Since the disastrous Citizens United ruling, billionaires and other special interests are funneling record amounts of money through secretive non-profits, trying to buy our elections. Federal prosecutors even say that a foreign tycoon exploited loopholes to try to rig the outcome. This kind of dangerous secrecy must stop. S.B. 27 will make sure billionaires, foreign tycoons, and other special interests can't hide behind dark money non-profits. It requires any group spending $50,000 in California elections to reveal exactly who gave the money. It's a key step before passage of the California DISCLOSE Act (S.B. 52). Last month, Assemblymember Linder voted against an amendment to make S.B. 27 take effect in the November election. The final Assembly vote on S.B. 27 could come any day, and Assemblymember Linder needs to hear that constituents don't want him to let secret money corrupt democracy!

Since the disastrous Citizens United ruling, billionaires and other special interests are funneling record amounts of money through secretive non-profits, trying to buy our elections. Federal prosecutors even say that a foreign tycoon exploited loopholes to try to rig the outcome. This kind of dangerous secrecy must stop. S.B. 27 will make sure billionaires, foreign tycoons, and other special interests can't hide behind dark money non-profits. It requires any group spending $50,000 in California elections to reveal exactly who gave the money. It's a key step before passage of the California DISCLOSE Act (S.B. 52). Last month, Assemblymember Bigelow voted against an amendment to make S.B. 27 take effect in the November election. The final Assembly vote on S.B. 27 could come any day, and Assemblymember Bigelow needs to hear that constituents don't want him to let dark money hijack democracy!

Since the disastrous Citizens United ruling, billionaires and other special interests are funneling record amounts of money through secretive non-profits, trying to buy our elections. Federal prosecutors even say that a foreign tycoon exploited loopholes to try to rig the outcome. This kind of dangerous secrecy must stop. S.B. 27 will make sure billionaires, foreign tycoons, and other special interests can't hide behind dark money non-profits. It requires any group spending $50,000 in California elections to reveal exactly who gave the money. It's a key step before passage of the California DISCLOSE Act (S.B. 52). Last month, Assemblymember Waldron voted against an amendment to make S.B. 27 take effect in the November election. The final Assembly vote on S.B. 27 could come any day, and Assemblymember Waldron needs to hear that constituents don't want her to let dark money hijack democracy!

Since the disastrous Citizens United ruling, billionaires and other special interests are funneling record amounts of money through secretive non-profits, trying to buy our elections. Federal prosecutors even say that a foreign tycoon exploited loopholes to try to rig the outcome. This kind of dangerous secrecy must stop. S.B. 27 will make sure billionaires, foreign tycoons, and other special interests can't hide behind dark money non-profits. It requires any group spending $50,000 in California elections to reveal exactly who gave the money. It's a key step before passage of the California DISCLOSE Act (S.B. 52). Last month, Assemblymember Dahle voted against an amendment to make S.B. 27 take effect in the November election. The final Assembly vote on S.B. 27 could come any day, and Assemblymember Dahle needs to hear that constituents want him to stop protecting Dark Money!

