I have personally witnessed the gradual erosion of funding for inner-city schools due to slick marketing campaigns from nearby "public" charter schools. These schools often participate in the practice known as "creaming." Charter schools routinely remove low-performing students, English language learners, and students with disabilities who might make their data appear less than marketable. The public schools are then left to educate these students once they are removed from local charter schools. The marketing campaigns have resulted in a loss of student population in public schools, and thus a loss of funds necessary to operate needed programs. This system, already declared unconstitutional in Washington state, has resulted in a two-tier system effectively reintroducing educational segregation. Separate but equal funding is inherently unequal. Outlaw these predatory charters. "Public" charter schools are the For-Profit Schools of K-12 education. Don't line the pockets of investors with my tax dollars!

It's the right thing to do. Because the masses have voted with their collective wallet. Because the constitution says, in effect, that what a man does, so long as it doesn't harm another, isn't the state's business. Because the time is right and the law is wrong. Stand with me on this.

I personally suffer from bipolar disorder and scoliosis. The only relief I have ever experienced was through using marijuana in several different forms.

It's about time that we start acting like grown ups and let the police focus on real criminals. It can also be a great source of income for the state.

As has been seen with places like Colorado, legalizing the sale and use medical and recreational marijuana in Texas would not only bring much needed money into the state's economy (especially in the way of easing financial burden on state-run correctional facilities and giving more financial assistance for schools statewide), but will dramatically reduce the crime rate when it comes to nonviolent drug offenses involving not only local residents, but with Mexican cartels as well.

Numerous state governments in the United States, in their important and urgent efforts to protect elephants and rhinoceros from poaching and slaughter, are unknowingly undermining the rights of Alaska Natives and their historical and contemporary use of ivory by adopting state law that "prohibits import, sale, purchase, barter, or possession of ivory". Alaska Native peoples continue to rely on walruses, seals, whales, etc., as primary food sources, as they have for untold centuries, particularly in remote communities with little alternative food sources, with the tusks, membrane, sinew, bones, and other by-products of hunting used for trade with other indigenous individuals, or converted into artwork, a vital contemporary practice in remote villages with few alternative resources, revenue, or employment opportunity. For centuries, these materials were used in the making of sacred objects, tools, clothing, toys, housing construction, and in trade practices during both pre-contact and post-contact eras. Unfortunately, in most, if not all of the adopted or pending state law, the term "ivory" is written in a broad fashion: "'Ivory' means any tooth or tusk composed of ivory from any animal, including, but not limited to, an elephant, hippopotamus, narwhal, walrus, or whale, or any piece thereof, whether raw ivory or worked ivory, or made into, or part of, an ivory product." Confusion over existing and pending laws will hamper vital sales of Alaska Native artwork and handicraft. There is an absolute need to recognize and respect cultural rights of Alaska Native peoples and their long-standing use of ivory, as well as its contemporary use and dimensions. Therefore, the undersigned respectfully request that all congressional and state law makers correct any and all actions that undermine the federal exemptions in favor of Native peoples. Such existing and pending laws must acknowledge and make exemptions for Alaska Native use of old and new ivory (and other relevant marine mammal products) consistent with the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) and the Convention on the International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES).

Bill Clinton on Friday April 15, 2016 in Washington Heights in New York City while stumping for his wife Hillary Clinton said that “I think it’s fine that all these young students have been so enthusiastic for her opponent and it sounds so good, just shoot every third person on Wall Street and everything will be fine.'” This type of slander and criminal association is shameful and both the Hillary Clinton and her surrogate husband Bill should apologize.

Our right, as citizens, to have access to the truth!

It is apparently a move to restrict voters in NY State from voting in the NY State Presidential Primary on Tuesday, April 19, 2016...By starting this petition I am personally stating my strong objection to this move. I am urging all voters in the USA to join along in support of our right to vote in our elections!

Everyone deserves the same freedom, regardless of sexual orientation. This is just another jab at the fight for LGBT rights.

My son, who is autistic, attended Mountain Valley Elementary School, not because this was his home campus, but because CISD made the choice that all children requiring special needs attend this school. In the nearly 3 years he attended, he regressed in all aspects of his disorder as well as his education due to a lack of placement. They have decided it is appropriate to place autistic children in a behavior unit with staff who are not trained on their disorder. Autistic children do not have behavior issues, they have sensory triggers due to their disability! We need to take care of all of the children in the community, and there should be a program to support Autism in our county, and give our children their best chance at succeeding at everything they encounter in life!

Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) and Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) have introduced legislation to prevent the U.S. from continuing to support Saudi-led military campaigns in places like Yemen where Saudi Arabia’s year-long campaign has led to a devastating humanitarian crisis and a security vacuum that has empowered our terrorist enemies al Qaeda and ISIS. The Murphy-Paul bipartisan legislation will require the President to formally certify that the government of Saudi Arabia is demonstrating an ongoing effort to target terrorist groups, minimize harm to civilians, and facilitate humanitarian assistance before Congress can consider the sale or transfer of air-to-ground munitions to Saudi Arabia. [1] “I have yet to see evidence that the civil war we’re supplying and supporting in Yemen advances our national security. The more it drags on, the clearer it becomes that our military involvement on behalf of the Saudi-led coalition is prolonging human suffering in Yemen and aiding the very groups that are intent on attacking us,” Senator Murphy said. “I believe, along with Sen. Murphy, that the U.S. should halt the sale of air-to-ground munitions to Saudi Arabia until Congress has conducted proper oversight and ensured that such munitions are being used in a way that is consistent with our country’s national security strategy and values,” Senator Paul said. The Murphy-Paul legislation will require the President to attest that Saudi Arabia is concretely demonstrating its anti-terror efforts and protection of civilians before Congress can consider a sale of weapons to Saudi Arabia. [2] Urge the Senate to support the Murphy-Paul bill for greater oversight of U.S. weapons sales to Saudi Arabia by signing our petition. References: 1. http://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-paul-introduce-legislation-to-set-new-conditions-for-us-military-support-to-saudi-arabia- 2. https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/senate-joint-resolution/32