Wealthy special interests are flooding our elections with unlimited, often secret money that threatens to drown out the voice of the people. Voter suppression – targeting communities of color, students, and low-income Americans – is running rampant. Yet Congress sits twiddling its thumbs. Now, the Senate is even blocking the simple fair consideration of a Supreme Court nominee. It’s time to demand action! Threats to our democracy – like the Supreme Court’s decisions in Citizens United v. FEC, which helped unleash unlimited big money in our elections, and Shelby County v. Holder, which gutted a key provision of the Voting Rights Act – can be overcome if Congress acts. But Congress has repeatedly thwarted the will of the people and balked on passing popular measures to address these challenges. That’s why the entire pro-democracy movement is coming together in our nation’s capital this spring, from April 16-18, for a Democracy Awakening to demand that every voice be heard and every vote count. Sign to send the above message to Congress, and continue to stay informed about the Democracy Awakening. We need you in this movement.

President Obama has nominated Merrick Garland, now Chief Justice of the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, to fill the vacancy on the Supreme Court. [1] Judge Garland was the valedictorian of his class at Niles West High School. [2] But so far, Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Republican Senate Judiciary chair Chuck Grassley insist that the Senate will not consider Judge Garland's nomination. Illinois Republican Senator Mark Kirk has said that he will meet with Judge Garland. [3] But as Judge Garland's home state Republican Senator, we in Illinois need Mark Kirk to do more. We need Mark Kirk to press his own Republican leaders for a debate and vote on Judge Garland's nomination. Urge Mark Kirk to press Republican leaders for a debate and vote on Judge Garland's nomination by signing our petition. 1. http://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/17/us/politics/obama-supreme-court-nominee.html 2. http://chicago.suntimes.com/news/supreme-court-nominees-prom-date-canoeing-misadventure-more/ 3. http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/republicans-scotus-nom-flake-inhofe-kirk-ayotte

An eminently qualified jurist with impeccable credentials deserves a fair, honest hearing for a position which requires fairness, honesty, and integrity.

Every member of the Utah Bar Association is required to take the following oath: "I do solemnly swear that I will support, obey and defend the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of Utah; that I will discharge the duties of attorney and counselor at law as an officer of the courts of this State with honesty, fidelity, professionalism, and civility; and that I will faithfully observe the Rules of Professional Conduct and the Standards of Professionalism and Civility promulgated by the Supreme Court of the State of Utah." Both of these Senators are putting partisan politics ahead of obeying and defending the Constitution of the United States by refusing to give advice and consent to the President's nomination to the Supreme Court. They should be disbarred for failing to adhere to their oath as attorneys.

To unite the people to take back the party of the people to represent the interests of the people rather than the establishment elite and special interests.

Senator McConnell has openly demonstrated his hatred and disrespect for President Barack Obama from day one. It began with his own declaration that he was going to make him a one-term president. McConnell has obstructed every action of the President through his first term, and continues to do so. Today, it has taken the form of making a pact with all Senate Republicans to not even speak with the President's nominee for the Supreme Court. Further, McConnell has decided there will be no confirmation hearings of the nominee until AFTER the 2016 election. McConnell is making a mockery of the Constitution, and has failed miserably to perform his duties as the head of the Senate. Additionally, McConnell shows a clear disrespect for Anton Scalia who would insist on following the Constitution, and for his replacement to be found as soon as possible.

About Merrick Garland:  Chief Judge Merrick Garland has more federal judicial experience than any other Supreme Court nominee in history. No one is more qualified to immediately serve on the Supreme Court.  He is one of the best appellate judges in the country – a brilliant, meticulous jurist with a knack for building consensus.  That has been true ever since his strong bipartisan confirmation in 1997 to the D.C. Circuit, where he has served as Chief Judge for over three years.  This approach has earned him bipartisan praise throughout his career – he was confirmed with majority support from both parties; Senator Orrin Hatch described him as “a consensus nominee,” and Chief Justice Roberts explained “anytime Judge Garland disagrees, you know you’re in a difficult area.”  Garland has distinguished himself as a jurist who plays it straight and decides every case based on what the law requires. In his own words: “The role of the court is to apply the law to the facts of the case before it—not to legislate, not to arrogate to itself the executive power, not to hand down advisory opinions on the issues of the day.”  Garland has dedicated his life to public service, choosing to serve his country and take on some of the most difficult and significant anti-terrorism cases in our nation’s history.  In the wake of the Oklahoma City bombing, Garland led the investigation and prosecution that ultimately brought Timothy McVeigh to justice – working with federal agents, rescue workers, local officials and others.  Garland also kept in close touch with Oklahoma City victims and their families throughout the case, and for several years afterwards as well.  Beyond the courtroom, Garland is a committed mentor. In addition to mentoring hundreds of law clerks throughout their careers and encouraging them to pursue public service, Garland has for almost twenty years, tutored second, third and fourth grade students in Northeast DC in reading and math.  Garland is a dedicated family man. He and his wife of nearly 30 years, Lynn, have two daughters, Becky and Jessie. The family enjoys skiing, hiking and canoeing, and together they have visited many of America’s national parks.

I am a Hillary supporter who is troubled by perception that she is a neoconservative. I write this because I support her but fear that hawkish speech at AIPAC will hurt her badly not only with Sander supporters but the base in general. America must be an honest broker for peace, not either side.

It is the president's constitutional authority to nominate justices to the Supreme Court. And it is the Senate's constitutional role to "advise and consent." Nowhere in the Constitution is the Senate asked to play partisan games of endless, senseless obstructionism. Outrageously, just hours after the news of Justice Antonin Scalia's death, Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell announced that President Obama should not have the opportunity to appoint a justice to the high court. Leaving the seat vacant would create uncertainty, cause real harm to countless Americans, and abdicate the Senate's job under our Constitution to give fair consideration to Supreme Court nominees. The Senate must heed its constitutional responsibility to advise and consent to a highly qualified Supreme Court nominee. That's why we're asking Arizona Senator Jeff Flake to do his duty as a member of the U.S. Senate and allow the President to nominate a replacement for Justice Scalia.

Contrary to belief, Daylight Savings Time was not to benefit farmers but to reduce energy by giving an extra hour of sunlight in the summer. So let's all wake up and go to sleep at the same time all year!

I can no longer remain silent about the escalation of hate speech, racism, and incitement of violence from the Trump campaign. Leadership from a senior Republican senator is needed to call out this dangerous behavior anathema to American values.

We need to vet our presidential nominees. The Trump University trial is supposed to last well into the next president's first term. We can't have a president who is guilty of fraud, and we can't wait until he's in office to find out.