False news and more recently "alternative facts" are poisoning the body politic in the US. A credible, independent rating of major news outlets (print, radio and TV/cable/internet broadcast) according to standards of journalistic excellence may drive such businesses to improve performance in pursuit of better ratings.

I am terrified that our current president has chosen as his closest advisor a known white supremacist. As a Jew in Utah, I also find Bannon's anti-semitism to be particularly frightening. While I realize neither the House nor the Senate has the power to remove non-cabinet appointees, we can urge them to maintain vigilance when items are presented before them that appear to stem from or represent Bannon's un-American views. Keeping our country safe does NOT include allowing hatred to rule the day.

To paraphrase Shakespeare, "Something is rotten in the White House." The President's soft stance, admiration, and pro-support of Putin and Russia--Syria, Crimea, interference in America's 2016 election, disavowing US intelligence reports, equating US actions with Putin's authoritarian regime--are highly suspect. Is there collusion? We need answers regarding the President's ties to Russia. NOW.

HB 2000 must be evaluated in light of Section 8 of President Trump's January 25, 2017 Executive Order entitled "Enhancing Public Safety in the Interior of the United States." In that Executive Order, President Trump sets forth his plan to "deputize" state and local police officers to perform the functions of federal immigration officials. Section 8(a) of the Executive Order indicates this plan will be accomplished thorough "agreements" with state and local authorities. HB 2000, which will prohibit any "locality" from adopting ordinances, procedures, or policies that restrict the enforcement of federal immigration laws, seems consistent with and could be used in furtherance of the Executive Order. On its own, HB 2000, given its vague and broad language, will likely be used to require state and local police to identify and detain immigrants of uncertain status for possible deportation. Even if one completely discounts ethical concerns regarding HB2000, it is objectionable on so many other levels. Do we want our local police officers to be an arm of the federal government? Do we want state and local law enforcement, which has the primary goal of protecting Virginia and its local communities, to take on additional responsibilities that will distract it from its mission? Should Virginia citizens pay for the enforcement of federal law by state and local police? Do we want to discourage immigrant residents from cooperating with the police to solve crimes in our communities? I think the answers to these questions is "No!" Please act quickly as this bill has already passed the VA House & will be before the VA Senate Committee on Local Government for consideration as early as February 14, 2017. If it passes that committee, it will go immediately to the Senate for reading & vote. In addition to signing this petition, please contact your State Senator (directory: http://apps.senate.virginia.gov/Senator) and Senator William Stanley, the chairmen of the Committee on Local Government ([email protected]; phone: 804-698-7520), to voice your opposition. Moreover, this bill was proposed by Delegate Charles Poindexter - 9th District, who also proposed HB 2001, which many of you opposed and which would have required state professors to aid ICE in identifying students for deportation. Those of you in his district (9th) may want to contact him to voice your opposition to these types of bills, which require state and local employees to undertake the work of federal agencies. ([email protected]; phone 804-698-1009). VIEW BILL: http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?171+ful+HB2000H1

This issue has not been properly addressed and we, as American Citizens should not rest until it is.

Firing so many frontline school clerks is unacceptable and will have harmful impact on our schools, our students and their families.

Trump has promised to release his taxes, pending an audit. That promise has been renewed recently, but also disavowed. I don't need to see his taxes, but the Senate certainly does. They should review his taxes so they can be assured that there are no problems.

Senator Cassidy's office phones have been going to voicemail, and in some offices the mailbox has been full. Constituents in Lake Charles also have been unable to confirm whether anyone is staffing the local office. Constituents deserve an opportunity to make their voices heard.

To create a more productive relationship between constituents and their representative in central New York.

I take offense that when the residents vote on the ballot, for a minimum wage increase, and a clear majority of citizens favored the bill, now in response, the state government wants to have a temper tantrum and strip away our rights to create laws at The Ballot Box.

My nephew is in the foster care system, and I have repeatedly seen DFCS and the juvenile court make decisions that place him at risk. When questioned, they blame the state law. If the best interests of children are not the law's first priority, the law needs to be changed.

That Senate Democrats are considering shifting the tax burden from upper middle class to poor and working poor, but reducing sales tax on luxury items & replacing revenue with taxes on food & drugs... this is outrageously offensive. Illinois is a rich state. Illinois' revenue problem is driven by the requirement (in Illinois Constitution) to have a flat tax so rich people's tax burden is kept low. This is unjust & it's bad policy.