How is he speaking for us if he is not hearing from us.

This was an incredibly destructive and dark event in the CalPERS history, to allow pensioners who paid into the CalPERS system for decades to hang in the wind with 63% of their planned retirement taken away.    ·       Contracts were Irresponsible: CalPERS wrote pension contracts with well over 170 public Joint Powers Authorities (JPA).  CalPERS staff wrote these contracts (building growth for the CalPERS fund) never making the JPA Founding Cities responsible for the CalPERS pensions. Without such a provision, the JPA employees had no knowledge of the peril their pension accounts were in.  There was no way the JPA’s would fund their pension accounts in perpetuity.  Developing CalPERS contracts,  without a means to continue pension plan payments, was an irresponsible and horrendous error!    ·       No Social Security: We are/were public servants, who faithfully paid for decades into our PERS retirement accounts, and we deserved our full pensions. Our pensions have been slashed (since 2016) for reasons we had absolutely no control over. Additionally, the majority of us were prohibited from contributing to Social Security (couldn’t contribute to both SS and PERS) so we have no Social Security pensions to fall back on. Many have had to go back to work late in life, and everyone will be working into our 70’s and 80’s and never make up this retire. Ghost Pensioners Included in Termination Fee:   CalPERS has applied absurd assumptions against us, and we are paying the price of “ghost pensioners” who will never be a cost to CalPERS:   1) The ESGVC $18M “termination fee” has been grossly inflated by the CalPERS Actuary, as follows: calculated in the $18M termination “projection”,  are many “ghost pensioners” who are deemed a “potential future cost”.  The “ghost pensioners” are individuals who were never vested in CalPERS to start with, or withdrew ALL their funds from their PERS account (when they left public employment), but CalPERS says they MIGHT come back into the PERS system at some point in their lifetime.  Additionally, CalPERS is applying an interest penalty of 2.8% to the Termination  Fee of $18M, when it is CalPERS' shortcomings that caused this contract to exist in the first place.  Legislators:  Fortunately, for all rest of the JPA employees in the State of California, AB 1912 was passed to assure that what happened to the ESGVC pensioners doesn’t happen again.  However,  AB1912 did not resove the ESGVC pensioners devastation.  ESGVC was excluded from eligibility for AB1912.  

It is important because it impedes on women’s natural freedoms and limits their rights

Children in Congo are descending into a cobalt mines daily risking their lives, so that they have a bed to lay in.  There is an estimated 255,000 Congolese citizens working in these mines.   Cobalt is an essential part of our everyday life. It is used in the batteries in our smartphones, laptops, and electric cars, but the convenience of our devices comes at the expense of the wellbeing of others. After copious amounts of research, I believe by advocating for safer mining practices, and an end to the exploitation of miners we can build a future where we don’t have to benefit from the suffering of others.  Join me on this petition to end the unnecessary suffering of thousands at our expense. 

Join the Campaign to Lift the SNAP Ban! Help give people a second chance, break the cycle of poverty, and ensure food security. Why?  • Breaks cycle of poverty • Supports rehabilitation & reentry • Provides food security • Promotes justice reform Join to: •  Raise awareness •  Advocate for policy change •  Support organizations helping those in need Every voice counts! Sign & share the petition! Message...

We’re living in a time where anti-voter actors can make fiction appear real with artificial intelligence (AI). From hyper-realistic but entirely fake “deepfake” videos spreading disinformation about candidates  to AI-generated robocalls sowing confusion among voters, the abuse of this new technology could be disastrous for our democracy. But here’s the good news: Just this year, Common Cause members like you helped pass legislation protecting voters from deceptive AI advertising in states like New York and Oregon – and with the bipartisan Protect Elections From Deceptive AI Act, we can take these wins nationwide. The Protect Elections From Deceptive AI Act will make all the difference for voters – banning misleading AI-generated audio, image, or video advertisements that aim to influence our elections, and empowering candidates to take swift action against deceptive content.  Add your name to tell Congress: We must push back against deceptive AI in our elections. Pass the Protect Elections From Deceptive AI Act NOW.

Supreme Court justices just got the green light to continue being wined and dined by billionaires, special interests, and big corporations – and now they don’t even have to disclose most of it to the public!  That’s right: despite public outcry over Justice Clarence Thomas accepting luxury trips from conservative billionaire Harlan Crow, the Judicial Conference – which oversees federal courts – just made it easier for wealthy donors to secretly influence our highest court.  These new loosened rules would likely allow Justice Thomas to get away with hiding several of his previous stays at Harlan Crow’s properties.  We deserve better than this. With the stroke of a pen, the Supreme Court makes far-reaching decisions on reproductive rights, environmental protections, the freedom to vote, and so much more – affecting millions of people every day.  We deserve the full truth about the lavish gifts megadonors provide justices with – and what, if anything, they expect to get in return. With your help, we can uncover their attempts to curry favor with justices by passing a strong Supreme Court Code of Conduct to hold justices to the same high ethical standards as every other federal judge. Add your name to urge Congress to finally pass a REAL, enforceable Supreme Court Code of Conduct. 

