Pope Francis raised many issues and concerns in his address to Congress. But he made one specific demand: global abolition of the death penalty. The fact that the U.S. maintains the death penalty is a huge obstacle to global abolition. China, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Egypt can hide behind the U.S.: why shouldn't we have the death penalty? The U.S. has it. The fact that the federal government maintains the death penalty is a big obstacle to state abolition. Why shouldn't we have it, Texas can say. The federal government has it. Conservative columnist George Will has said it's time for the U.S. to quit the death penalty. Many Republican Members of Congress agree. Let's force the issue now, while the Pope's speech to Congress is still fresh in public memory. Urge Congress and President Obama to stand with Pope Francis to abolish the death penalty, by signing our petition.

CITY OF HOUSTON/HARRIS COUNTY REGISTERED VOTERS/RESIDENTS ONLY PLEASE: Second Ward has long been noted historically placed near Denver Harbor as one of the first Houston Chicano/Mexican American Barrios. Mexican immigrants settled here during the 1910s Mexican Revolution. The very first of these Second Ward settlements was called El Alacrán ("the scorpion") which used to be "Schrimpf's Field." A settlement house, a school, and 2 churches (Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church and the Mexican Methodist Episcopal Church) were built In the 1920s. Furthermore, Second Ward needs to be given a Historic Designation and Name Signs: Historic District of Second Ward East End. This Historic Designation is long overdue.

Tim Eyman's sleazy and corrupt tactics to promote initiatives in Washington state have finally been called into question by the state's election watchdog, the Public Disclosure Commission. The PDC unanimously ruled on Thursday that Eyman has laundered hundreds of thousands of dollars, which is an extremely serious charge that could lead to fines or criminal charges. Now, it is up to Attorney General Bob Ferguson to investigate Eyman's misuse of campaign funds and lay down a charge, if any.

I was born on Election Day and my Mother, an immigrant to the United States and naturalized citizen, insisted on going to vote before going to the hospital. I watched the two Republican debates and came away with more questions than answers. The issues facing our country are serious and our vote for the President is one of the most important responsibilities we have as citizens of this country. We, the people, deserve debates that address the issues and allow sufficient time to discuss and debate. We deserve debates where facts are presented and sound bites are discouraged. This is why I am proposing that those hosting the debates, the Chairs of the Republican and Democratic parties, and the candidates from both parties, embrace and accept my recommendation for debate rules / guideline. I hope, if you agree, you will sign the petition and ask that the above people respect the voting public by adopting these changes.

(HARRISBURG, PA)— Following a hearing on an "English-only" bill in the House Government Committee, it was reported today that Committee Chairman Daryl Metcalfe (R-Cranberry Township) invited a known white nationalist, Robert "Bob" Vandervoort, to testify on the bill. When confronted via email by Rep. Leslie Acosta (D-Philadelphia) -- Pennsylvania's first-ever Latina state representative -- Metcalfe shocked colleagues with the following response: "The comments that she made about some alleged white supremacist being in our meeting was outrageous," Metcalfe said. "It was an email put out alleging that somebody was a white nationalist, which is quite a bit different from a white supremacist. To say somebody is a nationalist and for the independence of their country and a patriot to defending their country, is a lot different from saying somebody is a racist." The Southern Poverty Law Center makes clear that "white nationalist" and "white supremacist" are used interchangeably. The SPLC states that "white nationalist" groups, "espouse white supremacist or white separatist ideologies, often focusing on the alleged inferiority of nonwhites." The controversy comes on the heels of a combative Metcalfe cutting Rep. Acosta's microphone during yesterday's hearing as she made an argument about the bill before asking the witness her question. Michael Morrill, Executive Director of Keystone Progress, made the following statement about Metcalfe's comments: "We have come to expect shocking comments and combative behavior from Representative Metcalfe, but defending a white nationalist is crossing the line. You know when you're trying to split hairs and draw distinctions between white supremacists and white nationalists, you have much bigger problems than trying to win that particular argument. Daryl Metcalfe is a disgrace, and today's bigoted comments are further proof that he has no place as a distinguished state representative."

Officials from the U.S. and 11 other countries will meet on September 30 in Atlanta to try to finalize the job-killing, climate-destroying, drug price-raising Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement [TPP]. [1] Most congressional Democrats, all labor unions, and almost all environmental groups oppose the proposed agreement. Unions and firms involved in U.S. auto production are particularly concerned about the Atlanta talks. “This is a lot of jobs, and we need our government to recognize the value of those jobs and take a firm line,” said Thea Lee, deputy chief of staff at the AFL-CIO. “There is danger, in the final days of negotiations, that a bad deal will be cut” on automobile rules. Humanitarian organizations opposed to higher prescription drug prices are also particularly concerned about the Atlanta talks. Big pharmaceutical companies are seeking up to 12 years of protection from competition against generics for name-brand biologic drugs. Humanitarian organizations want fewer years of protection of brand-name drugs from competition so the drugs will be affordable. Atlanta is a major U.S. city. Such a city should be the site of a major protest against the TPP when TPP talks are held there. But trade officials have kept the venue of talks a secret until this week. Bernie Sanders can draw a crowd of 10,000 people in any major city in America right now. Urge Bernie Sanders to go to Atlanta to lead a protest against the TPP by signing our petition. References: 1. http://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-pacific-partners-seek-to-conclude-trade-pact-in-atlanta-1443117418

My children are both in elementary school, and are both very different learners with varying strong points. Holding a child back a grade because the child is not proficient in one subject is not the answer. While I am supportive of a researched based reading intervention policy that increases student literacy, the proposed bill is overly prescriptive and includes many implementation problems. Vote NO on House Bill 4822!

I'm tired of Corporations having one standard & the general public another one. I also do not think it makes sense from a water shortage stand point for Nestle to bottle the public's water at probably almost no cost to them and then charge the general public.

The Senate’s Energy Policy Modernization Act of 2015 (S.2015) isn’t what it claims to be. Instead, it’s just more of the same dirty energy policy: cuts to energy efficiency programs, accelerated approval for liquefied natural gas exports, and no real plan to decrease fossil fuel use or increase renewable energy. Sign the petition to tell your senators to say NO to this dirty energy bill.

I am starting this petition because the one who murdered my mother Darlene Knox, August 18th of 2003 is up for a parole hearing next September of 2016. She has missed out on so much in the past 12 years, and never even got to meet her 4 grandchildren. It hurts everyday that she is not here, and Roger A. Toothaker needs to pay for the horrific thing he did, not only to my mother,but her family and friends. She was a loving and amazing person as you all may know, and had a heart of gold. This should never have happened. When I go up in front of the board next year, at the hearing, they will have read this, and what everyone says on here about her. Please sign this, and comment what you would like to tell them! Thank you all!

I've been utilizing Planned Parenthood for my reproductive health care needs for eight years. It is vital to communities nationwide and our government is threatening to cut off funding for this crucial organization. We need a spending bill passed by October 1, and some in Congress are refusing to pass a spending bill without the removal of funding for Planned Parenthood. There isn't enough support for a filibuster and President Obama would certainly veto any spending bill that has Planned Parenthood's cutoff included. This is a waste of time and Congress needs to do the bare minimum of its basic functions: pass a spending bill!

Africans today still suffer from the PTSD and trauma passed down thru DNA from the worst holocaust (maafa) known to man. Since Papal Bulls greenlit this horrific crime against us it is only fitting that a Papal Bull be issued that sanctions reparations for Africans world-wide by the European Governments and the United States Government that participated and profited from this horrific crime against Africans world-wide.