We need a Governor who will not be beholden to wealthy special interests and can represent all Maryland citizens. We believe that the enormous amounts of money obtained by candidates from corporations and the wealthy corrupts our political process. We support the fight throughout the country to combat the challenge to our democracy presented by the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision which invalidated campaign finance reform legislation. [2] A letter, signed by a majority of members of the Maryland General Assembly in January 2012, called upon the Maryland Congressional Delegation to work for an amendment to the Constitution for free and fair elections and reversing that decision. [3] Currently before the General Assembly is legislation calling on Congress to call a Constitutional Convention to permit meaningful campaign funding reform. [4] Since Delegate Mizeur has voluntarily accepted the Maryland Campaign Finance restrictions, her primary campaign budget is limited to $2,586,124. She will also not accept contributions in excess of $250 and will only accept contributions from individuals (not corporations). [5] However both Lieutenant Governor Anthony Brown and Attorney General Gansler have not yet chosen to abide by the Maryland campaign finance restrictions and avail themselves of the Maryland fund. Although both are better known throughout the state, they are planning primary campaigns that will spend in excess of 6 million dollars each. [6] We call on Anthony Brown and Douglas Gansler and all other candidates for governor to voluntarily accept the Maryland campaign fund limits. Please join Delegate Mizeur in conducting conduct a campaign that does not rely on contributions from wealthy donors and corporations. ------------------------------------------ [2] Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, 558 U.S. 310 (2010) [3] http://www.getmoneyoutmd.org/md_letter_for_traditional_amendment [4] Senator Jamie Raskin and 10 co-sponsors have introduced resolution SJ6, calling for an Article V Convention of the States. Ways and Means Chair Sheila Hixson and 26 co-sponsors have introduced the companion resolution HJ7 in the House of Delegates. [5] http://www.elections.state.md.us/campaign_finance/public_funding.html (The limit is based on contributions in excess of $50.) [6] As of the most recent reporting period Lt. Gov. Brown collected $5,393,572 last year and already has cash on hand of $7,013,647. Attorney General Gansler raised last year $1,673,050 and has cash on hand of. $6,268,967 http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/politics/bal-governor-fundraising,0,5511370.photogallery?index=bal-governor-fundraising-003 Republican candidate Larry Hogan also intends to rely on the campaign fund. http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/politics/blog/bs-md-hogan-public-financing-20140203,0,4299894.story However, as of the date of this petition no campaign finance report has been filed.

My best friend Kelly lost her life at the intersection of Escalante and Camino Seco. This area is a hot spot for stop sign runners, It has caused numerous accidents and close calls. By Putting in a light here, we can help prevent the loss of a loved one.

Members of Congress hardly ever get a giant Thank You when they go out on a limb and do something right. We especially need to thank a Southern Republican for stepping up to fight the Koch Brothers and the power of big money in politics. Rep. Walter B. Jones Jr. of eastern North Carolina is the only Republican member of Congress willing to stand up to wealthy special interests and sign on to a serious campaign reform bill. It's the "Government By the People Act," co-sponsored by more than 100 House Democrats - and Walter Jones. Please sign the petition to thank Rep. Jones for his courageous leadership. The "Government By the People Act" sets up a public financing option for qualifying Congressional candidates who rely on small donors. It makes elected officials accountable to the people, not big donors. Here’s how it would work: - To encourage low-dollar giving, people could receive a $25 My Voice tax credit for their small campaign donation. - Qualifying candidates can super-size these small donations through the Freedom from Influence Fund. Donations they receive of $1 to $150 would be matched on a six-to-one basis, so $100 brings in an extra $600. - Candidates who raise more small donations during the last 60 days of the election can receive additional funds to combat hostile ads by outside attack groups. We need to encourage more leaders to support alternatives to the current system of elections. Please thank Walter Jones for his leadership. Thanks, Bob Hall, Democracy North Carolina

The U.S. Supreme Court’s 2010 ruling in 'Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission' struck down some laws restricting corporate and union spending in elections. The ruling enabled an explosion of election spending, often from secret sources. Americans of all political stripes were outraged. Iowa saw more than $13.5 million in new super PAC election spending in the 2012 Republican presidential primary alone — most of it spent on negative ads. Such influxes of election cash stand to have the greatest effect on state and local elections, where huge spending increases can dwarf local resources. With our democracy in crisis, the time to act is now. Americans across the political spectrum are concerned about the impact of 'Citizens United' on our democracy and our way of life. Together, we have an opportunity to reach out — across the aisle or across town — to undo the ruling with a constitutional amendment. It’s time for Iowa’s city and county governments to join some 500 municipalities nationwide that have called for a constitutional amendment to limit outside spending and keep local elections local. And it’s time for the General Assembly to make Iowa the 17th state to call for a constitutional amendment to overturn 'Citizens United' and related cases.