Despite his 34 felony convictions, Donald Trump doesn’t have to worry about his eligibility to vote this fall. He has the wealth, connections, and privilege to ensure his voting rights would never be in question – not to mention a high-powered legal team paid for by his political donors due to gaps in campaign finance laws. But the 4.4 million ordinary Americans currently disenfranchised by felony convictions aren’t so lucky. Just look at Trump’s home state of Florida, where Governor Ron DeSantis has personally guaranteed that the former president will be able to cast a ballot this fall. In stark contrast, Black Florida residents have been dragged from their homes at gunpoint and arrested for the "crime" of not realizing they were ineligible to vote. It’s time to end this double standard and ensure NO American is denied their right to vote in federal elections. Add your name to tell Congress: Pass the Inclusive Democracy Act to restore full voting rights to all Americans with felony convictions.

Granting voting power to the Oglala Sioux Tribe Rapid City District is important for several reasons: 1. Representation and Equity. Members of the Rapid City District are a vital part of the Oglala Sioux Tribe, and their voices deserve to be heard in decisions that affect their lives. Voting power ensures that their unique needs and perspectives are represented in tribal governance. 2. Self-Determination. The ability to participate in decision-making processes is a fundamental aspect of self-determination. It empowers the Rapid City District to actively shape policies, programs, and initiatives that impact their community, aligning with the broader values of tribal sovereignty. 3. Community Engagement: Allowing the Rapid City District to vote fosters greater engagement and involvement in tribal affairs. This can lead to more informed and inclusive decision-making, as a broader range of viewpoints and experiences are considered. 4. Fairness and Inclusivity. Granting voting power ensures that all members of the Oglala Sioux Tribe, regardless of where they live, are treated fairly and equally. It prevents the marginalization of district members and promotes inclusivity in the governance process. 5. Stronger Governance. When all parts of the Tribe have a say in decisions, it strengthens the overall governance structure. It leads to more balanced and well-rounded decisions that reflect the diverse interests of the entire Tribe. 6. Cultural and Community Continuity. The Rapid City District plays an essential role in preserving and promoting Oglala Lakota culture and traditions in an urban setting. Having voting power supports their efforts to maintain cultural continuity and ensure that their community's needs are met. Overall, granting voting power to the Rapid City District is not just about representation—it's about ensuring that the entire Oglala Sioux Tribe moves forward together, with all voices heard and respected.

Many veterans that are qualified for this bill can not work because their disability; which makes it hard for them to support themselves and their families. Some veterans have fallen victim to the housing market because they are not able afford a suitable place to live therefore becoming homeless. Elected officials can change this by moving this legislation forward to the desk of the President of the United States to be signed into law.

This is important to ensure that we do indeed have equal justice by the DOJ for all of the American people.

The magnitude of this legislation passing cannot be underestimated. It marks a shift in focus from serving those in dire need to favoring those who can afford to pay the most. This blatant disregard for the core principle of organ donation, which is to save lives based on medical urgency, not financial capabilities, is a betrayal of the trust bestowed upon organ donors. We cannot let profit-driven motives erode the fairness and ethical foundations of organ transplantation. We must raise our voices and protect a system that unequivocally values life over financial gain. By removing a legal requirement that has been in place for nearly forty years, which mandates only nonprofits with experience in this field can bid on contracts to manage the system, the door is opened for profit-seeking entities to exploit the vulnerable and turn the selfless and altruistic gifts of donor heroes into transactional commodities. We refuse to compromise the profound impact of organ donation by placing financial gain above human well-being. This petition invites all who have been touched by the miraculous act of organ donation – including transplant patients and waiting candidates, organ donor family members, caregivers, and concerned citizens – to have our voices heard and demand the federal government acts responsibly. Our petition does not represent any particular organizations, associations or other groups within or outside of the organ donation and transplant system, nor are we doing this in the interest of any such groups. We are patients and donor families, parents and friends, and everyday men and women who in one way or another have been touched by the noble gift of organ donation and the lifesaving surgeries it enables. We also do not oppose any true efforts to improve the organ donation and transplant system. However, we oppose seeing those efforts subverted to the benefit of for-profit companies, which would jeopardize human lives. Let us stand united in protecting the lives of patients, honoring the generous gift of organ donation, and safeguarding the nonprofit status of our organ donation and transplant system. Sign this petition today and add your voice to the rising chorus of those who believe that compassion, not profit, must guide the U.S. organ transplant system. Together, we can ensure that organ donation remains unyielding, accessible, and dedicated only to the welfare of those in need.