President Obama, and Congress want to cut Social Security for Seniors, and Disabled Veterans. I 'm a Senior, and I do not want to see my Social Security, or the Veterans, cut so that the President, and Congress, can balance the budget, on the people that can least afford it.

Social Security drains the Federal budget. That's a lie. Baby Boomers will drain the fund, if we don't make cuts. That's a lie. Young people don't care, because Social Security won't be there for them anyway. It WILL be, if Congress stops raiding the trust fund.

SUMMARY We, the undersigned, are petitioning Stony Brook University and SUNY State Assembly for the failure to provide sufficient amount of funds to reconstruct and reopen Stony Brook University’s on campus pool. Approximately, 26,000 students attend Stony Brook University, with over 300 clubs and organizations, and 16 NCAA Division 1 recognized Athletic teams and programs that offer a wide range of options for serious competitors and sports enthusiasts. Currently, one extremely important venue on campus that affects a multitude of successes at Stony Brook University is the on campus pool. In fall 2012, the pool was shut down due to inconsistencies in the architecture that needed to be fixed. Unfortunately, the critical maintenance fee is not currently going towards immediate repair of the pool at Stony Brook University and State capital budget has yet to be granted for the renovation of the pool. The closing of the pool on campus has negatively affected athletic teams and programs, academics for students in adaptive aquatic minors, student life and open swim (especially f or student Master’s teams), as well as student retention and recruiting for SBU overall. BACKGROUND Athletically, Stony Brook University is known for competition and excellence. There have been many successes in the athletics program since 2010. The pool itself is home to 16 NCAA Division 1 teams, including Men and Women’s Swimming and Diving. Other teams, including but not limited to Men and Women’s Basketball, Men’s Football, Men and Women’s Soccer, and Men and Women’s Track team have been noted to use the pool for exercise and training for competition. Specifically for Men and Women’s Swimming and Diving, no practices in the pool are allowed (only weight training in the weight room on campus) and the teams are in a state of “continuing competitive hiatus.” This status is discerning to students who have been granted scholarships to compete at Stony Brook University. Since the shut down of the pool in fall 2012, the Men and Women’s Swim and Diving team have stopped recruiting freshman and the true competition of the teams will not resume until a pool is accessible. The Women’s Swim and Diving team is fully funded with scholarships provided by the NCAA; the Men’s team, which is just as competitive, does not provide scholarships. The two teams are also not able to provide practice at local high schools due to local town club/master teams- there has been no accommodation for available times. Additionally, outside venues available to utilize would not be adequate for the students on the team due to a long distance trip to the location- this would affect an athlete’s practice time and overall studies as a student, not to mention the concern for safety for the students and more allocated budget. Additionally, between the years 2010-2012, the athletic swim and diving program grew with increases in recruitment and competition in conferences. At the time of the closing of the pool the Women’s team had 21 team members, while the Men’s team has 14 team members. The women’s team successfully competed in the ECAC competition in 2010, whereas the men’s team has competed against universities in Texas, Florida and California with success in the 100-200 yard backstroke for championships. In the past, Stony Brook University’s Swimming and Diving athletics teams were D3; at the time of the closing of the pool, the teams were D1 in the American East Conference; their team stature is comparable to SUNY Binghamton. After the closing of the pool, several athletes either dropped out from the teams and/or transferred schools that had a functional pool on campus to compete. The future of the Men and Women’s Swim and Diving team is hindered without the use of a pool on campus. Both teams have hopes to expand beyond New York State recruitment after the pool has been renovated as well with increasing recruitment and retention on campus in the athletic program. The reopening of the pool will grant recognition of the team’s coach; will maintain traditions of the swim team; and will allow for growth and competition n the athletic programs that Stony Brook University is well known for. Academically, students who are taking classes, for example the adaptive aquatics minor, are being negatively affected and cannot take impertinent classes to finish their minors/majors requirements. On behalf of student life , and Stony Brook University retention/recruiting, the failure to provide the students with an adequate pool hinders student experience and happiness. Additionally, the outside community to Stony Brook University has shown upset for not being able to witness swim meets as well as take part in masters teams. The inadequate funds to renovate the pool are a disservice to both the undergraduate and graduate students. As a result, the action to close the pool has had a hugely negative effect on the campus’s student life, especially in athletics and academics. We therefore petition Stony Brook University and SUNY State Assembly to reprioritize their capital budget projects as well as critical maintenance fees, to provide an ample pool for the entire student body to use.

Funny, that if it affects congress that they do something about it. Meanwhile, the people whose lives have been most affected by the current financial situation, bear the greater burden.

American workers pay into Social Security and Medicare every pay period during their working years with the expectations that U.S. Government will make good on its promise to provide guaranteed, monthly benefit checks during their retirement years. Now retirees receive devaluated dollars with no buying power because the high cost of living and the INFLATION the U.S. government support.

American workers pay into Social Security and Medicare every pay period during their working years with the expectations that U.S. Government will make good on its promise to provide guaranteed, monthly benefit checks during their retirement years. Now retirees receive devaluated dollars with no buying power because the high cost of living and the INFLATION the U.S. government support.

Dear Mr. President and distinguished members of the senate & house. We the People of the United States want you to reduce the retirement age to 50 & generate more revenue to support our great Social Security program. Please contribute all taxes collected from the lottery & all other gambling-gaming profits & winnings to our Social Security program so that ALL retiring Americans win.

The people at the bottom of the wage scale -- like myself -- in the U.S. pay Social Security tax on their entire income. Why should the wealthy and the super wealthy not do the same??? It is time the cap was removed! The debate about possible cuts in Social Security would be over!

They have voted to give themselves a raise for 'Cost of Living Increase' yet they want to eliminate all future 'Cost of Living Increases' for those on Social Security.

Vote NO on the Parent Trigger Bill (SB 862)

Huge number of homeless people die of exposure every winter in the cities in the north part of the country. In many of the cities, such as Detroit, New York, etc. there are hundreds of vacant and abandoned houses, factories, or warehouses. that could be used to house them, and protect their lives. This petition is to ask our federal government to step in and save the lives of hundreds or even thousands of homeless men, women, and children by purchasing these buildings and making them into viable shelters for these forgotten citizens of the United States that have been victims of the economic catastrophies brought on by the economic collapse in this country.

I am on Social Security Disability, Medicare and Medicaid. I need these programs just for my survival. I live in poverty. If you make cuts in these programs I am afraid of what will happen to my life. I have no family to care for me. All I have is Social Security Disability, Medicare and Medicaid. Plus the millions of other vulnerable Americans who will be devastated too by any cuts in these vital programs.