowa, Howard Schultz is assuming that the outcome of that process will be unacceptable. He must believe that a) there are tens of millions of people in America who are clamoring for his politics but b) he couldn’t persuade them to vote for you in a Democratic primary. It’s a real pickle. So what are his politics? In a 60 Minutes interview, Scott Pelley peppered Schultz with policy questions, and on one after another he described a mainstream Democratic position. On immigration, on climate change, on tax policy, he stake out completely ordinary liberal critiques of Trump. Nothing special, nothing new. So what is this great divergence that suggests that Schultz, a lifelong Democrat, has no choice but to run as an independent? It’s that even though everyone deserves health care, Democratic proposals are too expensive—Medicare for All is a partisan fantasy, our version of Trump’s wall. It fits with what he's said previously—that neither party cares enough about fiscal responsibility. Earlier this year he told CNBC that “the greatest threat domestically to the country is this $21 trillion debt hanging over… future generations.” This is the substance of his centrism, the appeal he believes will draw the independents he views as his natural constituency—the socially liberal, fiscally conservative political homeless American voter. But I have bad news: while there are many voters like this who nod their heads in Aspen and Davos, and who form the base of the Democratic donor class and the consultants who share their politics—cosmopolitan, tolerant, capitalist, constitutionally moderate and rarely touched by poverty and grinding inequality—those nodding heads do not represent a coalition. In fact, it’s the opposite. What we have learned in recent years—and why you see a move toward more left policies in Democratic circles —is that the politically homeless voter is opposite to what Schultz describes: fiscally liberal and socially moderate. There's more to say, including about the shallowness of the identifier “independent” and the 40 percent of voters who use it, the actual source of partisan rancor in Washington, the fact that even on the substance of fiscal responsibility, it’s Democrats who have actually carried that mantle for a generation. And, by the way, on health care, we’re about to have a huge debate about universal coverage and how to pay for it. The debate will take place in the primary Schultz is planning to skip. Look, I know I’m a partisan Democrat, the kind of person whose views Schultz is training himself to ignore. But in my experience, there’s no one a billionaire trusts more than a fellow billionaire. Listen to Mike Bloomberg who said, “In 2020, the great likelihood is that an independent would just split the anti-Trump vote and end up re-electing the President.” He faced the same choice as Schultz. The only difference is he had people around him who cared more about telling him the truth than taking his money. The effort to remove Donald Trump from office—by impeachment, resignation, or electoral defeat—is among the most important political fights in American history. The stakes are total. If he is on the ballot in 2020 he will be defeated by Democratic voters, with the help of independents, first-time voters, and some Republicans—or he will be re-elected. A huge percentage of those voters are about to engage in a great contest, state by state, to choose the person we want to face off against Trump. Millions of our fellow citizens will take it seriously, they will knock on doors and persuade their friends, they will argue and think and worry about who they should support. For Howard Schultz to evade that process, for him to introduce so profound an uncertainty into this election, for him to leapfrog the primaries, avoid any debate, insert himself into that decision, simply because he has the money to do it and the foolishness to believe the consultants he's paid to get to yes, is reprehensible. I believe Schultz loves this country. I believe he believes in a noble conception of his motivations. So my hope is that the criticisms reach him, that he talks to smart people he does not pay, that he does not show the same kind of hubris and selfishness and ego that led Trump to believe he alone could fix it. Howard Schultz, if you want to help your country help us defeat the propaganda machine that enables Trump and the worst elements of the Republican Party. Help us push back against corporate interests arrayed against action on climate change. Fund local journalism. Fund scholarships. Fund voter registration and protection. And, if you believe in the case you’d make as an independent candidate, join the Democratic primary and make that case before the voters you’d need to win.

Trump is responsible for the longest government shutdown in our nation's history, and while federal workers saw some reprieve getting back-pay, millions of lower-wage hourly federal contract workers who were furloughed have no guarantee of back-pay for the time they were unable to work. The contractors were expected to go into debt in their paid time off or were simply without work and pay for weeks on end. As a former hourly hotel worker, I understand all too well the reality of living paycheck to paycheck and the struggle to make ends meet. This shutdown has further exacerbated these challenges for the millions of lower-wage service workers and their families across the country who have had to take on second and third jobs just to keep the bills paid and food on the table. This is unacceptable, because this primarily affects women, people of color, immigrants, and low-income folks. Furloughed federal government contract service workers should not have to pay, feel financial strain, and worry about their very livelihood because of the government was held hostage to promote ineffective, racist policies. I introduced The Fair Compensation for Low-Wage Contractor Employees Act of 2019 in the House of Representatives (H.R. 678) in partnership with Representative Holmes-Norton (D-DC) along with fellow co-sponsors Representatives Don Beyer (D-VA), Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Yvette Clarke (D-NY), Gerry Connolly (D-VA), Jesus "Chuy" Garcia (D-IL), Alcee Hastings (D-FL), Steven Horsford (D-NV), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), Joe Kennedy III (D-MA), Barbara Lee (D-CA), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Gwen Moore (D-WI), Seth Moulton (D-MA), Jerry Nadler (D-NY), Joe Neguse (D-CO), Don Norcross (D-NJ), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), Ilhan Omar (D-MN), Mark Pocan (D-WI), Kathleen Rice (D-NY), John Sarbanes (D-MD), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Bobby Scott (D-VA), Terri Sewell (D-AL), Albio Sires (D-NJ), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), Lori Trahan (D-MA), David Trone (D-MD), Jeff Van Drew (D-NJ), Nydia Velasquez (D-NY), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ). This is the companion bill to S. 162, introduced by Sen. Tina Smith (D-MN), which was introduced in the Senate and has 36 sponsors currently.

