As a former teacher and school-based administrator, I understand the importance of system-wide consistency in responses by school staff members to acts of bullying and intolerance.

On December 8, the House voted to tighten the Visa Waiver Program that lets people from certain countries travel to the U.S. without first obtaining a visa. Democrats Mike Honda, Barbara Lee, John Conyers, Jan Schakowsky, Raul Grijalva, and Keith Ellison were among the Democrats who voted no [1], citing discriminatory and overbroad provisions, and the lack of a time limit on these provisions. Rep. Honda said that he voted against this bill “because it unjustly targets individuals based on their nationality" and that he could not "vote for a bill that categorically bars access to the Visa Waiver Program for dual nationals of Iraq, Syria, Sudan, and Iran and people who have traveled in the last 5 years to Iraq and Syria, including humanitarian workers…Under this bill, a French citizen of Syrian descent who has never been to Syria would still fall into this blanket category.” [2] Rep. Lee said she shares “the concerns of the ACLU, AILA, the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights and others that this bill would allow for the discrimination of individuals based on their nationality." [3] Rep. Conyers said, "I believe the provisions in the legislation restricting the use of the visa waiver program to individuals who have traveled to Syria or Iraq or are dual nationals of these or other covered nations – are discriminatory…I also believe the provision should have included a sunset date so we can assess its efficacy." [4] Like Rep. Conyers, the ACLU has called for the discriminatory provisions of the legislation to have a sunset provision [5], meaning that they would expire and have to be reconsidered and reauthorized to remain in force - just like the Patriot Act, passed after the September 11 attacks, had a sunset provision so it would have to be reconsidered. Likewise, every major Democratic proposal for an authorization for the use of force against ISIS, including President Obama's proposal [6], has a sunset provision, so that it could not continue indefinitely without Congress having to reconsider it. It is very likely that some version of the bill will be included in the omnibus spending package expected to be passed by December 18. Urge President Obama and Congress to sunset the nationality-based restrictions of the visa waiver reform bill by signing our petition. References: 1. http://bigstory.ap.org/article/326f7ca541d945259e5cff4031264201/house-roll-call-visa-waiver 2. http://www.ibabuzz.com/politics/2015/12/08/30868/ 3. http://www.ibabuzz.com/politics/2015/12/08/30868/ 4. http://democrats.judiciary.house.gov/press-release/statement-honorable-john-conyers-jr-hr-158-visa-waiver-program-improvement-and 5. http://www.politico.com/story/2015/12/obama-visa-waiver-changes-backlash-215875; https://www.aclu.org/letter/aclu-letter-house-re-visa-waiver-program-improvement-and-terrorist-travel-prevention-act-2015 6. http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2015/03/11/senators-split-on-obamas-war-powers-authorization

One in 4 kids in Maine is food insecure--but Shaw's Supermarkets has announced it is ending its food donation programs in Maine, just as the cold winter and holiday season is approaching. The Mid Coast Hunger Prevention Program in Brunswick, Preble Street shelter in Portland, and Good Shepherd Food Bank are just a few of the agencies that have relied on Shaw's donation. By donating food that is not selling well or nearing the expiration date, grocery chains can help alleviate hunger and reduce food waste at very little cost to the company. Local Shaw's employees have expressed interest in continuing these programs—but to convince the corporate higher-ups, we all need to speak out. For more information: http://www.pressherald.com/2015/12/10/loss-of-shaws-donation-hits-food-bank-a-key-time/

This petition backs the 21 kids from across the U.S., ages 8-19, who have taken the U.S. government to federal court, demanding science-based action on climate change. Every person, regardless of age, race, gender or religion has the right to a clean environment and a safe future - and the U.S. government's continued acts that prevent meaningful climate recovery undermine that right. When these kids spoke up, Big Oil companies like ExxonMobil, Shell, BP and Koch Industries got scared and through their trade associations joined the U.S. government in trying to stop the lawsuit. Our children know that we can’t wait to achieve a binding climate justice deal. We stand with them in demanding that the U.S. government stop the continued permitting and subsidy of the fossil fuel industry and adopt a national science-based Climate Recovery Plan to bring atmospheric CO2 concentrations below 350 ppm by the year 2100.