This petition is going revoke 85% of the businesses within the State of Arkansas state's current permits and license to sell tobacco, and consider the distance from one tobacco store to another as to the terms of their "statutes" to handing out a license. In this fashion, I feel that the Arkansas Tobacco Control Board and many others are not doing their elected duty properly by just handing out a license to whoever wants one. I feel that some of these businesses are being highly inconsiderate to where they open their shop. Count how many are in your town. Now pretend you're strung out on cigarettes, and you're trying to quit. You probably will yield, until death or horrible heart attacks. I think there should be 1) no public access for children (as I see children picking out cigarettes from ashtrays at libraries and stores) and 2) not very many tobacco stores in one town at all. Not just because this is the Bible belt, but because they are, quite literally, too readily available in convenience stores, concessions, and grocery providers.

Stand Up For New Mexico's Children! In recent weeks, several cases of CYFD neglect have come to light including the death of Omaree Varela, a nine-year old boy that was allegedly beaten to death by his mother after reports to CYFD about abuse. We’ve seen too many cases where CYFD has failed New Mexico’s children in the Martinez administration. All we've seen from Governor Martinez is a pattern of excuses and shifting blame rather than action. It's time she showed more concern for protecting our children and less for covering for her political appointees. Our legislators must also demand accountability.

Big money in politics is a big problem. In fact, MoPIRG and Demos found that in 2012 the top 32 donors to Super PACs spent as much money as every single small donation to Obama and Romney combined, equaling the gifts of over 3.7 million Americans. The Government By the People Act would change the way our elections are financed through a combination of matching funds for small donations, and a “My Voice” tax credit. Instead of relying on Wall Street executives or lobbyists, participating candidates would rely on the ones the founding fathers intended them to represent: we the people. Thank Rep. Lacy Clay for cosponsoring this legislation and ask him to see it pass the finish line.

Anne Hoskins, Senior Vice President for Public Service Energy Group (a publicly traded New Jersey -based energy company), was a utility executive for six years and served in all three of its subsidiaries before becoming Governor O'Malley's newest appointee to the Public Service Commission of Maryland. Researchers at the University of Massachusetts Amherst have identified PSEG as the 48th-largest corporate producer of air pollution in the United States, with roughly five million pounds of toxic chemicals released annually into the air. Major pollutants indicated by the study include manganese, chromium and nickel compounds; sulfuric and hydrochloric acid. (Political Economy Research Institute Toxic 100 (Study released May 11, 2006)). The nuclear division of the Public Service Enterprise Group, operates two nuclear reactors and a building on a small farm in Lower Alloways Creek Township, N.J., in rural Salem County at the Salem Nuclear Power Plant. (Wikipedia) One of the highest known radioactive tritium readings ever, was discovered in 2002 at the Salem facility. Tritium leaks from the reactors spent fuel pool contaminated groundwater under the facility (located on an island in Delaware Bay) at a concentration of 15 million picocuries per liter. That's 750 times the EPA drinking water limit. According to NRC records, the tritium readings in 2003 still exceeded EPA drinking-water standards. Highly elevated tritium levels have continued for years. Tritium found separately in an onsite storm drain system measured 1 million picocuries per liter in April 2010. (Yahoo.com. AP IMPACT: Tritium leaks found at many nuke sites By Jeff Donn - AP National Writer | AP – Tue, Jun 21, 2011.) Also during 2010, PSEG Nuclear, discovered 680 feet of corroded, buried pipe that is supposed to carry cooling water to Salem Unit 1 in an accident, according to an NRC report. Portions of the corroded pipe had worn down to a quarter of its minimum required thickness, though no leaks were found. The piping was dug up and replaced. The operator had not visually inspected the piping - the surest way to find corrosion - since the reactor went on line in 1977, according to the NRC. PSEG Nuclear was found to be in violation of NRC rules because it hadn't even tested the piping since 1988. (Tritium leaks found at many nuclear sites, The Associated Press , Published: 6/21/2011 7:28 AM | Last update: 6/22/2011 7:29 AM). According to the "Maryland Manual On-Line" it is the function of the Public Service Commission of Maryland to inspect facilities and check them for safety and efficiency. Anne Hoskins' company violated NRC regulations by failing to perform the basic task of testing a pipe. How can we rely on her to oversee the all of the electric and gas utilities operating in the state of Maryland? Do NOT confirm Ms. Hoskins to the Maryland Public Service Commission.