The Administration of Governor Steve Beshear plans to dramatically cut child care assistance in the state of Kentucky beginning on April 1, 2013. This program helps working parents and caregivers pay for child care so they can work and go to school. Thousands of children will be impacted as parents turned to unlicensed care or have to quit their jobs. Hundreds of child care centers are also likely to close, laying off their staff at a time when jobs are still scarce.

North Carolina has become the puppy mill state since there are no laws on the books to regulate private sellers in their homes. I am a responsible pet owner and believe that all animals have the right to live in a safe and sanitary and LOVING HOME. There are more than enough pets to rescue without breeding them!! The director of the NC chapter American Dog Owner's Association was on the news the other day saying that he doesn't support these laws because it might cost too much for a "responsible" breeder to comply with the laws. I believe until we get the homeless population of dogs, (and cats for that matter), under control we should have very strict regulations on breeding pets.

The cost of living continues to go up, but not the salaries of state workers. We use to get raises every year. The raises got smaller and smaller. Now they don't exist. And lately, our salaries have been decreased some more to support the state!!! I am making less money than I did about three or four years ago. Does this make sense to anyone??? Do you know that NY continues to increase the salaries of people who have retired? There is something very wrong with this state and it needs to be cleaned up!!!

The people of Puerto Rico greatly appreciated Senator Durbin’s position and comments requesting the need to establish a formula to recover federal funds that have been paid, including funds already designated but not yet disbursed towards improvements to the Luís Muñoz Marín International Airport of Puerto Rico, before any plans to lease or privatize the airport may be approved. Not only has $105 million been allotted for the years 2010-2012 for airport improvements; the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) authorized charging $520 million in passengers’ fees (Passenger Facilities Charge –PFC) up to the year 2033. According to the contract, these monies would go directly to Aerostar Holdings LLC, the private corporation that would take over our airport.

The city of Houston, Texas has the best medical center in the country and one of the nicest sports venues in the U.S. in the Reliant Stadium but both of these signature Houston landmarks are located on and around streets which are barely driveable. I drive both of these routes daily and am constantly afraid that the very motor will be ripped out of my car. The city of Houston needs to completely resurface both Fannin and Main streets so that they are safe to drive without fear of permanent damage to your vehicle!

PERA has been around for 80 years and is successful and sustainable but is coming under attack by Right-wing Ideologues. PERA is only 2% of the Total State Budget, most coming from employees. I worked thirty one years with 8% coming out of my paycheck for my retirement. Now legislators want to take a huge economic stabilizer in our Colorado counties away and send money away to mutual fund managers in New York, San Francisco, etc.costing the state more.

Give peace to all. Love each other. Hope for the best!!!

I'am a proud parent of a 2 year old baby girl. When visiting parks, and while waiting at bus stops I have witnessed adults smoking around children. These adults not only put my daughter at risk of 2nd hand smoke but also your children. It is our duty to defend those who cannot fend for themselves therefore a ban must be put in place to protect our loved ones

Fresno County cannot afford to continue to poor hundreds of thousands of dollars defending a lawsuit they know they can not win. Too much money is wasted trying to hide or delay the ultimate judgement against the Fresno County Jail. Investing dollars used to fight this class action lawsuit, would go much further if it were used to the improve and restore conditions of adequate healthcare and mental health services to constituitonal standards. Fresno Co. Board of Supervisors you have that power, we demand that you use it! Settle this lawsuit and see to it that the defendants of this lawsuit focus on the priorities on improving adequate inmate healthcare and mental health services to constitutional standards at the Fresno County Jail.

We have kept goats in the past that were like members of the family and provided us with delicious and nutritious milk, cheese and yoghourt. We live in Albany and would like to keep them again.

Our postal system is the best in the world with a long tradition of keeping us in touch with the whole country and the world. Please DONT Dismantle IT. The US POstal system belongs to the American people

Last year the Minnesota Legislature passed the first Wolf hunt in decades by attaching it to a spending cut bill. Voting against this bill would have been political suicide so it was passed not for the Wolf hunt but as a result of the other expenditure cuts! Sneaky politics!!