My name is Jessica Gwynn. I wrote a longer version of this story for the "100 Stories of What Wall Street Broke" website run by the Home Defenders League. I am now working with them to tell my story and demand real action from the Obama Administration. In early 2007, as a college-educated professional writer, I joined with my father – me with my good income and he with his perfect credit score – and bought my own home and piece of the American Dream. I was thrilled. I went to work every day, I paid my bills on time, I watered my plants, I made my home and I lived some of my happiest times. Until late 2008 when I and my entire team got fired when my company lost its biggest client. Shocked and panicked I went home to my boyfriend and cried. But together we pulled through, even as I sat unemployed for 8 long months. And when I did get a job, it was at a fraction of my previous salary. But I still made my payments. Then I broke up with my boyfriend. This time I simply could not afford my mortgage. I was terrified and alone. And my bank, well, my bank did everything in their power to make my life even more miserable. They never returned my calls. They lost _all_ my paperwork, every time I submitted it. They called only to threaten me. They even skipped out on their own lawyer when we tried to go through mediation. And they’ve been trying to foreclose since April of 2009. The insane thing is not only did we find out our mortgage was robo-signed but the entire process was fraudulent. In four years, the bank hasn’t been able to provide a single piece of original paperwork. Not one piece. Yet despite this and my every attempt to reach them to work something out, they are relentlessly trying to steal my home. My house is worth about half of what I initially paid for it. My father and I no longer speak. This situation destroyed his good credit and, ultimately, our relationship. And the entire country has changed. Most people I know are working for less than they ever did - yet our mortgages are based on home values we haven’t seen since 2008. We need to keep families together. Keep people in their homes. Refinance based on current home values. The banks should not be allowed to get a huge bailout FROM OUR TAXES and then expect steal our homes from us! It is criminal. President Obama, it is time to do the right thing by the American people. Make the banks accountable for their fraudulent activities and reset mortgages to current home values. Keep people in their homes.

Key to resolving the so-called "fiscal cliff"/deficit crisis is telling Congress they must cut wasteful Pentagon spending. It is out of control, and defense contractor CEOs couldn’t be happier. Even though the Iraq War is over, and the draw down in Afghanistan continues, contractor CEOs making up to $26,000,000 a year are lobbying their friends on Capitol Hill to protect their exorbitant corporate salaries and profits, all at the expense of middle class and military families. Enough is enough. CUT THE PENTAGON WASTE and strengthen, not cut, Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and other real and pressing needs!

The proposed Republican map splits up communities, diluting their voting power. It carves out absurdly-shaped, gerrymandered districts for political gain, at the expense of minority voters and long-standing communities. It creates districts that have few interests in common, such as Elmont with Inwood and Bethpage with Garden City. It decimates many tight-knit communities by splitting them into as many as five different districts, such as Rockville Centre, the Five Towns, Manhasset, New Hyde Park, Garden City, Roslyn, East Meadow, Hicksville, Merrick, and Westbury. Hundreds of residents have made it abundantly clear by their statements at public meetings that they oppose this map, which unnecessarily moves nearly 350,000 voters to other districts! We urge our legislators to vote NO on the proposed map. The people of Nassau County want a FAIR map that maintains communities of interest; we deserve no less!

My grandkids ride an overcrowded school bus. Seat belts would not only prevent the school systems from overcrowding the bus but keep children in their seats properly.

For too long we have been robbed of our ability to clean up the air, water, and food issues (truthful labeling), because of opportunists who would lose money. Deliberately deceptive tactics have been used in bill wording to hoodwink people, who may vote against their own interests. The intention and results of a bill may be completely disguised. There are those who pro-ported to create jobs by clear cutting 7/8 of the great redwoods population, unique to our part of the world, who have not created anything but a sad paucity of rain forest, and its subsequent results. Redwood was shipped out of the country, enriching only the businesses who schemed.

The instant runoff voting system is a unique and foolproof way to allow the person that is most wanted in any given political office make that position. It ensures that the candidate has over 50% of the votes when they are elected. The electoral college, while useful in it's time, only serves to muddle and add confusion to the electoral system, as well as removing the validity of votes that are counted toward any candidate. I feel that by implementing this voting system and removing the electoral college, The people's votes will be heard more strongly and they will feel comfortable voting with who they feel is the most qualified candidate, and not the "safe vote."

The congress keeps saying they want to cut social securiy and medicare. they want to make cuts in every thing, including education. All congressmen and senators should only have two terms, and when they leave they will no longer receive their pay or benifits,. Wellcome to the real world. Also effective immediatly they should all take a 25% cut in pay and pay 25% of their benifit package. In 90 days all that have left the congress or senate should stop recieving any pay or benifits. If my math is correct this should save at least 25 millon dollars a year. Yes it's a small amount but it's a start.

Many signature gatherers are from outside California or paid by the signature.

Senate Bill 899 is not fair to injured workers. It gives the enployer the OPTION of approving or rejecting medical treatment for injured workers. This responsibility should be mandated back to the insurance company. It took 3 years for me to get treatment for an on the job injury. THE DOCTORS DON'T LIKE IT, THE WORKERS' COMPENSATION ATTORNEYS DON'T LIKE IT AND INJURED WORKERS DON'T LIKE IT EITHER, SO.HOW DID THIS BILL GET APPROVED?

Our Founding Fathers never envisioned lifetime politicians and we need a constitutional change to reclaim our democracy.

If the Postmaster General move on his plan to reduce six day mail delivery to five day mail delivery will cause a loss of too many jobs.

If sequestration is allowed to go in effect federal food safety officials may be cut from the budget. NO one will be on the job to inspect the beef, pork and chicken in our food supply. Congress must act to stop sequestration.