Can you imagine barging into the clergy study to muzzle a minister offering spiritual guidance to someone in their critical moment of decision? But some Kentucky lawmakers are preparing to do just that with HB 149. HB 149 would prevent public funds from being “used, granted, paid, or distributed to any entity, organization, or individual that provides abortion services or that is an affiliate of an entity, organization, or individual that provides abortion services.” In other words, if an organization were to provide “abortion services,” that organization would forfeit any right to local or state funds. The problem with this bill is that it would make possible the designation of clergy who provide referrals or information about abortion services, or who promote or encourage abortion, as abortion providers. The designation of abortion provider could jeopardize public funding sources, and leaves open the possibility of further legislation that could jeopardize a faith community’s non-profit status. Prohibiting certain kinds of speech by clergy, regardless of how one thinks about the issue of abortion, is profoundly troubling for at least one relatively obvious reason: Allowing the government to interpose itself in the pastor/parishioner relationship is a dangerous precedent to set, not only because it abridges free speech and the free exercise of religion, but also because it raises the obvious question: What pastoral speech gets outlawed next? This issue is one that all Kentuckians of faith ought to be able to agree on: The government has no place telling clergy what they can and cannot say in the context of their pastoral counseling relationships. To argue otherwise is to abandon the call of clergy to be both prophetic and pastoral, not to mention to abandon some fundamental American values around what it means to live in a democracy.

There will be no more significant and lasting action by the new president than his appointment to fill the vacancy on the Supreme Court. Despite his overwhelming approval by the American people, President Obama was deprived of his constitutional prerogative to have his nominee for the seat considered by the senate. Senator McConnell's strategy for obstructing President Obama was cynical and against the interests of all Americans but we can agree that a president who received a minority of votes does not have a mandate from Americans to appoint a justice to The Supreme Court.

We need the leaders of the world to stand up to, and not appease, a global bully and the architect of his hate-full policies.

This Muslim ban is contrary to American values and is likely unconstitutional.

A major source of our state's drinking water, the Pinelands, will be at risk if the South Jersey Gas pipeline gets approved. The construction will destroy critical habitat and would affect drinking water for more than a million people. Long term, if the pipeline is approved it would open the floodgates to even more development. The pipeline violates the strong rules that protect the Pinelands, but the Commission in charge of the Pinelands is considering letting the pipeline get built anyway. The good news is that massive local opposition has forced the Commission to extend its public comment period, and now we have until February 8 to weigh in. We can win this fight, but it's going to come down to keeping up the public outcry. Add your name to our letter to help stop South Jersey Gas pipeline!

Donald Trump’s recent actions on immigration are a dramatic, radical, and extreme assault on immigrants and the values of our country, which is why we must fight back against them. In Florida, Miami-Dade’s Republican Mayor, Carlos Gimenez, has terminated critical protections that would shield immigrant families from Donald Trump’s Deportation Force. Without these protections, countless families could be separated from their loved ones, profiled and criminalized by local police, and be subject to deportation under Donald Trump’s extreme executive orders on immigration. Immigrants are part of Miami-Dade's vibrant community and have a long history of contributing to local economy and culture, which is why we cannot allow Mayor Gimenez to turn over immigrants across Miami-Dade to Donald Trump’s Deportation Force. Put simply; Mayor Gimenez should be protecting the hard-working immigrant families across Miami-Dade, not looking to score political points with racists like Donald Trump. If we want to keep immigrant families safe from Donald Trump’s anti-immigrant attacks, then we must hold Republican Mayor Carlos Gimenez accountable and ask the Miami-Dade County Commission to reinstate protections for immigrants across South Florida immediately!

Chemical-intensive industrial agriculture is killing off pollinators, polluting our drinking water and causing soil to disappear so fast it could be gone in decades. The USDA must confront climate change and help farmers adopt the regenerative organic farming and grazing practices that create resilience in the face of droughts and floods. Trump’s Monsanto-funded, climate-denying USDA pick, Sonny Perdue, is the wrong choice. Learn more at OrganicConsumers.org and RegenerationInternational.org.

An anti-science “alternative facts” bill just passed the South Dakota Senate and is headed to the House Education Committee this Friday. The bill, SB 55, would permit the teaching of nonscientific ideas and opinions—like climate change denialism—in science classes. It would allow miseducation of students about climate change and other topics, with local or state administrators unable to intervene. The National Science Teachers Association is strongly opposing SB 55. And the American Institute of Biological Sciences says, "we should be working to strengthen our science education system—not enabling the misrepresentation of science in the classroom." Urge South Dakota Education Committee members to support evidence-based science education, and to reject the "alternative facts" anti-science bill, SB 55!

The purpose of this petition is to grant justice to Emmett Till's family, warranted by the confession of Carolyn Donham. The wholesomeness of the United States of America is affected by injustices committed regardless of race, gender, and age.

Republicans stonewalled Obama's Supreme Court nominee in order to usurp political power, an action that defied the democratic will of the people and signaled a deliberate move toward tyranny. This action should not be rewarded. Democratic legislators must fight ALL Republican Supreme Court nominees . Democratic compromise on this issue will set a dangerous precedent. Just say NO!

Catcalling threatens women and girls everywhere, the act of catcalling even by using one derogatory word can be extremely intimidating and is minimized in its legitimacy. Starting from even pre adolescent years, girls are catcalled and harassed publicly which is both scary, and an unacceptable treatment of women.

This petition is aimed at stopping Trump's autocratic power grab and making him respect the rule of law.