The allegation that veterans died while waiting to receive care at the Phoenix VA -- and that managers "cooked the books" to cover up inadequate wait times -- is a tragedy, deserves an investigation, and an appropriate response. Unfortunately it has become a political football, with the loudest voices often the same people who voted against increased funding for veterans health care just three short months ago. Many Republicans have yet to forgive current VA Secretary General Shinseki for speaking up about the force size needed to secure the kind of victory in Iraq neoconservatives were saying would be easy in 2003. But it’s time for them to put that aside and focus on getting the answers our veterans — many of whom are seeking care after returning from Iraq — have earned and deserve. That's the only way to determine what happened and improve the system for current and future veterans.

California voters can proclaim to the nation that Congress must pass a constitutional amendment to overturn Citizen United and make a simple declaration: Corporations aren't People, and Money isn't Speech. The Overturn Citizens United Act (Senate Bill 1272) will put a proposition on this November's ballot so voters can do just that. It must pass the Senate by the end of May. Sign our petition telling California Senators to pass it today.

We won! After 40,000 people signed petitions, Governor Brown signed SB 27, the historic bill to make Dark Money non-profits reveal their secret funders. It’s a major victory, but we must also make sure voters actually see who's behind political ads. We must pass the California DISCLOSE Act, SB 52. Our SB 27 triumph shows that when tens of thousands of you apply pressure we can win! Sign the petition thanking Governor Brown for signing SB 27, and asking him to lead on passing SB 52.

This ban will have a negative impact on the hospitality industry and make Miami Beach less competitive with other tourist destinations resulting in lost jobs. Here is a link to the new law: http://www.miamibeachfl.gov/WorkArea/DownloadAsset.aspx?id=79636

Honor our heroes! Many service members are not receiving full disability benefits / Members retired under special rules from Chapter 61 of Title 10 of U.S. Code. This bill has been held up and not allowed to be introduced to the floor for vote for several years now (all we ask is that a vote be allowed on this bill). Under current rules, military disabilty is off-set or "reduced" by the amount received in compensation from the Veterans Administration, (VA). This can amount to 50% of the payments receive from military disability. Under this arrangement, many service members who have served as long as 19 years +, and who were medically retired due to the gravity of their injuries or disabilities, are losing their retirement, in lieu of their disability compensation. Why are these heroes, who paid a bigger price, being penalized when their counterparts who served 20 years of service do get both? There is hope! H.R. Bill 303 Retired Pay Restoration Act (2013-2014). This bill restores military retirement pay withheld from these disabled veterans who also are eligible to receive disability compensation from the Veterans' Administration. For more information on this bill, you can go to: http://beta.congress.gov/bill/113th/house-bill/303 If you love your freedom, thank a Veteran and what a better way to do so than to sign this petition. Let's get this passed!

In partnership with Jobs With Justice’s Debt-Free Future campaign. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan needs to hear from as many of us as possible that it's unacceptable for the Department of Education to be in business with a company taking advantage of taxpayers, students, members of the military and minority and low-income borrowers. The current contract actually stipulates that violating federal law is grounds for termination, but we know the agency won't act without massive public pressure. So far, Secretary Duncan has only instructed his department to review "what appropriate actions, if any" should be taken against Sallie Mae. Seriously? Tell Secretary Duncan there's just one appropriate action to take: Cancel the contract with Sallie Mae!

Congresspersons now make $3,346.15 per week, and get extra money for expenses. The pay of the lowest paid workers in the US has not been raised in years, and is lagging behind inflation. If Congress gets a raise, then the lowest paid should get a raise. In my proposal, if Congress raises the minimum wage to $10.10, then they would make $3,535.00 per week, a small raise for Congress, a life saving raise for America.

The recent U.S. Supreme Court's 5 to 4 majority decision in "Town of Greece, N.Y. v. Galloway" (announced in early May, 2014) so radically ignores previous precedents and commonly understood interpretations of religious protections provided by the 1st Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, that the predictable consequences of the majority's opinion may be to render them almost meaningless in any practical sense. The majority's decision is also extremely bad public policy because, by opening the doors of government to sectarian religious doctrines, it will almost certainly substantially increase the risks of religious disputes and strife developing in America. We are well served by maintaining a separation between church and state, as history has long shown.

