As an Arkansas voter, I want my vote to show our state candidates why they must support comprehensive immigration reform, the DREAM Act, improved education for all children, and driver’s licenses for all Arkansas residents. With my vote, I want to see these reforms become real this year because we, as a state, can't wait and stand by while local families and communities continue to suffer. Arkansas has proudly doubled the immigrant and New American vote since 2010, and I plan to help our state do it again in 2014, both through my vote and that of all of the voters I will register and take with me to the polls this November 4th.

I think Congress is forgetting something, and with just days before they leave Capitol Hill to campaign, I need your help to remind them: "Congress: Isn't it your job to help grow the middle class?" I'm sure we'll be hearing a lot from these same politicians about how they fight for the middle class and stand up to special interests. But words are one thing, and actions are another. It's time for them to show us they are serious about creating jobs and closing tax loopholes. Time for them to stop protecting companies like Burger King who flee the U.S. to dodge taxes, and instead stand up for the millions of Americans who just want a decent shot at a good job and a high-quality education. Legislation to create 1.9 million jobs, improve schools and reduce poverty -- paid for by taking on special interests and their massive tax breaks -- has been pending for months and months without any action. We think this is something every member of Congress needs to support if they expect us to take them seriously when they claim to be for the middle class.

FOLLOW THE FCC!! In August of 2013, a decade after families of prison inmates asked for action, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) agreed to limit how much companies can charge for phone calls made from behind bars. The FCC ordered that commission payments from telephone service providers to correctional facilities could no longer be included in any interstate rate or charge. They also issued a rate cap for the price of long-distance calls. It is now up to the individual states to lower the rates for in-state calls through its prison phone contract. WHY is this important?? A few reasons…. Currently it is cheaper for an incarcerated individual to make a call to California than it is for that individual to make a call to their family in Conway, Arkansas. This simply makes no sense! According to the FCC ruling, “Studies make clear that inmates who maintain contact with family and community while in prison have reduced rate of recidivism and are more likely to become productive citizens upon their release. Lower rates of recidivism also benefit society by reducing crime, the need for additional prisons, and other costs.” In addition, thousands of Arkansas children would benefit from increased communication with their incarcerated parent. The exorbitant price of phone calls from correctional facilities today actually DISCOURAGES such communication! The Arkansas Prison Telephone Contract is out for bid….again! There is no legitimate reason why families here in Arkansas should have to bear the burden and pay the inflated phone rate. We are asking the Arkansas Board of Corrections to FOLLOW THE FCC… and ensure the new contract is based on an equal cost for in-state and out-of-state calls. You can help Arkansas families by signing this petition and/or writing a letter to the Arkansas Board of Corrections at PO BOX 20550, White Hall AR 71612-0550 asking them to FOLLOW THE FCC!

Benton Charter Township has discontinued its funding assistance to the Benton Harbor Library. As a result of this lost revenue and other factors, the Benton Harbor Library has been forced to make drastic reductions in staffing, hours and acquisitions. WIthout additional funding, the Library will face even more draconian cuts. The Benton Harbor Library is a vital resource to residents -- particularly the youth -- of Benton Township and Benton Harbor. The Township Board needs to recognize the Township's broad support for the Benton Harbor Library, and restore funding.

We are tired of watching our young people attacked and murdered by the very men and women we employ to serve and protect us. We all have a right to know how frequently the police employ brutal methods on the job and along what race lines this is happening. By creating a national database, we are creating the tools we need to study the problem on a national level in order to come to workable solutions in our individual communities.

Citizens United prevents the average person's voice from being heard. Voter turnouts are already low this will only influence more people to not be involved in their government. What good is a democracy if elections can easily be influenced by massive amounts of money. The U.S. Supreme Court made a mistake, now it is up to the people to fix it.

We support keeping the Pendleton OR mail processing plant open and maintaining the strongest public post office in Oregon.

We support keeping the Bemidji, MN mail processing plant open and maintaining the strongest public post office in Minnesota.

Maine's last election for Governor was won by the Tea Party with 39% of the vote because Independents and Democrats did not collaborate to support one of their two candidates when the race came down to the wire. This year we face the same three-way race, and the polling looks very similar. If we don't vote for whichever challenger is ahead in the polls , we will face the same outcome and the Tea Party in power for another four years.

Last month, California Assembly Democrats killed the DISCLOSE Act, which would require telling the truth about who is behind ads about Ballot Propositions. You can send a message to those Democrats about how you feel about their caving in to pressure from special interests, by signing this petition. Oh, and, by the way, as you sign the petition, you can give them a piece of your mind about what they did! We’re tired of ads that are really paid for by the Koch Brothers or PG&E or Monsanto saying they’re paid for by fake front groups with high-sounding names like Americans for Prosperity (a front group for the Koch brothers) or California Drivers Alliance (a new front group for the Oil Companies), or Americans for Mom and Apple Pie. We demand to know who is really paying for the ads, and the DISCLOSE Act will require that. Make a bold statement for truth in advertising–sign the petition. The whole progressive agenda will be helped by the DISCLOSE Act. Imagine how different things would be if special interests opposed to LGBT rights, civil rights, healthcare reform, and corrective actions to reduce global warming and protect the environment, had to clearly disclose themselves to voters on their ads about ballot propositions. Ask your legislators to stand up to the Special Interests and vote for the people–sign the petition. You’ll be glad you did!

As Americans we are being spied on and making our lives very translucent. Are politicians should lead the way. Especially since greed, corruption and oligarchy is destroying once a great democracy. It's time for "the new deal to save our democracy".

This baseless law is the main reason that the usually lucrative brunch service has not taken off in Mobile as it has in New Orleans, Nashville, Pensacola, Savannah, Atlanta and other Southern cities. Brunch service traditionally starts at 10:30AM but if you can't have a Bloody Mary or Mimosa until noon then it isn't really brunch is it? It's just lunch.