If the Republican majority in Congress doesn't pass funding, the federal government will shut down on October 1. And I've just been informed that if that happens, America's food stamp program will immediately run out of funding -- cutting off 45 million people, including 27 million children, who rely on food stamps. We can't let this happen. I'm fighting with everything I've got to make sure this doesn't happen. Please, add your voice to mine - and let's make sure we're heard: Tell Congress: Don't shut down the government and don't cut off food stamps.

Campaign finance reform is the preeminent issue of our time. Until we fix this problem, the tiniest percent of people will continue to use their money to drive policy and true reform on any other issue -- gun safety, climate change, defense spending -- will be impossible . Fixing democracy can’t wait. #LetLessigDebate #FixDemocracyFirst

We must get the big, ugly, corrupting money of the wealthy and corporations out of our election system and government, on the Federal and state levels, both. We must get our nation back for the people.

We need a fair and accurate representation of the issues in order to make informed choices. The divide in this country continues to be fueled by lies and misrepresentations. All political candidates must bear more responsibility to check facts before they open their mouths publicly! We demand more integrity and accountability from our candidates. If you can't run a campaign on facts then don't run at all !

I'm proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to end corporate personhood for good and restore our democracy. Sign the Petition and show your support! >> The proposed amendment states: Section 1. The rights protected by the Constitution of the United States are the rights of natural persons only. Artificial entities, such as corporations, limited liability companies, and other entities, established by the laws of any State, the United States, or any foreign state shall have no rights under this Constitution and are subject to regulation by the People, through Federal, State, or local law. The privileges of artificial entities shall be determined by the People, through Federal, State, or local law, and shall not be construed to be inherent or inalienable. Section 2. Federal, State and local government shall regulate, limit, or prohibit contributions and expenditures, including a candidate’s own contributions and expenditures, to ensure that all citizens, regardless of their economic status, have access to the political process, and that no person gains, as a result of that person’s money, substantially more access or ability to influence in any way the election of any candidate for public office or any ballot measure. Federal, State, and local governments shall require that any permissible contributions and expenditures be publicly disclosed. The judiciary shall not construe the spending of money to influence elections to be speech under the First Amendment. Add your name as a supporter today! Peter DeFazio

Are you tired of the way our government operates? Do you want to get the special interest money out of the political process? Sign the petition; let's change our government. It's time for Term Limits for All Members of Congress.

The United States is one of the only developed countries in the world that doesn't provide people paid sick days. In New Jersey alone a staggering 1.2 million working people lack paid sick time they can use to care for themselves or their loved ones when illness strikes. Over the last two years nine municipalities -- including Jersey City, Montclair, Newark and Trenton -- have passed local laws that allow workers to earn paid sick time. Princeton could - and should - be next. Tell the Princeton Municipal Council to pass a strong paid sick days law!

Over 100,000 Americans have signed up to come out in support of Bernie Sander's candidacy. The people have clearly spoken, now the park service needs to do the people's will and set a date.