We know that efforts to alter voting laws are nothing more than a political attempt at manipulating the rules to maintain control and continue stacking the deck in favor of wealthy special interests and against ordinary Michiganders.

On October 20, 2014, 17-year-old Laquan McDonald was brutally gunned down by Chicago Police Officer Jason Van Dyke. Even though Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel knew about this gruesome murder, it wasn’t until communities rose up in protest and a journalist sued the city of Chicago to get video footage of the murder released, that Mayor Emanuel decided to act [1]. In a recent op-ed, Mayor Emanuel stated “At the end of the day, I am the mayor and I own it. I take responsibility for what happened and I will fix it.” Since the release of the police dashboard camera, Mayor Emanuel has fired Chicago Police Supt. Gary McCarthy and assembled a five-person task force on police accountability [2]. However, these actions fail to address the role Mayor Emanuel played in covering up Laquan McDonald’s murder. Mayor Emanuel’s negligent and possibly criminal leadership kept the McDonald family in the dark about what really happened to their son. Instead of demanding that killer cop Jason Van Dyke be held accountable for his violent actions, Mayor Emanuel has been working hard to protect his own effort to get re-elected. Before the video was released, Mayor Emanuel had praised the efforts of his former police chief, defended the city’s investigations of police shootings, and resisted a federal investigation into the police department. By turning a blind eye to the brutal murder of Laquan McDonald, Mayor Emanuel is clearly demonstrating his lack of concern for Black lives. Chicago residents deserve better! Demand that Mayor Rahm Emanuel resigns. DeAngelo Bester, Workers Center for Racial Justice Charlene Carruthers, BYP100 Byron Hobbs, SOUL Katelyn Johnson, Action Now References “Rahm Emanuel, Anita Alvarez – where’s your resignation?” The Grio, 12-02-2015, http://on.thegrio.com/1XN4QRG “Rahm Emanuel Denies Laquan McDonald Cover-Up In Op-Ed” The Huffington Post, 12-04-2015, http://huff.to/1IvbzbQ

Mitch McConnell is trying to sneak a provision that gives the wealthy even MORE control over our democracy into the must-pass government funding bill. If Senate Majority Leader McConnell gets his way, a billionaire could donate an unlimited amount to a Super PAC -- which could then coordinate directly with candidates who, once in office, will owe that donor favors. And because he’s using a rider -- an unrelated provision attached to the spending bill -- to get it done, the only way we can stop it is by speaking out! Help us stop this legislative trickery today. Congressional negotiators are also considering riders that’d make it even easier for wealthy donors to hide their identities by blocking the IRS and the SEC from shining a light on secret campaign spending. Yet another rider would prevent the President from requiring federal contractors -- who receive hundreds of billions in our tax dollars -- to disclose their campaign-related spending. And those are just the ones about money in politics -- this deal is full of poison pills and unrelated ideological riders. This attempt at gaming the system to pass policies that the public would never agree to is outraging Americans of every political stripe. Sign the petition today and tell Mitch McConnell to cut every last rider and special interest giveaway from the government funding bill!

The Obama administration has proved to be more damaging to the environment and endangered species then even the Reagan administration some thirty years ago. The assault on our public lands and wildlife has got to stop.

After watching Donald Trump on ABC's Kelly and Michael, it occurred to me I had never seen hatred celebrated and welcomed on network TV with enthusiasm; the idea that radical and extreme hatred and intolerance is being normalized with a warm welcome is appalling.

We as a people have a choice to drive more Eco friendly vehicles. And should not be punished and taxed for our choices. If the government cannot secure the funds it wants, than it needs to find a new resource, NOT tax the people!

We demand that all county, state, municipal and special police agencies, jails and prisons receiving federally funded grants, loans or, equipment – include individual professional liability insurance as a term or condition of employment for all officers. We Demand the removal of school resource officers in public schools and replacing them with diversity trained counselors and mental health professionals. Visit: www.makepoliceaccountable.blogspot.com

We live in a state founded on the principles of religious pluralism and now more than ever we need to live up to our ideals.