Donald Trump broke the law inciting violence with hate speech and fighting words, a violation of the First Amendment. He should be liable criminally and restricted from our democratic process, and stop his call for a fascist regime in America. What he is doing is not American! We must hold those who are running for the legal position of leadership, like the Presidency accountable for their actions according to the law.

"...Harrisburg has the opportunity to be visionary! There is no reason that a place providing support for creatives at all levels couldn't be created at this building. I see a huge opportunity to provide STEAM related learning outside of the typical learning methods in Harrisburg. Creating a youth design/build corp similar to the one highlighted in the documentary If You Build It - http://www.ifyoubuilditmovie.com/ - Designer Emily Pilloton & architect Matt Miller. This should also include a small business incubator for entrepreneurial startups that connect directly back into the Harrisburg communities in need..." - Robert Shoaff, Harrisburg, Pa

NIFDI wants to know how various decisions regarding the What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) were made. In July of 2013 ago we filed a Freedom of Information act (FOIA) request to the Department of Education, which oversees the WWC. Some, but not all of the requested information was received. The initial information revealed that the WWC suffers from a lack of transparency in their policies and guidelines, the conclusions they create in their reports can be misleading, and the reports are potentially damaging to program developers and ultimately the success of students. (See http://www.nifdi.org/research/reviews-of-di/what-works-clearinghouse for more information on the WWC as revealed through FOIA-released documents.) We have made 2 appeal requests to the Department of Education under the Freedom of Information Act to receive the information that was not sent to us initially, to no avail. According to their rules, the DOE needs to provide us the information requested within 20 days, and if not possible, then a timeline for responding to our appeal must be provided. We have been trying to resolve this for over 16 months. That's why I created a petition to Rep. Peter DeFazio (OR-4) to get the DOE to follow the law and send us the information per our FOIA request. DeFazio's office has been only semi-responsive on this issue and needs to know that our request is critical for kids, decision-makers and the field of education in general. Once we have at least 50 signatures from DeFazio constituents the petition will be forwarded. Please send this on to anyone who lives in the 4th district and ask that they join us.

Last week, environmental activist Berta Cáceres was murdered in her home in Honduras. Berta was a powerful leader in the fight to defend our planet. We don’t yet know the identity of Berta’s killers, but we can be certain that she was killed for her environmental activism. Tell Secretary Kerry to end U.S. military aid to Honduras and stop the murder of environmental activists!

Update: May 4, 2016 Yesterday afternoon, Governor Deal vetoed HB 859! Thanks to all that signed our petition, which was delivered to the Governor on March 24th.

As Consumers of Supports Coordinators and Advocates and Allies of People with Disabilities, we are extremely concerned about the proposed credentialing requirements for Supports Coordinators and their Supervisors that was recently released in the MLTSS RFP. These new requirements will directly impact the independent living of thousands of consumers across the Common Wealth of PA. These requirements will destroy the current workforce, resulting in lost payroll tax revenue and increase unemployment rates. These Service Coordinators are in constant communication with people with disabilities to coordinate services, prevent nursing home admissions, provide information and referral for community assistance, and to coordinate home modifications and personal attendant services. It is imperative that the person in this role understand the lives of people with disabilities, which cannot always be taught in a text book. By requiring such credentialing, you are treating people with disabilities as a medical diagnosis, rather than individuals trying to navigate a system that was not created for them. In this case, a higher level of education does not equal better service coordination and delivery.

Many kids struggle because the content that schools teach is either too hard or too easy. Students should be able to move at their own pace in school.

The American Israel Public Affairs Committee [AIPAC] policy conference is in Washington March 20-22. All presidential candidates are invited. Hillary Clinton is going. [1] Bernie Sanders can use this opportunity to be a truth-teller to AIPAC. When President Obama's National Security Advisor Susan Rice spoke at AIPAC last year, she told them things that they didn't want to hear: that their demands that Iran cease all enrichment of uranium were unrealistic, and that their demands that the U.S. walk away from negotiations with Iran and increase sanctions on Iran instead were unrealistic. AIPAC didn't like it, but Susan Rice didn't let that stop her from telling the truth. [2] J Street [3] and Americans for Peace Now [4] have opposed AIPAC's campaign to legitimize Israeli settlements in the West Bank. If J Street can do it, Bernie Sanders can do it too. Bernie has called for a "level playing field" in U.S. policy towards Israel and the Palestinians [5] and has called for Israel to "end the blockade of Gaza, and cease developing settlements on Palestinian land." [6]. Urge Bernie Sanders to tell AIPAC that settlements are not Israel by signing our petition. References: 1. http://www.politico.com/blogs/2016-dem-primary-live-updates-and-results/2016/03/hillary-clinton-aipac-220528 2. https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2015/03/02/remarks-prepared-delivery-aipac-annual-meeting-national-security-advisor 3. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/05/28/aipac-israel-settlements_n_7461038.html 4. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/05/28/aipac-israel-settlements_n_7461038.html 5. http://www.jpost.com/Diaspora/Bernie-Sanders-Level-playing-field-needed-in-Israeli-Arab-peace-brokering-447384 6. https://berniesanders.com/issues/war-and-peace/

This petition has been started because the current incumbent Valeria Silva has constantly demonstrated her inability to drive improvements in local St Paul schools. Her inability to make changes to benefit the teachers and students include, but are not limited to, rapid increase in violence towards students and teachers; the lack of support for teachers; the removal of disciplinary actions for violent students, and the lack of transparency between her and protagonists such as Rashad Turner. The teachers and students of public schools in St. Paul, Minnesota require a new leader, someone that will uphold the need for discipline within schools. St. Paul needs a leader that can directly empower teachers to do what they are best at and to foster a safe environment within our schools. The position that Silva currently occupies requires someone that can stand up to those who want to disrupt schools by illegal protests, and fosters respect for the teaching institution.

Heroin Addiction has plagued my life and I know personally that the users are not criminals. The use of Heroin is a disease that is a means to self-heal. With Heroin Health Reform, alternative methods for healing can occur and the structure of the Heroin trade can be undermined from within.

Keep the Bernie Movement alive after the election cycle. There is power in numbers.

because there are too many people getting sexually assaulted ripped off of there money strong armed and nobody calls the cops or reports it to the authorites. there are also too many people who dont need to be there anymore who just show up to take advantage of young women and to use them as meat. never considering there vulnerable and can easily repalpse or commit suicide over being used. either way alcoholics anonymous is out of control.