Members of Congress are public servants, and should not receive special privileges at the expense of hard-working taxpayers.

A city of Belle Glade employee, Tyrone Miles, was suspended for seven days without pay for violation of the city’s “Use of city vehicles and equipment” policy. The policy states that “city employees are permitted to use city vehicles and equipment for the performance of their professional duties only." Mr. Miles made a stop in a city vehicle at a convenience store to purchase a drink and use the bathroom while en route back to his job site after completing trash pickup for the day. This policy violation is common among city employees, where they stop at convenience stores and other non-work related establishments to purchase food and drink. This common violation would suggest that this policy is not one that is viewed as an important one by the employees or supervisors/managers. Prior to Mr. Miles’s write up and suspension, there had been some verbal disagreements between him and his supervisor. A grievance was submitted by Mr. Miles claiming: 1. Unfair and inconsistent application of city policy because, while this is a common violation, disciplinary action for this violation is not. Prior to Mr. Miles’s suspension, seeing city vehicles at convenience stores and food and drink establishments was almost a daily occurrence. The same day Mr. Miles’s suspension started, he noticed a city vehicle at a convenience store. He entered the store and photographed two city employees. One of the employees could clearly be seen at a beverage dispenser, with a cup positioned in a manner to receive a beverage. Mr. Miles reported this and showed the photo to his Director and the Director of Human Resources. At this point, no disciplinary action has been taken against these employees. Mr. Miles also grieved the submission of false information/statement because his supervisor stated that he had parked in a handicap parking space during his stop at the convenience store and provided a photo as proof. The photo clearly showed the vehicle was to the left of the handicap parking space. 2. Failure to properly follow procedures for suspending employees because the City Manager had not approved the suspension in writing as stated in the employee handbook prior to Mr. Miles being sent home. Approximately a week and a half after Mr. Miles’s grievance was submitted, the City responded by having him report to the Director of Human Resources. Once he reported, the Director of Human Resources introduced him to an attorney (Lara Donlon) who was a representative for the City. The Director of Human Resources then exited the room. Shortly after the introduction, Mr. Miles informed Ms. Donlon that he was not comfortable speaking with her and referred her to his written complaint. Prior to him leaving to report back to his job site, a second copy of the action form was given to him (approximately 21 days after the disciplinary action), which at this point had the signatures of the Director of Human Resources and the City Manager, whereas at the time of the suspension those signatures were not present. In order to ensure the fair and equitable treatment of city employees, we ask the Belle Glade City Council to ensure the following: 1. Fair and consistent application of all city, county, state and federal laws, regulations, rules, and policies among ALL city employees 2. Adopt a policy of progressive discipline based on the level and seriousness of violations 3. Adopt an effective employee relations program where employees do not feel threatened or fear losing employment by verbalizing opinions or bringing issues (good or bad) to the attention of city leaders/managers 4. The City Manager, Director of Human Resources and other leaders/managers not be allowed to create false audit trails to cover up failures in following laws, rules, policies, and procedures and discipline those found to have done so We ask that the Belle Glade City Council provide feedback/actions on petition within 60 days of its receipt.

The Supreme Court’s Citizens United and McCutcheon decisions opened the floodgates of unlimited campaign spending by the 1%, which threatens our democracy. And the Court will keep ruling this way, as long as we subscribe to the absurd notion that money is “speech.” However, Senator Tom Udall (D-New Mexico) has sponsored a constitutional amendment to give Congress the power to pass campaign contribution limits and spending limits. A vote is expected in the coming months. Sign the petition to the U.S. Senate: Support a constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United and McCutcheon.

Why am I starting this? I'm an Architect / Engineer by trade, who often looks at statistics and numbers, as well as massive amounts of data for my customers. Although the data supports the recklessness of "sport hunting" of the American Grey Wolf, as a human, I'm struck by the cold, calculated way that we approach hunting of wolves. This is not "sport." This is not survival of "need," for Americans to feed their families on wolf meat. This is only the importing of hunters into various states for the purpose of shooting animals with heavy weapons. My analytical mind is giving me a "gut check." This is wrong. As we wait to slaughter wolves that may have accidentally wandered off the Yellowstone Property, I believe we need to work to re-educate and put a pause to wolf hunting.