When I decided to go work for a nonprofit environmental group, I did so in part because the government promised to forgive the balance of our loan debt if I worked in a public service (NGO) job for 10+ years. This made the corresponding dip in income palatable. With it came lower monthly payments (based on income), but the tradeoff was that we would accrue much more interest over time. This was okay if the government was going to forgive the debt. Based on that promise from the government, I declined a job at a law firm and went to work an environmental non-profit dedicated to river restoration. Now, President Obama is proposing a change that would penalize me for making the decision retroactively. The changes would increase my monthly payments by 5X, and would revoke the loan forgiveness promise that I relied upon, and instead cap it at an unreasonably low level. These changes make the prospect of having children, buying a house, or continuing public service career paths very difficult. President Obama's proposing this change under the auspices of reducing the cost of higher education. But instead of requiring higher education institutions to limit tuition levels (to qualify for federal loans), or imposing the risk of default on those schools, he's chosen to impose the penalty on students, and those dedicated to missions that serve the public interest.

Maryland’s workers deserve a fair wage! Vote for SB 331 and HB 295 raise the minimum wage to $10.10 by 2016! We believe that to strengthen our State we need to strengthen our workers. While corporate profits are at an all-time high our families are being left behind. The current minimum wage of $7.25 keeps our working families in poverty. By raising the minimum wage we can help provide the boost to these families deserve while supporting local business and creating job opportunities. A recently published report by the National Women’s Law Center stated the importance of a higher minimum wage and a higher tipped minimum wage to ensure fair pay for women and members of our community. Vote for SB 331 and HB 295!

When accounted properly, our water treatment plant adds money to the town's bottom line. If sold, studies show that private sewer operators typically raise rates by 63% and profits to shareholders will be the goal. Clean water is a responsibility that should be handled by our elected representatives, not executives who are in no way accountable to us.

We do not want to be represented by someone who does not live in our district. With over 725,000 people in a district; we can find someone from among us to send to Congress, thank you. This law will stop party bosses from creating mischief when they force their hand-picked candidates on the population.

This legislation, by favoring small contributions within the reach of the average vote, will help slow a profoundly disturbing trend in Montgomery County in which less that a third of donations to County Council campaigns come from those contributing $250 or less. Under such circumstances, while all voters are equal, some are clearly more equal than others.

It is wrong that a congressman is abusing his power and trying to in affect silence other members of the oversight committee (especially if you are from the other party). This is an unprecedented move by a committee chair and should not be allowed to happen. Issa is only interested in his party's agenda and seemingly willing to do anything to oppose and silence the opposition to his and his party's ideals or agenda. Issa needs to be reprimanded and removed from the oversight committee chair.

Please act to minimize excessive political and Government influence by the activist super rich.

Under one provision of a tax bill in Congress, businesses would no longer be able to take one-time tax deductions for all of the billions and billions they spend on marketing. A top advertising industry lobbyist said it was "a dreadful idea." So we know it would be effective. With advertising spending expected to increase, just in the U.S., to $160.8 billion in 2014 -- much of it targeting children, promoting unhealthy foods and products, or encouraging over-consumption -- closing this loophole that incentivizes excessive marketing would be a much-needed reform. Business expenses such as rent and utilities are immediately and fully deductible because at any moment in time they are essential to being in business. But because money spent on advertising can pay off over many years, this reform would require tax write-offs for advertising to be spread out over time as well. The reform is projected to increase federal tax revenue by $169 billion over the next ten years. That's revenue that could help fund important education, health care and other government programs.

This is so self evidently correct that despite numerous communications I am puzzled at why this is not being addressed. It is the law in other states, notably Louisiana! The current law requires that individuals like the head of the Roslyn, NY school district who was convicted of using his position to funnel money to a company in which he or a close friend had the entire financial beneficial interest was being paid $150,000 per year WHILE IN PRISON! The money, of course, is provided by the public who were "robbed" by him!

Many young Americans are coming out of college and cannot find adequate paying jobs to pay their loans at the PSL set payment levels. These harsh loans accrue interest daily and have variable interest rates ready to rise higher once our economy fully recovers, leaving our children permanently in debt with no future.

Because we owe everything to our veterans who have given us everything.

We see enormous amounts of money pouring into fundamentally unproductive but increasingly expensive political campaigns at the same time that we worry constantly about the national debt. If the contributors of large sums to campaigns are truly concerned about the economic health of our nation, they should be doing at least as much to address the national debt SUBSTANTIVELY as they are doing to help elect their favored candidates.