Many suburbs surrounding DeKalb allow residents to raise a small number of chickens for a healthy source of eggs (including Naperville, St. Charles, and Batavia). Everyone should have the right to know that their eggs come from healthy and cared for chickens that are free from hormones and antibiotics if they choose.

Any day now, Special Counsel Robert Mueller could wrap up his investigation into Russia’s attempts to interfere in the 2016 presidential election -- and whether Trump’s campaign colluded with them or the President obstructed justice to cover it up. The investigation has already delivered indictments of or guilty pleas from 34 people -- including Trump confidant Roger Stone’s arrest just days ago. Yet at every turn, Trump and his loyalists have attempted to politicize and derail Mueller’s efforts to uncover the truth. The results of Mueller’s investigation are a matter of grave national importance -- and Americans have a right to the full truth. But, there’s a serious risk that Trump’s Attorney General -- or other members of his Administration -- might try to hide Mueller’s findings from the public. That would be an unacceptable abuse of power by the Trump Administration -- we must act now to prevent this from happening. We’re calling on both chambers of Congress to pass the bipartisan Special Counsel Transparency Act -- which will guarantee a public report of Mueller’s factual findings, as well as his reasoning behind whether or not to press charges. Donald Trump has, at every step along the way, tried to impede and derail Mueller’s investigation. We absolutely cannot let Trump or his Administration bury Mueller’s report. Sunlight is the best disinfectant, and We The People have the right to know the full truth. Please add your name and demand that Congress pass the Special Counsel Transparency Act.

News just broke that Arizona State Rep. David Stringer was charged with multiple sex offenses, including child pornography, in Maryland in 1983. Stringer was charged with five counts and pled guilty to three counts. The other two were dismissed after he successfully completed a 5-year probation and attended a clinic for people with sexual disorders. His record was then later expunged. https://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/court-records-arizona-lawmaker-david-stringer-charged-child-porn-1983-11183294 Last year David Stringer was also exposed for making a series of racist comments, before and after his reelection to the Arizona Legislature in the midterm elections. Among other remarks, the lawmaker said, "African-Americans and other racial groups don't … blend in" after coming to the United States and that, unlike immigrants of European descent, they "always look different." He said such differences create "tensions" and "burdens on our system." https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/419168-arizona-state-lawmaker-african-americans-dont-blend-in In June 2018, he came under fire after he was filmed saying immigration is an "existential threat" that will change the face of the United States because "there aren't enough white kids to go around" in public schools. https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/arizona/2018/06/13/arizona-rep-david-stringer-criticized-remarks-immigration/699163002/ Several of his colleagues as well as the Prescott city council (where he represents) have called on him to resign, but he has refused. Tell your AZ Representative that enough is enough. Call on them to expel Rep. David Stringer

If he is the kind of man who will call our children weak because they didn't get hypothermia or frost bite. What other dangers will he put our kids in? We shouldn't risk it.

Howard Schultz has selected himself to be our next billionaire savior (replacing Trump) by running for President as a third party candidate. His vanity project ( much like Trump's) will help Trump get reelected by drawing voters away from the Democratic Party nominee. How to stop this ugly, dangerous, self-centered egotist" BOYCOTT HIS BUSINESS--Do NOT patronize Starbucks--Spread the Word! -Tell Starbuck's Customer Service you're boycotting 1-800-782-7282

I am starting thesis petition to thank members of Congress who refuse to accept the hypocritical lies bandied about Washington.

This President has shown total disregard for the lives of people affected by a Government Shutdown. He appears unaware of the safety threat the Trump Shutdown caused all Americans. He is simply using this tactic to appeal to his base and to distract from the Mueller Investigation. 58%* of Americans disapprove of spending Federal Tax Dollars taking private land and building a wall along the border. *https://pewrsr.ch/2Cnwhdz

Do not give in to Trump's hateful, anti-immigrant agenda. Tell Congress to refuse funding for Trump’s border wall and deportation force in any continuing negotiations. On January 25th, the longest Government shutdown in history came to a conclusion after 35 days. The deal that reopened the government formed a committee of Democrats and Republicans from both the House and Senate to come up with a deal that Trump will be content with. Trump is still demanding 5.7 billion dollars from taxpayers to pay for his border wall and to grow his Deportation Force, despite losing over 30 seats in the House of Representatives as a clear rejection of his policies. That’s why we are asking you to help stop this! In the next week, the committee tasked to come up with a compromise deal needs to hear directly from the public that we reject Trump’s mass deportation agenda and his racist wall. Add your name to hold Congress accountable. Congress should remain focused on funding priorities like education and healthcare and not play into Trump’s demands. Our demand is that they keep the government open and under no circumstance give him any more money to fund more detentions, more deportations, and policies that put more people at risk of deportations and being separated from their families!