Election officials from all 50 states – Democrats and Republicans alike – are sounding the alarm about Postmaster General Louis DeJoy’s failed leadership, warning that his reckless plans risk disenfranchising hundreds of thousands of voters this year.  That’s because DeJoy’s USPS cuts have caused lost and delayed election mail, hiked prices, and a Postal Service that risks letting voters down this November  – especially when states are passing new laws to reject ballots that were mailed before Election Day, but arrive after. Lawmakers and election officials are raising serious concerns – and so are we – because voters deserve a Postal Service that protects our right to vote by mail. But, so far, DeJoy’s response to these concerns has been silence. It’s simple: when a voter mails in their ballot, they deserve to be 100% confident that it will arrive on time and be counted. And, as Postmaster General, DeJoy has a responsibility to make sure the American people can trust his Postal Service with their votes.  We must make sure DeJoy can't use his power to deny our voices in this year's elections. Add your name to DEMAND answers.

After losing the 2020 election, former President Donald Trump said “It doesn’t matter if you won or lost the election. You still have to fight like hell.”  Does this sound like an “official” act of the presidency to you? This shocking quote comes from Special Counsel Jack Smith's newly unsealed evidence, which challenges the Supreme Court’s dangerous ruling on presidential immunity and confirms what we know: presidents shouldn’t have a blank check to try and overturn the will of the voters.  But here’s the good news: with Common Cause’s support, Rep. Joe Morelle has introduced a constitutional amendment that will permanently declare that no American is above the law – not even former presidents – and prohibit presidents from pardoning themselves.  This is a chance to right the Supreme Court’s wrong. Add your name if you agree: Attempting to overturn an election is not an “official” act of the president. No one is above the law, including Donald Trump.

We are a peaceful state worried about our farms, land, and cattle. We have had an influx in recent years or radicalized people from other states who have taken over our politics and our society. This is not Idaho nor is it Idaho values. Tell our politicians we will not accept their behavior to our Native Peoples or our state as a whole. 

Officially, as of Monday, Sept. 30, councilmembers got a larger paycheck. Five councilmembers decided to bypass the Ethics Code and City Charter, voting to give themselves a 40% raise, from $50,000 to nearly $70,000, including allowances, effective immediately. The Mayor will earn an additional $25,200, bringing his effective paycheck to more than $100,000. This was a SALARY INCREASE, plain and simple. Laredo City Councilmembers will now receive MORE than a San Antonio City Councilmember, where the budget is $4 Billion and the population is 2.5 million. Laredo with a population of 260,000 has a budget around $980 million.

By signing this petition, you are helping us show support for the Count on Us to Certify Pledge, so we can ensure our election officials commit to a peaceful and transparent certification process that respects election workers, guarantees every vote is counted and ensures the will of the people prevails. You can get the pledge here. 

Reject Xcel Energy's 20-year extension request for the Monticello nuclear power plant. • The plant is 53 years old, making it one of the three oldest in the US. • The 2022 leak of 829,000 gallons of radioactive tritium and other carcinogens poses a threat to: • The Mississippi River, a drinking water source for 20 million people. • The environment and wildlife. • The food chain through irrigation of crops. • Tritium exposure, especially during pregnancy, is linked to: • Cancers in newborns. • Pregnancy loss. • Birth abnormalities. We say NO! NO to the deadly radioactivity harming our children, environment, drinking water, and food! NO to the extension request! We demand the safe shutdown of the Monticello plant!

It is important because the ban on marijuana businesses and the moratorium restrict the community from benefiting from the legal, regulated marijuana industry in Ohio. By opposing this ban, we can promote economic growth, create jobs, and increase tax revenue for our city. Allowing marijuana businesses ensures a safer, regulated market, reducing the risks associated with unregulated, illegal sales. People should join this campaign to align local policy with state law, support responsible economic development, and protect community safety through legal regulation rather than unnecessary prohibition. Together, we can ensure Greenville embraces opportunities while safeguarding our future.

