From sunlight.com concerning candidate transparency and tax returns "Unlike Congress, Presidents are exempt from conflict of interest laws. This makes disclosure of income tax returns especially important to shed light on areas of possible conflicts of interest. Yearly salaries are often reported in the news but tax returns reveal so much more about the character of the candidate. Their debts give us a broader sense of the state of their finances, and perhaps more importantly an idea to whom they could feel beholden. We learn how much (or little) they paid in taxes, and whether they utilized loopholes in tax law to avoid paying those taxes. It sheds light on whether they conducted activity that they have criticized on the campaign trail. Learning about candidates businesses, business partners and the state of those activities can help understand how their judgment might be affected by their financial transactions and debts. We learn their values and priorities from learning which charities they support." After reading this and other articles on candidate transparency, I believe the least a candidate can provide the electorate is full financial disclosure.

On Tuesday, September 6, President Obama nominated Abid Qureshi to fill a seat on the U.S. District Court. Despite the historic nomination of a Pakistani-American and Muslim to the federal judiciary, there are signs the Republican-led Senate Judiciary Committee may not even begin to hold hearings on his confirmation. [1] At a time when the a leading nominee for president is spewing anti-Muslim and xenophobic rhetoric, it is time for our leaders to show they don’t stand with the divisiveness of the Trump campaign. The Senate Judiciary Committee should immediately begin holding hearings for Abid Qureshi, a well-qualified attorney, and confirm his nomination to the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Source: 1. “Barack Obama Just Nominated A Muslim To Be A Federal Judge. That’s A First.” The Huffington Post, September 6, 2016 http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/obama-muslim-federal-judge_us_57cf2cfbe4b03d2d45970d3a

The power of money in our political system—who has it, who doesn’t, and what it's buying--has been a central theme throughout this presidential election season. In the Democratic primary, Bernie Sanders animated millions of Americans by mobilizing individual $27 donations to effectively match the power of millionaires and billionaires. Donald Trump dispensed with his opponents by calling them puppets of big donors while committing to being “unbought” by lobbyists and special interests. Hillary Clinton has said reforming the way our elections are financed will be a “top priority” if she’s elected. At the same time, debate has raged from state houses to courthouses about voting laws, who should have access to the ballot, and whether our congressional districts should be fairly drawn. These issues go to the very heart of who we are as a country – so many Americans are losing faith in our institutions and public trust in elected officials is at a record low. Americans deserve to hear the candidates’ positions on the power of money in politics, how they’ll eliminate barriers to civic participation and their visions for how we will take a step toward achieving the promise of our democracy, a vision of political equality for all Americans.

NOTE: This is for a SECONDARY TANK, not a replacement for the stock tank! Auxilliary (secondary) fuel tanks for the Toyota Tacoma do not exist as a commercial product. Due to the well-established popularity of this vehicle, and the rapidly increasing popularity of "Overland" style off-road vehicle modifications, I believe there is a viable market for this product. The intent of this petition is to establish proof of confidence to manufacturers, so that they are willing to invest in the R&D to produce such an item, knowing that there is a market for it.

A pipeline is being installed across Indian lands, some sacred lands, belonging to the Lakota tribe of the Sioux nation. No full EPA was done, just the catchall "No significant impact to the environment." The pipeline company is pushing their way through with construction and 16 tribes have joined to protest. The POTUS promised: "You will not be forgotten as long as I'm in this White House. Indians will have a seat at the table when important decisions are being made bout your lives. Washington can't -- and shouldn't -- dictate a policy agenda for Indian country. Tribal nations do better when they make their own decisions." Pres. Barack Obama 11/5/2009. Is it true or not? The tribes have banded together. They need the support of others who share the values and understand the continual taking of their property. It's time to say, "No More!"

I am a beekeeper, owner of a bee-product company, and mom of two kids. That's why I was shocked when I learned that millions of honey bees were poisoned recently by an aerial pesticide spray in South Carolina aimed at combating the transmission of the Zika virus by mosquitoes. And I was even more concerned when I learned that the chemical that was sprayed--a powerful neurotoxin called Naled--hasn't even been proven to be fully effective in eradicating the mosquitoes that carry Zika during trials in Puerto Rico and Florida, where people have protested its use. Will you join me in telling the Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the Environmental Protection Agency to consider risks to pollinators, wildlife, and human health and to create stronger guidelines on the aerial application of powerful neurotoxins, such as Naled, for mosquito control? The Zika virus is dangerous, and we must find ways to eradicate it. But fear of the virus should not lead us down a path where we are spraying a dangerous neurotoxin that isn't even effective at eradicating Zika in the first place! Naled has already been banned in the European Union and has been protested heavily in Puerto Rico, where Zika has been more prevalent than almost anywhere else in the world. Beekeepers like me are fighting for our livelihoods. The pollinator industry contributes an estimated $29 billion to farm income and is crucial for our food supply--bees are responsible for pollinating one out of every three bites of food that we eat. But this is not only about bees. In high enough doses, Naled will kill any insect in its vicinity and can be potentially damaging to mammals.

