Maryland Democrat Elijah Cummings, chair of the Democratic Platform Committee, says an agreement on the platform language between the Clinton and Sanders forces could happen within days. [1] One of the issues that has been in dispute is what the Democratic Platform will say about Palestinian rights and the occupation of the West Bank, especially about settlement expansion in the West Bank. The other three House Democrats on the Platform Committee - Keith Ellison, Barbara Lee, and Luis Gutierrez - all signed Rep. Betty McCollum's letter asking that the U.S. speak up for the rights of Palestinian kids in military detention. [2] The other three House Democrats on the Platform Committee have also all co-sponsored [3] HR 686, which calls for affirming U.S. opposition to settlement expansion in the West Bank. [4] But Rep. Cummings didn't sign McCollum's letter, and so far he hasn't agreed to co-sponsor HR 686. That's reason for concern about where he stands on opposing settlement expansion. Urge Rep. Cummings to affirm U.S. opposition to settlement expansion by signing our petition. References: 1. http://thehill.com/homenews/house/284551-clinton-vows-to-work-closely-with-democrats 2. http://mccollum.house.gov/press-release/mccollum-leads-20-members-congress-urging-president-obama-create-special-envoy 3. https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-resolution/686/cosponsors 4. https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-resolution/686/text

There are many risks associated with potential copper, nickel and other sulfide mining operations within that watershed, including possible contamination from acid mine drainage and tailings basin failures. The U.S. Forest Service announced it is "deeply concerned" by potential mining near the Boundary Waters, and may withhold consent to renew two mining leases within the same watershed as the wilderness area. The agency announced a 30-day public comment period "to better understand public views" on the proposed renewal of the two leases. The Boundary Waters are too important to put at risk of this dangerous mining pollution. We can protect this natural treasure by not allowing toxic sulfide mines near the Boundary Waters, but the mining companies are using their political influence and deep pockets to try to fast-track mine proposals. Together we can make the Boundary Waters watershed off-limits to toxic mining.

There are many risks associated with potential copper, nickel and other sulfide mining operations within that watershed, including possible contamination from acid mine drainage and tailings basin failures. The U.S. Forest Service announced it is "deeply concerned" by potential mining near the Boundary Waters, and may withhold consent to renew two mining leases within the same watershed as the wilderness area. The agency announced a 30-day public comment period "to better understand public views" on the proposed renewal of the two leases. The Boundary Waters are too important to put at risk of this dangerous mining pollution. We can protect this natural treasure by not allowing toxic sulfide mines near the Boundary Waters, but the mining companies are using their political influence and deep pockets to try to fast-track mine proposals. Together we can make the Boundary Waters watershed off-limits to toxic mining.

Inspired by the Democrats sitting in at the House, it's time to make an assault weapons ban part of the DNC party platform. We have an opportunity to make a truly bold and progressive platform, let's take the step and be brave. The draft platform will be released on Friday.

We the people support the sit-in Democrats who are demanding action on an epidemic called unrestricted gun violence. Innocent Americans are shot and killed by individuals using assault weapons, and their killers have hardly any government restrictions to perpetrating their crimes. There are shootings at nightclubs, movie theaters, schools, and churches, and the victims are of every race, political party, sexual orientation, and age.

So many of us feel helpless as we watch the Republican-controlled House refuse to bring legislation to the floor. With every signature goal reached, MoveOn will deliver this petition of support to proper authorities at the US House of Representatives. Tell Speaker Ryan to do his job. Thank you.

UPDATE: Speaker Ryan ignored our pleas and the pleas of our #gunsafety champions, and adjourned the U.S. House. But we will continue the fight on their return to Washington, DC, and deliver your message after the Fourth of July weekend, so please continue to sign on! *********** On Monday, the U.S. Senate voted down a gun safety measure, centered on expanding background checks for gun purchases which more than 90% of the public supports. And now, Democratic members of the U.S. House of Representatives are literally sitting on the floor, in an old-fashioned sit-in, demanding that Speaker Paul Ryan schedule a vote on commonsense gun safety legislation before they leave for the 4th of July recess. Since Newtown, which commanded our attention to the tragedy of American gun violence, the House has not held a single vote on gun policy. NOT ONE. It's time to demand what America really wants and needs: Gun safety policy reform! Tell Speaker of the House Paul Ryan to schedule a vote on gun safety now!

