When you work your whole life and pay into SS and Medicare and they are referred to as entitlements. Call it a Senior Retire Plan.

social security should be taxed dollar for dollar not stop at a low amount

We are committed Vashon cyclists: we love the island because it is so bike-friendly. This fall however, with the installation of rumble strips, multiple riders have had dangerous accidents, and some have been hospitalized(1). Cyclists and pedestrians should be a top priority in all King County as well as on Vashon, the rumble strips should be paved over and bike lanes should be added on the highway and on the roads around the schools. http://signon.org/sign/dow-constantine-bring Dow Constantine and King County need to hear our support for this loud and clear. Sadly, Vashon did not rank high enough on the recent WA D.O.T. Safe Routes to School project list to be eligible to receive funding for 2 reasons: 1. We do not have sufficient barriers between bike/pedestrian pathways and roadways. 2. We've had very few accidents (car vs. pedestrian or car vs. cyclist) compared to the other communities. The crazy thing is that Vashon was penalized for these things! However, as a result of the broad support shown for the Safe Routes to School project, King County DOT and Washington DOT have agreed to work together to forge a new and better plan for bike and pedestrian pathways in the vicinity of the Vashon schools. Will they follow through? They will if they see how many of us support this! We need everyone's help: can you pass this initiative on to your friends who support cycling, walking, hiking and running on our roads? http://signon.org/sign/dow-constantine-bring Thanks! Shane 1. source: www.bikevashon.org

Nothing has changed in the job market since Obama was re-elected. But since he was re-elected, it seems he doesn't care about all of the unemployed people still looking for work. He already received our votes, so it seems he doesn't feel the need to keep helping the unemployed. The federal extention for unemployment has been for 92 weeks. The extentions end on December 23, 2012. It should be the same for all unemployed people. I have been unemployed for 1 year and my benefits end on December 23, 2012. There are newly unemployed Americans that will get considerably less. We should all receive the same amount of weeks. 92 weeks like a lot of Americans have already received. This is unfair treatment. I have worked for 40 years and have paid into the unemployment program. I deserve to get what so many Americans have already be given.

I am tired of the Republicans taking away programs that aid ordinary middle class citizens and giving aid to weathy oil barons. The oil industry is doing quite fine. It is wrong plain and simple to take away aid to the most needy by cutting Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid while my tax dollars go to aid oil companies who are the least needy.

The Workforce Opportunity Act was developed to help single mothers get into the workforce and off of public assistance so they could better provide for their families. Unfortunately this Act is stigmatizing and degrading and was not implemented in the best interest of these mothers. Everyone knows that having a good education is the key to getting a good job, yet this Act does not fully support women who are returning to school to further their education. This Act needs to be amended with better programs and services to help single mothers like myself help ourselves.

We elected Barack Obama to fight for the middle class, NOT to destroy the middle class by changing the age of Medicare eligibility and cutting the cost of living on Social Security. Seniors like me can't afford to wait until we're 67 -- and trimming Social Security just means more of a burden on middle class families. Tell our elected officials to HOLD THE LINE on Medicare and Social Security!

Route 30 which runs North and South through the towns of Aurora, Oswego, and Plainfield has been in the headlines for numerous fatal accidents. This road is two lanes, very dark, and the speed limit is 45mph, which all lead to numerous fatalities. How many victims need to die before they fix this problem?

I went to Virginia William’s building—a place that helps homeless people to get help with getting placed into a shelter or any place that would take my children and I. I went through all of the paperwork and did everything they asked me to. In the end, I was told that they had no place for us. I can understand, however, because many people are facing homelessness. But, so what that meant for my family is everyday staying from place to place. I had been staying between a family member house and a friend’s house. That was temporary and my family is no longer able to stay at either person’s house now. Now, I am at the end of my rope. Currently we stay in a hotel; since this Friday. I do not have means to pay for another night. So do we sleep on a park bench or will they help me if I go back to them on this Monday? That is what I am hoping for. The reason for my petition is to bring my situation to the attention of anybody who will care and help. No family should be refused to be place in a shelter and turned away back to the streets.

People who got laid off in 2008-2011 got 99 weeks of unemployment due to the Federal unemployment assistance program. However, all of these extensions expire as of Jan 2 - so those who got laid off after June in 2012 only get the regular 26 weeks of unemployment. The unemployment rate is higher than it was in 2008-2010, and it is next to impossible to find work comparable to positions we were laid off from in 6 months. According to the NJ Governors office, all of these who got laid off in 2012, PLUS all of the 99 weekers will be hitting the welfare rolls come January if unemployment is not extended, which would be disastrous to the economy. Those who don't choose to seek welfare (such as myself) will be forced to work 60-80 hours a week at multiple minimum wage jobs, which will most likely NOT meet our living expenses, and not leave much time for looking for a full-time position that will. This petition is asking for a Tier 1 26-week extension for those who were laid off in 2012. We are not asking for 99 weeks, we are just asking for at least another 6 months to give us more of a chance to find a job that would at least come closer to meeting our living expenses than having to rush out and work at a minimum wage service job(s). Many of us have been working for years and thus have paid into the state unemployment system - we are not looking for handouts, just a fair shot at looking for QUALITY work like the 99-weekers have gotten!

Virginia's people cannot wait for more than 32 billion dollars in Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare benefits as the wealthy elite threaten to paralyze Congress. We depend on you to expose this stalling tactic for what it really is, a greedy ploy that preys on those who cannot afford to bargain.

People will become homeless after 12/12/12 when FEMA ends TSA for hotel lodging.