By refusing to stand during the national anthem, San Francisco 49ers’ quarterback Colin Kaepernick is making an important, bold rebuke of police violence against Black people. Kaepernick joins a long history of Black athletes using their platforms to advance racial and gender justice issues - like Tommie Smith and John Carlos giving the Black Power salute during the national anthem at the 1968 Olympics and Jackie Robinson writing that he could not salute the flag as “a Black man in a white world.” Colin Kaepernick is demanding that America live up to its own ideals and address the oppression of people of color. To express your support for this brave athlete, please add your name.

My husband was hit with this once he was released from prison in 2011, and also made to register as a Sex Offender for the next 20 years. In the law it states you must have served your time or completed your probation whichever one is greater and then register for 20 years. Not to have 5 more years to do on a 6 year 6 month charge that he already done his time for. This is a Double Jeopardy and it's not fair to them or their family. He completed his classes for the SOTP twice. Paid for a polygraph and passed. Yes we have been affected by this, because my husband Joseph Fulz is a good honest man who deserves to try and rebuild his life. Why make him do more time than he's already done. If they wanted him to do 12 years then I feel the courts should have gave him 12 instead of 6 years and 6 months to only come home on probation. He completed his classes and was following all the rules. The reason for his violations doesn't have anything to do with the underlying offense. He was charged with 2nd degree Rape No Force, but how is it a Rape if there is not Force. It just doesn't make any sense to me. Please help us try and change the SOCD law. If he has done everything the Government request such as register, then the SOCD should be given if you become a Repeat Offender of such a crime as this. Not put you on SOCD and be a registry for 20 years if not a lifetime. We need help because I want my husband back home with his family.

On August 30, both houses in California’s legislature passed a bill to ban government contracts to companies that choose to participate in a boycott against Israel. [1] It is now on Governor Brown’s desk—where the option to veto a bill that suppresses free speech and lawful political expression is wide open. The Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement provides a form of nonviolent political expression and action to allow people of conscience to participate in the ongoing Palestinian struggle for justice. In recent years, the movement has gained major traction, including among young people across university campuses and within large organizations, such as the U.S. Presbyterian Church and United Methodist Church. No matter what one thinks of the BDS movement, attempting to stifle political opinions and actions echoes the McCarthy era. This bill is an attempt to curb the rights of anyone who seeks to highlight the injustices perpetrated against Palestinians. According to a coalition of over 100 civil society organizations including the Center for Constitutional Rights, bill A.B.2844 is “both an attack on the constitutional rights of Californians and a waste of taxpayer money.” [1] By not vetoing this bill, Gov. Brown will be ignoring the rights of Californians to dissent and take action on their political beliefs without being penalized by the government. Sign this petition to demand that Gov. Brown vetoes bill A.B.2844. Sources: 1. “California Lawmakers OK Bill Penalizing Companies Boycotting Israel.” Telesur, September 1, 2016 http://www.telesurtv.net/english/news/Calif.nbspLawmakers-OK-Bill-Penalizing-Companies-Boycotting-Israel-20160901-0004.html

In 2009, New Mexico repealed the death penalty, replacing it with laws providing for new sentences for life in prison and restitution to the families of victims. But today Governor Martinez is calling for a return to the death penalty--making the state the only one in the country calling for a new death penalty, while at least a half-dozen others are moving to repeal their own. Send this message to Governor Martinez and legislators in the State Senate and State House to show your opposition to a return to this vengeful law.

The actions on September 3, 2016 by the private security guards hired by Dakota Access endangered the lives of dozens of protesters, including many young children. Photos and videos released online show protesters, including a pregnant woman, were bit and bleeding. Security personnel were caught on video macing protesters, but denied it when confronted by the media. The guards had no uniforms, drove vehicles with out-of-state plates, and appeared to have little or no training. It's unclear whether or not they're even licensed to operate in the state. The actions of the security guards hired by Dakota Access have the public asking questions: - Who was the private security firm hired by Dakota Access? - Why aren’t the security guards wearing uniforms? - Are the guards properly trained and licensed by the NDPISB? The North Dakota Private Investigation and Security Board is a governor-appointed board that licenses and regulates the private investigation and security industries. The board must investigate the actions of the private security guards hired by Dakota Access and ensure they are properly trained and licensed to operate in North Dakota.

Our nation is one that is very diverse in its complex constellation. The national anthem in its full text, celebrates (and calls for) the death of slaves in verse three. When we stand to respect this nation with hands over our hearts, we are directly supporting the spirit of the poem and its author, Francis Scott Key, who was himself a slaveholder as well as a prosecutor of abolitionists. We can no longer in good conscience, stand for a song who denigrates historically or otherwise, any one of our fellow American citizens.