Every Missouri citizen should be gravely concerned by Governor Parson's disregard for the "innocent until proven guilty" principle enshrined in the U.S. Constitution. His actions signal a troubling pattern of poor leadership, racial bias, and a lack of compassion, raising serious doubts about his ability to serve the people of Missouri with fairness and integrity. If such disregard for justice continues, it will inevitably result in further disappointment and harm to the citizens he is entrusted to represent.

1. Misuse of Public Funds for Private Interests ● Argument: The use of public funds to defend Corporation Counsel in a case where their self-interests and the interests of private developers are at stake constitutes a violation of the public trust. Public funds are intended to serve the interests of the community, not to protect a select few County attorneys whose actions, as documented, have harmed the County financially and legally. ● Elaboration: The Corporation Counsel’s role is to provide legal guidance in the best interest of the County and its citizens, not to shield itself or private developers from liability. By allocating taxpayer resources to defend against claims of fraud and malfeasance, the Corporation Counsel undermines public confidence and violates its fiduciary duties. 2. Conflict of Interest Compounded by Use of External Counsel ● Argument: The hiring of the law firm Kobayashi, Sugita, and Goda (KSG) without proper conflict review amplifies the appearance of impropriety, as it further solidifies the conflict of interest inherent in the Corporation Counsel’s role. ● Elaboration: The retention of KSG to represent both the Corporation Counsel and the County Auditor, who is meant to be independently auditing the Corporation Counsel, creates an irreparable conflict. The same law firm representing adverse and conflicting parties raises questions about the objectivity and fairness of the legal proceedings. 3. Failure to Safeguard Public Interest by the County Auditor ● Argument: The County Auditor’s failure to complete the audit and report fraud and misdealings demonstrates a failure to uphold the public interest, violating the ethical responsibilities defined under the Maui County Charter and Government Auditing Standards. ● Elaboration: The suspension of the audit, without appropriate reasoning or recourse, allows the alleged fraudulent activities to remain unaddressed. This inaction not only deprives the County of rightful restitution but also gives the Corporation Counsel and developers an unfair advantage by delaying accountability. The fact that the Auditor did not report the irregularities to proper authorities exacerbates this failure and further erodes trust in government institutions. 4. Attorney-Client Privilege Abuse ● Argument: The use of attorney-client privilege by the Corporation Counsel to withhold key records and communications from the audit process is an abuse of privilege intended to shield malfeasance, rather than to protect legitimate legal strategy. ● Elaboration: Attorney-client privilege is intended to protect the integrity of legal communications, not to obstruct transparency in government actions. In this case, the privilege is being used to prevent the disclosure of records that are crucial to assessing whether fraudulent deferral agreements were executed by Corporation Counsel. The abuse of this privilege reinforces the need for independent counsel to investigate and audit the claims without interference or influence. 5. Potential Violation of State and Federal Law ● Argument: The Corporation Counsel’s alleged actions, in concert with private developers, may also violate State and Federal laws regarding fraud and misuse of public funds. ● Elaboration: Beyond the violation of local ordinances and ethical standards, the documented fraud involving deferral agreements may also breach broader laws, including federal anti-corruption statutes or state laws prohibiting fraudulent financial dealings with public entities. By refusing to disclose the related documents, the Corporation Counsel could be complicit in these violations, necessitating a deeper investigation at both the State and Federal levels. 6. Public Transparency and Accountability ● Argument: Public officials and departments, including the Corporation Counsel and the County Auditor, have an ethical and legal responsibility to maintain transparency, particularly in matters of public finance and development. ● Elaboration: The concealment of information about the deferral agreements and the suspension of the audit undermine public transparency. The Board of Ethics must consider whether the involved officials have breached the trust of the public by failing to be forthcoming with critical information. The lack of transparency prevents the public from understanding the full extent of the financial losses incurred by the County and the degree of improper influence by private developers. Conclusion: Public resources are being used improperly to protect individuals and entities with conflicts of interest, which violates ethical obligations to the public. Addressing these conflicts is essential to restoring public trust, ensuring accountability, and upholding the integrity of established County checks and balances.

