The Office of Government Ethics said "no other occasion in the office’s four decades when the Senate had held a confirmation hearing before the review was completed." This is not about who won the election - McConnell downplays by saying "we need to sort of grow up here and get past that.” IT IS about Senate following the ethics process and rules that have been in place since Watergate. Demand McConnell halt the hearings until the ethics review process is complete.

Trump has said he will appoint a Justice like Scalia; Obama has the constitutional power to appoint Merrick. To insure the well being of our country, our children's future and the good of the world we do not need an extreme conservative on the bench.

As a vibrant coastal community we have a responsibility to protect our special environment. As a long time resident of Little Silver and seeing the pollutant increase, we all know single use plastic bags are a detriment to our waterways and community and action needs to be taken. We are looking to influence our local government to effectively ban plastic and paper bags from all commercial establishments . This is already in consideration at the state level and we would be moving in conjunction with statutes that are already under review.

Tillerson becoming Secretary of State

***UPDATE: Your pressure is working! The congressional hearings for four of Trump's nominees have been delayed. Let's keep up the pressure to ensure all nominees are thoroughly vetted before their hearings.*** Starting with Jeff Sessions, the Senate is trying to hurry through congressional hearings for 10 of Donald Trump's controversial Cabinet nominations—before the nominees have gone through the standard ethics review process. The director of the nonpartisan Office of Government Ethics said that this rushed schedule is "of great concern," and that this may leave some of Trump's selections with "potentially unknown or unresolved ethics issues." We can't sit back and let the Senate confirm millionaires, billionaires, and politicians influenced heavily by corporate lobbyists without insisting that they undergo standard background and ethics checks.

The City of Berkeley has raided one particular group of homeless people 14 TIMES IN THE LAST 3 MONTHS. These homeless people are engaged in a protest of homelessness and the City’s policies related to it. They have set up tents, been camping in highly visible places with banners and signs, and established camp rules against alcohol and drugs. During each raid, personal property and survival gear of the homeless protesters has been DAMAGED, DESTROYED, AND/OR CONFISCATED. Neighbors often check conditions of the camp and observe police behavior during raids, which usually happen around 5am. AT ONE RAID, A CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATE WAS ARRESTED while trying to protect a disabled woman who was being bullied by the police. PEOPLE IN THE CAMP HAVE PROFOUND HEALTH ISSUES including Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), insulin-dependent diabetes, uncontrolled hypertension, bipolar disorder, and PTSD and some require wheelchairs and canes to get around. The homeless camp invites people to visit and share about their visit on social media. The protesters are calling for: 1) Legal and sanctioned camping space and other stable solutions (such as a communal house or tiny homes) as an alternative to shelters. 2) A moratorium on police raids until #1 happens.

The auto industry has endangered the public by producing larger, wider, and heavier vehicles. This petition aims to pass laws limiting the size of the new oversized models being sold to the American people and forcing the auto industry to eliminate these new bloated monsters from our streets and highways.

LEGISLATIVE DEVELOPMENT: SOCIAL ACTION Foster Care Unplugged has been working with local and state politicians to develop a Bill that will help reduce the likelihood of homelessness and poverty for youth aging out of foster care. This Bill will help to develop a trust fund that will offer alternatives to such challenges by allowing youth to have more concrete housing and career options. NY STATE SENATE BILL S7720 : Introduced by Senator Kevin Parker of the 21th district in Brooklyn, NY, this Bill is in relation to establishing a program for financial transitional living services for foster children. The office of children and family services shall establish a program to assist foster children in the care, custody or guardianship of an authorized agency to achieve financial security and independence as the children transition into independent living. To prevent honlessness, decrease crime rates within this population and open up resources for alternatives to adulthood Success through education. Click the link below for the entire bill stipulations. http://legislation.nysenate.gov/pdf/bills/2015/S7720

I am starting this petition because I am concerned about my country's future, and the divide state we are in. United we stand, Divided we fall. I don't understand what the President-Elects motives, plans, policies, decisions, or comments are. I feel like I have to lower my level of intellect just to listen to him. I don't even know if he actually has a plan. He seems to be putting the wrong people in the wrong positions and it's starting to look like a power and money grab election. He hardly seems professional and gets amusement out of being an instigator. I'm just worried, that's all.

I live on the lands of the Ohlone People and believe they deserve Federal and State "Recognition" .

Not having access to affordable health care is a hardship for every American which can result in life and death choices. It is and should be an unconditional right and not reserved for the privileged few. If our US Representatives and US Senators feel that they should and will reverse the legislation for the Affordable Care Act then they should also experience the same ramifications by no longer having access to health coverage for themselves and their families.

To NOT ALLOW Congress to use the PEOPLE"S MONEY to pay for a campaign promise made by a candidate., and to use that money instead to PAY BACK the money Congress owes Social Security.