I just can't believe that our Republican leaders are threatening to shut down the entire federal government over this issue. As a retired teacher who worked not only with children but, through Title I, also with their parents, I can honestly tell you that this program is essential. Because of Planned Parenthood, our mothers are much healthier thanks to preventive care, cancer screenings and contraception. Please, do not let Planned Parenthood come to an end. It is just too important!

Senator Ben Cardin has disappointed many Marylanders by opposing President Obama's peace deal with Iran that would prevent them from acquiring nuclear weapons for 15 years. He also said he will be introducing *new* legislation that will undermine the peace deal. In May 2015, he introduced an amendment that supported illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank. We need a Senator who can be independent from Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing government by voting for peace instead of continuous wars and occupations in the Middle East. Currently liberal superstars Rep. Donna Edwards and Rep. Chris Van Hollen are running for the US Senate from Maryland in 2016. Unfortunately they cannot both win. Whichever one of these Congresspeople doesn't prevail in 2016 will make an excellent replacement for Ben Cardin in 2018.

Reggie Ewing has been incarcerated since 1996 for an assault against 5 white men. He was given 100 years for this assault, although none of the victims died or sustained long term injuries. Not only did he have an unfair trial, he was given an absurd amount of time. The public defender that was assigned to him was changed at the last minute and did not call any witnesses on his behalf. No one stated that they knew it was him, and he wasn't given a chance to speak in court. Before the trial, victims and their friends went to the detective to let him know it was not Reggie, only to be turned away, telling them if they were not there to put Reggie away he had nothing to say to them. Reggie was taken from his children and his life of being the father he loved to be. Please sign our petition to let our governor know of his unfair trial and to finally get him set free!

Nancy's case is heartbreaking. We did a compassionate release application for her and she was denied, and her time to the next parole hearing was extended to two years. I am worried that her health will give out with the stress and her inability to breathe well. There is no good reason behind this and the parole board gives no reason except to constantly reiterate her drug crime. Enough--this is not the same woman who went to prison. She has learned what she needs and now we need to release her.

Maryland Democratic Senator Ben Cardin has announced [1] that he will join Chuck Schumer and Robert Menendez in opposing the agreement with Iran negotiated by President Obama, Secretary of State Kerry, and European leaders. Protecting the agreement is a key Democratic priority. Ben Cardin is currently the “Ranking Member" – the leader of Democrats – on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. 38 Senate Democrats have said so far that they will support the agreement, ensuring that Republican attempts to kill the agreement in Congress will fail. [2] But unfortunately, this isn’t likely to be the last time that America will face a choice between diplomacy and war. When President Bush led the United States to war with Iraq under false pretenses in 2002-3, many Democrats in leadership positions played a key enabling role. It matters whether Democrats who enable Republican warmongering hold leadership positions. Like any American, Ben Cardin is entitled to his views; but if he supports Republican efforts to undermine diplomacy and provoke war with Iran, he is not entitled to lead Democrats on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee [3], has been a strong supporter of using diplomacy to resolve the nuclear dispute with Iran and prevent war. Urge Senator Murphy to run against Cardin for the Democratic leadership of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee by signing our petition. References: 1. http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2015/07/14/whip-count-where-the-senate-stands-on-the-iran-deal/ 2. http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2015/07/14/whip-count-where-the-senate-stands-on-the-iran-deal/ 3. http://www.foreign.senate.gov/about/committee-membership

Under new eligibility rules for Child Care in Illinois put in place by Governor Bruce Rauner effective July 1, an estimated 90 percent of new applicants for the state’s Child Care Assistance Programs will not qualify for services; and many more will be locked out of Child Care.

Republican efforts to kill the Iran nuclear agreement have failed – they don’t have the votes to kill it. [1] This is a great victory for peace and diplomacy. Unfortunately, some Democrats, like Ted Lieu, now seem to think that they have a “pass” from progressives to vote against the agreement to appease pro-war special interest groups who spend a lot of money financing political campaigns. There is no pass. Progressives are keeping score. History has shown that Democrats who enable Republican warmongering once are likely to do so again – like Chuck Schumer, who voted for the Iraq war and is now one of only three Senate Democrats opposed to the Iran agreement. Urge Ted Lieu to stand with Senator Feinstein and Senator Boxer in defense of the Iran agreement by signing our petition. 1. http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2015/07/14/whip-count-where-the-senate-stands-on-the-iran-deal/

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The drowning of a little boy put a human face on the massive crisis in Syria this week. He was one of 4 million Syrians who have fled their homes since the war began four years ago. And he became one of the more than 220,000 people killed in the conflict so far. The world has failed to respond to the massive influx of refugees, leading to the deaths of thousands at sea. Immediate action is needed to save lives. The United States can and should be doing more. President Obama should call on European leaders to end their intransigence and immediately accept desperate refugees, launch rescue operations and provide emergency shelter. Our own country should commit to resettle more refugees and provide greater financial assistance. The father of the boy who drown this week said, "We want the world’s attention on us, so that they can prevent the same from happening to others." He's right. Our attention is desperately needed. After four years of inaction, this crisis won't stop until the U.S. and the world commit the political and economic resources needed to bring an end to the war.

Are you sick and tired of campaign mailers flooding your mailbox while hiding who's paying for them in fine print that's hard to see and read? We are, too! California Assembly Bill 990 (Bonilla) will make it simpler for voters to find and read the disclosure statement. AB 990 places the statement near the recipient’s name and address, increases the text size, and requires it to actually stand out. AB 990 just passed the Senate and will have its final Assembly vote next week. Sign the petition to tell the Assembly to pass it now!

Currently The United States is expected to receive 1,400 to 2,000 Syrian refugees for the year 2015, and 5,000 to 8,000 in 2016. There are over 4 million refugees that have fled Syria and this number grows everyday. While neighboring countries in the Middle East and The EU have reluctantly taken in refugees, they often find themselves in either inhumane conditions or stuck in the bureaucratic web of Europe's immigration debate . No one is better equipped to assist the Syrian people more than The United States of America. Our nation has a singular tradition of support and opportunity for all those seeking a better life, be it temporary or permanent. We have the heart, and we have the resources. Our nation's citizens are good people and will help in every way we can. Our country has proven it's heart time and time again, and now at this most crucial moment we should answer the call once more. Thank you.

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