Every time you connect to the internet, your communications, your information, and your way of life are being monitored and scrutinized by the government. XKEYSCORE allows the NSA to accomplish this as the program sweeps up internet traffic from areas of communication such as email, pictures, documents, social media, webcam photos, chats, skype sessions, and even logged keystrokes.(1) The program resembles Google as it categorizes and tags the collected and stored information and makes the information searchable for NSA analysts.(2) For example, an analyst can type your username from Facebook into XKEYSCORE and they would be delivered all of your information, including your private messages, posts, and chats over a specified time period.(3) The program has been used to spy on leaders such as United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, a clear non-threat to the United States.(4) XKEYSCORE destroys the fundamental principles of civil liberties that we are undeniably born with, works toward a system of governance where stifling dissent is the norm, and it only ramps up the American surveillance state, further turning it into a grotesque monster built on intimidation and fear. It is our duty as citizens of the United States to express our inherent rights and call for the end of this tyrannical program. Thank you for making your voice heard on this issue. -David Chapman Sources: 1. Marquis-Boire, Morgan, Glenn Greenwald, and Micah Lee. “XKEYSCORE: NSA’s Google for the World’s Private Communications.” The Intercept. First Look Media. Web. 1 July 2015. https://theintercept.com/2015/07/01/nsas-google-worlds-private-communications/ 2. Lee, Micah, Glenn Greenwald, and Morgan Marquis-Boire. “Behind the Curtain: A Look at the Inner Workings of NSA’s XKEYSCORE.” The Intercept. First Look Media. Web. 2 July 2015. https://theintercept.com/2015/07/02/look-under-hood-xkeyscore/ 3. Greenwald, Glenn. "No Place to Hide: Edward Snowden, the NSA, and the U.S. Surveillance State." New York: Picador, 2014. Print. 158. 4. Marquis-Boire, Morgan, Glenn Greenwald, and Micah Lee. “XKEYSCORE: NSA’s Google for the World’s Private Communications.” The Intercept. First Look Media. Web. 1 July 2015. https://theintercept.com/2015/07/01/nsas-google-worlds-private-communications/

GOP's "Pay to Play" Congressional Campaign Contract Condemned Across America WASHINGTON: As controversy continued to grow regarding a contract signed by numerous vulnerable Republican legislators with the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC), promising to supply detailed information about their "legislative agenda" and "political justifications" to national Republican donors in exchange for financial support, numerous state affiliates of ProgressNow, one of the nation's largest and most influential progressive advocacy organizations, called on Republican candidates to withdraw from the program and disclose all correspondence with the NRCC. Rep. Ryan Costello (R, CD 6, Berks, Lehigh, Chester, Montgomery) is the only Pennsylvania Member of Congress who has agreed to this "pay to play" scheme. "Shame on Rep. Ryan Costello for selling Pennsylvania out to the same Washington, D.C. special interests he said he was running for office to fight," said Keystone Progress' Michael Morrill. "The voters won't forget this in the next election. If Costello really wants to put the people of Pennsylvania first, it's time to exit the 'Patriot Program ' and come clean about what he promised big donors and Republican Party bigwigs. If he doesn't, he'll be held accountable at the polls in 2016." According to the Washington Post: Two dozen House Republicans have agreed to privately detail their “legislative strategy” to party operatives, promising to offer “political justifications” for their goals in Congress. The Daily 202 obtained a copy of the three-page contract that the National Republican Congressional Committee requires members to sign if they want to participate in its Patriot Program. The initiative, designed to protect potentially vulnerable incumbents, brings with it special attention and access to mounds of campaign cash. But strings are attached. One of the 13 requirements is to submit an off-year “campaign plan” that includes: “Detailed, written legislative strategy that provides short-, intermediate-, and long-term legislative goals, including political justifications for those goals.” “Be sure to include local issues unique to the district or region,” the contract says. “Complete a Patriot Policy Priorities worksheet to be used by NRCC staff to evaluate legislative priorities for the current Congress and to promote and advocate for those priorities where appropriate.” The closely-held document offers a window into how much autonomy lawmakers often must forfeit to unelected Washington insiders.

Please sign no matter where you live to show the whole country is watching! When Los Angeles voters passed Measure H with 75% of the vote they said loud and clear they want the city's system of public financing of campaigns strengthened. Now LA City Council is about to consider a proposal to do that. The Ethics Commission's proposal would help small donors compete with big donors by matching them on a 6 to 1 basis, meaning that a $50 donation to a qualified candidate would generate an extra $300 of public funds. But the proposal applies to donations up to $500 in citywide races. Thus, a wealthy person who donates $500 would generate an outrageous $3,000 in public funds – 5 times more than small donors who can barely afford $100! Tell the Council to amend the proposal to help small donors, not big donors!

Our congress has become corrupt with lobbyist and corporate donors. The best way to cure these symptoms of a broken system is to impose term limits on those who represent us in Congress. This will help to ensure that the most informed and connected representatives are the voice of the people they represent, instead of the companies who have paid for their voice.