Gov. Snyder is refusing to acknowledge Mark Schauer's requests for a debate. The citizens of Michigan deserve the opportunity to see its gubernatorial candidates in multiple debates. Our future, and the future of our great State of Michigan, depend on the outcome of the election on November 4, 2014.

I feel that the people are being completely denied in the fact that the members of the house and Senate are allowed to vote their own pay raises. This is not a the way a business, whether it be industry or politics, should be allowed to operate. The preamble to the Constitution states that "We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America". Nowhere in the Constitution does it give the Senate and House the right to vote on their own pay raises. This practice needs to stop.

"I took a pledge not to accept contributions from people who benefited directly or indirectly from doing business with the General Land Office. I've sent thousand dollar checks back to avoid any perceived conflict of interest. For sure, most if not all the oil and gas contributors to Bush do business with the General Land Office for leases or pipeline ROW" I am Now Reissuing This Pledge Whereas the Texas Land Commissioner is the fiscal trustee for $29 billion in State assets, we the undersigned do petition the candidates for Texas Land Commissioner to agree to take the following ethics pledge: “I will not accept campaign contributions from any individual who has profited directly or indirectly from doing business with the General Land Office of Texas and ; I will return of any such campaign contributions that may have been unknowingly accepted once I am aware of the ethical conflict of accepting the contribution from individuals or PAC’s that have benefited directly or indirectly from doing business with the General Land Office of Texas.” -John Cook Democratic Nominee for Texas Land Commissioner

Basic Premise (edited 05/31/2014): Any person employed directly by the state or federal government - or - any person employed by an agency or bureau which can be construed to be part of the state or federal government (i.e. IRS) should be prohibited from receiving any additional compensation above their hourly or salaried wage if such payments are derived from tax dollars, fines, fees or levies of any kind. Such person would be defined as persons employed by Federal , state or local governments and their appointed agencies which take its direction directly from the Federal Government, including all departments and their subsidiary offices subject to direction by the Executive Office of the President, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Housing and Urban Development, Department of the Interior, Department of Justice, Department of Labor (Including federal and state OSHA), State Department, Department of Transportation, Department of the Treasury and Department of Veterans Affairs. In light of the fact that current and past poor performance by certain agencies have failed to provide the services paid for by the tax paying citizens of the U.S (i.e. Veterans Affairs and Internal Revenue Service), it is clear that such practices do not provide added value to our tax dollar and in fact contribute to an environment of corruption. Service to the nation and it's citizens is a honor and privilege and in consideration of that, the government is not obligated to be an employer but rather a limited service provider as defined in the U.S. Constitution and a frugal steward of the peoples monies. Further, persons accepting positions working for the government do so with full recognition that the compensation for their efforts are directly derived from the revenue created from taxes of an already strained budget, it is unreasonable that such persons should be paid bonuses above and beyond their hourly or salaried wage, particularly when such employing agencies often create additional cost to the common citizen through fees, permits, levies and where poor performance causes a burden to those citizen who have paid for said services.

Gun violence is a major public health issue. In the wake of shooting after shooting, we've got to figure out the root causes and how to prevent the next tragedy before it happens. Did you know that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention used to research gun violence in the 80s and 90s, but the NRA bullied Congress into banning it nearly two decades ago? After the Sandy Hook tragedy, President Obama ordered the CDC to get back to studying “the causes of gun violence” but the CDC still avoids it. We have a chance to do something about this, and potentially save lives. In the hours before the latest San Bernardino shooting, doctors urged Congress to lift the funding ban. New legislation introduced back in June in the House and Senate would restore funding for gun violence prevention and gun safety research by the CDC. But it won't get passed unless we pressure Congress to stand up to the NRA and do the right thing for us, their constituents. Reference: http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/storyline/wp/2015/01/14/why-the-cdc-still-isnt-researching-gun-violence-despite-the-ban-being-lifted-two-years-ago/ https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/to-your-health/wp/2015/12/02/hours-before-san-bernardino-mass-shooting-doctors-were-on-capitol-hill-petitioning-congress-to-lift-ban-on-gun-violence-research/

Just as the executive branch is subject to review by Congress, so should the Supreme Court be subject to review by the "people's House".

If our government is supposed to be democratic and of and for the people, then the Congress of the United States has become the weakest link in our government by bending to the will of corporate influence. Business people deserve a vote like everyone else, but they don’t deserve their own private Congressperson or legislature.

California voters can make a major statement to the nation that Congress needs to 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 make that statement. The Senate has acted – now it's the Assembly's turn. Sign our petition to the Assembly to pass it today.

I have been affected by motorcycles, mopeds and cyclist splitting lanes dangerously close to vehicles for many years. Riders weave in and out of traffic driving at high speeds making it unsafe for vehicles. Cyclist do the same while running red lights. Lane splitters are also at risk passing parked vehicles and vehicles in the left lane at the same time. Lane splitting is illegal everywhere except California. It doesn't mean cyclist are being safe. Motorists including, motorcycles, mopeds and bicycles should adhere to ALL motorist laws.

This petition is for the legalization of the use of Marijuana for medical use or recreational use. I personally feel like there are more benefits to legalizing Marijuana than keeping it illegal. The main benefits are revenue for the government and freedom for users. There are also many jobs that can be created through the legalization of marijuana. Also with the fertile land in Virginia, the production of Marijuana products such as hemp could be grown not only in quantity but also quality, thus providing even more revenue and jobs. The medicinal values are often used to help with cancer patients, people who suffer from depression, insomnia, PTSD, MS, chronic joint pains, and many other physical and mental health problems. Yet it is still illegal; please show some support and sign.

UCSB shooting Friday the 23 of May 2014.

Money in politics has destroyed our democracy. The corporations have a stranglehold on our legislators and the voice of the American People has been stifled. We have seen attempts to limit hard money and soft money. But it is always just a bandaid on a cancer. Every problem that this country suffers today is due to corruption and the outright bribery of the elected. When politicians have no financial gain to achieve by circumventing the public's wishes, they will get back to doing the work of the People who elected them.