Being a member of Congress has many perks, but padding your stock portfolio shouldn’t be one of them. But right now, members of Congress can trade stocks in any number of companies — while voting on legislation that can increase the profit margins of the very same industries those laws govern. Take just one example: Every year, about HALF of an $800 BILLION Pentagon budget flows directly to weapons contractors like Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, Northrop Grumman, and more. The lawmakers responsible for signing off on that astronomical amount? Many of them hold investments in the same weapons makers. That’s why what’s happening now is so important. A bipartisan group of senators has set the stage to dismantle this broken status quo with the “Ending Trading and Holdings In Congressional Stocks” or “ETHICS” Act. This groundbreaking bill would end the war profiteering by banning congressional stock trading altogether — and the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs just pushed this urgently needed legislation past a crucial hurdle. Now, the stage is set for the ETHICS Act to go to the Senate floor, and when that happens, we need to make sure it passes with the resounding majority it deserves. Your senators' support is a crucial piece of the puzzle — and that’s why we need you to speak out today.

During his first term, President Trump left in place for nearly two years most of the Obama opening with Cuba.  A key actor in creating maximum pressure against Cuba and Venezuela was the now hostile and alienated former National Security Advisor John Bolton.**   For more than sixty years US and Cuban national interests and human well-being have been paralyzed by a conflict over sovereignty, self-determination and freedom with two centuries old roots.***   The historic transformation begun by Barack Obama and Raul Castro was virtually destroyed by Donald Trump in the second half of his first term and only partially rebuilt by Joe Biden. By President Biden restoring mutual engagement, he can rebuild trust and open the door for the second Trump Administration to act positively.  Ending all travel restrictions (including on normal tourism), dismantling the UN condemned unilateral embargo and returning the Guantanamo base and prison that was obtained as a condition for independence, the US can give Cuba space and resources to find more creative national solutions to economic, social and political problems.  It can also create the possibility of US and Cuban cooperation with efforts by Brazil, Colombia and Mexico to find a peaceful solution to the political conflict in Venezuela. Resources: * Trump's Venezuela and Cuba policy in focus in Bolton speech in Florida By Roberta Rampton, Reuters   October 31, 2018    https://www.yahoo.com/news/trumps-venezuela-cuba-policy-focus-bolton-speech-florida-155235539.html Current economic problems in Cuba https://cubapeopletopeople.blogspot.com/2024/08/analysis-of-economy-government-reversal.html ** Then Ambassador to the UN Samantha Power announces US abstention on the embargo resolution https://cubapeopletopeople.blogspot.com/2021/05/ambassador-samantha-powers-address-to.html *** The underlying historical problem between the US and Cuba https://cubapeopletopeople.blogspot.com/2019/05/louis-perez-cuba-as-obsessive.html Links between Irish and Cuban nationalism in 19th century New York   tinyurl.com/CubaIrelandNY   

As residents of Baltimore City, we all deserve to live in a community where safety and justice are upheld. Unfortunately, the alarming rise in brutal assaults committed by juveniles threatens the well-being of our neighborhoods and the peace of mind of our families. These violent crimes leave lasting physical and mental scars on victims and their loved ones, creating a climate of fear and insecurity that no one should have to endure. By signing this petition, you are standing up for the rights of assault victims who have been left to fend for themselves. You are demanding that juvenile offenders be held accountable for the serious harm they inflict on our fellow residents, OUR FAMILIES! It is not enough to offer rehabilitation without justice—victims deserve to see those responsible for their suffering face appropriate criminal charges that reflect the severity of their actions. Moreover, this petition calls for a stronger, more visible police presence in our communities. The current lack of officers on our streets means that many crimes go unanswered, leaving victims isolated and vulnerable. We need a city where our police force is adequately staffed and equipped to protect us, where we can rely on timely responses when our safety is threatened. Joining this petition is more than just adding your name to a list; it is a powerful statement that we, as a community, will not tolerate violence, especially when it targets our most vulnerable. It is a call for a safer, more just Baltimore—a city where we can all live without fear. Together, we can make our voices heard and demand the change that our city so desperately needs. Join me in supporting this petition to ensure that all residents of Baltimore are protected and that victims receive the justice they deserve.