Orlando. Sandy Hook. Columbine. Red Lake, Minnesota. Essex, Vermont. Lancaster. Aurora. Virginia Tech. How many more innocent victims must die at the hands of an antiquated and oft-misinterpreted amendment? Enough. It's time to stop the violence. Gun control doesn't have to mean no guns. I'm not suggesting we take guns away. I'm suggesting we put tighter controls on acquiring and owning them. Gun show loopholes must be stopped. Ammunition should not be sold online. Mandatory wait periods should be enforced, during which time a thorough background check, psychological and medical evaluation, and character references should be completed. More accountability should be placed in the hands of retailers. When patrons refuse wait periods, authorities should be notified. Training and testing should be mandatory, as should a renewal process that includes many of the above-mentioned evaluation terms. Gun owners and non-gun owners need to come together and agree on regulations that protect the right to own a firearm for sane, responsible adults and keep them out of the hands of the mentally unstable. I would hope that we could all agree to submit ourselves to these terms when it's easier to go to a gun show and pick up a firearm than it is to go to the local pharmacy and buy cold medication. Acquiring and owning a gun should be at least as controlled as getting a learner's permit, license, and privilege to drive a car. Gun control alone is not the whole of the solution, but it's a start. And if it keeps guns out of the hands of even one mentally unstable person and saves one sweet life, it's worth it.

I and many other local drivers find the 'No Turn on Red' sign at the Greenwood Ave. Bridge crossing an unnecessary waste of time and gas. Neither PennDOT nor the borough council accepts responsibility for putting it there - let's ask the Public Safety Committee and Jenkintown Borough Council to replace it with a 'Yield' sign.

This is such a great show, it shows all the behind the scene craziness that goes on in the music industry. it's edgy, cool and just enough "WTF" factor to make you come back for more. You can't end the 1st season on such a high tension note and not finish, That's just messed up HBO!

This petition seeks to begin limiting access to automatic fire weapons of war in civilian hands. While these weapons are common, it is not in the public interest to increase their availability in the absence of citizen membership in a well-regulated military organization, as the Second Amendment requires.

Now that Hillary Clinton is the "presumptive Democratic nominee," some inside-the-Beltway supporters of Clinton who want more war are being more open about their pro-war agenda. Michele Flournoy, the former Defense Department official whom Defense One calls “the woman expected to run the Pentagon under Hillary Clinton,” this week advocated for “sending more American troops into combat against ISIS and the Assad regime than the Obama administration has been willing to commit.” Flournoy said she would "direct U.S. troops to push President Bashar al-Assad’s forces out of southern Syria and would send more American boots to fight the Islamic State in the region.” [1] It's not a done deal that Flournoy will be Secretary of Defense; at the very least, we should have a public debate over whether a Secretary of Defense who advocates for more war is the kind of Secretary of Defense that we want to have. As the Democratic primaries and caucuses have just shown, in order to have a real debate, we need to have an alternative candidate. Lawrence Korb is a former Assistant Secretary of Defense who administered 70% of the defense budget. He is a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress and a senior adviser to the Center for Defense Information. [2] He was formerly director of national security studies at the Council on Foreign Relations. He criticized the invasion of Iraq during the Bush Administration and has called for reducing the defense budget and redirecting the money to social programs. Most importantly, he has advocated a policy of military restraint and has defended President Obama's policy of trying to avoid becoming ensnared in Syria's civil war. [3] Urge Members of Congress to support the nomination of Larry Korb to be Secretary of Defense by signing our petition. References: 1. https://theintercept.com/2016/06/22/hillary-clintons-likely-pentagon-chief-already-advocating-for-more-bombing-and-intervention/ 2. https://www.americanprogress.org/about/staff/korb-lawrence-j/bio/ 3. http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2016/02/bernie-sanders-foreign-poicy-213619