What are the District of Columbia Public Schools and some in the city government trying to hide?   On Tuesday, the Washington, D.C., City Council will vote on a stunning new rule that would make it impossible for educators, parents and the general public to judge whether some of DCPS core instructional strategies and policies are really helping District children succeed.   Here’s the background: Over a year ago, the Washington Teachers’ Union filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to see the data from the school district’s IMPACT evaluation system—a system that’s used for big choices, like the firing of 563 teachers in just the past four years, curriculum decisions, school closures and more. The FOIA request was filed because DCPS refused to provide the data.   The data is essential for the union to be able to represent our members and serve our students. It’s essential to understanding and addressing the DCPS policies and practices that impact our members’ daily work. We requested the data with all personal information removed to protect teachers’ privacy. Now, the district not only has rejected our request, it is also trying to override the FOIA laws through a radical new secrecy provision to hide the information that’s being used to make big decisions that impact our kids, our teachers and our schools.   And to top it all off, the language in the law is so poorly written, no one’s even sure what it says. The mayor’s office claims it would only apply to certain schools, but open-government advocates say that—as written—it would apply to all schools. This confusion alone is enough reason to reject this bad idea.   Without access to this data, there’s no way for the public or our union to tell whether the strategies DCPS uses—like mayoral control—are helping students or simply creating school closures and high teacher turnover. And just last week, the National Academy of Sciences released a report that raises a lot of questions about whether those strategies have really moved the needle of student achievement.   Transparency shines a light on whether the District’s policies are helping kids, supporting teachers and improving schools. Hiding this data takes us in the wrong direction.

As reported, the Clinton campaign “isn’t just taking on college students with political science degrees but expecting political veterans to gamble their careers on her without pay.” This is a reflection of how desirable and advantageous working on her campaign can be for anyone interested in a political career. And when college students do it during the summer, it feels appropriate. But hiring experienced college graduates ‘for free’ means that those college kids won’t be getting that experience after all, while those who can afford the risk of not having income or giving up an existing job are rewarded with the chance of making it onto the campaign. This is the kind of filter we’ve seen used by other high-status sectors in the economy - arts, entertainment, media, fashion - that result in a smaller pool of new entrants. When a Democratic candidate uses internships in this way while talking about the need to address inequality, we need to point out the hypocrisy. I’m taking the time to write this petition as a woman excited about the possibility that a woman will become President for the first time in our history. But it matters what kind of values her campaign represents; I’m also a Democrat and an experienced political campaigner who has worked with interns and low-paid staff. The media will be scrutinizing her campaign for evidence of hypocrisy, and looking at how it reflects - or fails to reflect - the core values of the Democratic Party. Some of the people I met working on campaigns would never have had that opportunity if they were competing to work for free years after entering the field. I know I couldn’t have. What does America lose when the barrier to entry for an experienced political professional when you have to quit a job and work for free just to have a shot at a low paid job so that someday, you can win big? It's everything wrong with DC today and an example of how inequality becomes entrenched in the very fabric of our political systems. The issue of inappropriate or exploitative unpaid internships has been given a lot of attention in recent years. There have been a number of successful lawsuits by former interns. [2] One of the sources for the Guardian story is Mikey Franklin, founder of the Fair Pay Campaign [3], an admirable effort to address the exploitation of ‘unpaid interns’ that also addresses how they make inequality worse in general, even if the interns are ‘eager to be exploited.’ While political campaigns and nonprofits sometimes think they are exempt from this logic, the reality is that both are pyramids of a sort where layers of low-paid or unpaid people help support very large salaries at the top, access to wealthy donors and corporate partners, and inclusion in the ‘old-boy’ networks used for recruiting well-paid positions down the road. I hope that everyone who cares about the composition of the next generation of idealistic yet experienced campaign operatives to descend on Washington DC isn’t made up exclusively of those who can afford to work for free. Sign this petition and share it on social media, and together we can make a difference. (If we hear that any other Democratic campaign is engaged in similar practices, we’ll add them to this petition.) Footnotes [1] Hillary Clinton's unpaid intern limbo: a grassroots campaign of 'free help'. The Guardian, 6/14/15. http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/jun/13/hillary-clinton-unpaid-summer-intern-campaign [2]Unpaid interns: An endangered species? Politico, 2/1/15 http://www.politico.com/story/2015/02/unpaid-interns-114783.html [3] Equal Pay Campaign: http://www.fairpaycampaign.com/ We are Mari Engelhardt BA, LNHA & Sarah Cave BFA, MA MARI: I am the mother of two grown feminist boys from the battleground state of Ohio. My commitment to democratic politics was instilled by my grandmother and informs my daily life. I care about the future of our democracy, our nation, our planet. My children are the first generation that is not better off than the last, I want better for my grandchildren. I am currently a Licensed Nursing Home Administrator. My Interest in politics began in high school, I was a volunteer for Jimmy Carter. Since then, my political career has included: campaign staffer for a progressive presidential candidate, a U.S. Congressman (now a U.S. Senator), the county Democratic party, campaign management for advocacy groups and LGBT equality campaigns as well as for local school levies. SARAH: I’m a creative professional and progressive. I freelance as a prop stylist, set designer, and creative director and I’ve worked mostly in fashion and print publishing for the last fifteen years. Over many years of hiring assistants and PA crews, I’ve always rejected the idea of using interns in what should be paid positions. Too many companies in my industry expect their entry-level hires to have some kind of independent income as is. A college graduate interning in NYC means a college graduate whose parents are able to pay their rent and all their bills, every last drink at a bar. Not many parents can afford this and it perpetuates a system I don’t like or agree with.

Any American citizen should be concerned about the who, what and where events surrounding the USS Liberty slaughter by the Israeli government and military establishment. No other country would have gotten away with this act of war, except Israel. For once, our government representatives should stop the Jewish lobbyists from buying the silence of our government representatives from acting responsibly and investigate this matter under an independent review. If we truly live in a democracy an independent investigation is not even debatable, because if the people are the government, we have the collective responsibility to investigate this atrocity for the families of all the US servicemen that were either injured or killed due to this attack by Israel on an American naval ship sailing in international waters.

I have heard many stories of senior citizens who are on fixed incomes being saddled with student loan debt which has been hounding them for decades due to high interest and other fees being piled on to the original loan. I myself have had student loans. The original amount I borrowed was 65 thousand. The amount I owe now is over 150 thousand dollars after twenty years of payments. I will be making so little in retirement, I fear the student loan payment will take away money I will need for basic needs.

Caren is one of now many Co-op Food Stores employees who has been unjustly fired! She worked in the Deli at the Lebanon location of The Co-op Food Stores for 18 years. The mistreatment and bullying by management must come to an end and it is the Boards responsibility to ensure that the co-op reflects the communities values.

We are writing to address the recent breaking news stories that has inundated our community involving the current chair of the Spokane chapter of the NAACP. Although we cannot make official comments on the validity of allegations, we feel that until the investigation is complete and she resolves her issues that she take a leave of absence as President. We do not feel that she is in a position to properly reflect the values of our diverse community or the Spokane chapter of the NAACP. The questions surrounding her integrity may discredit the work that has been previously done to better the movement of social justice and equality in our community. We would not like to see partnerships that have previously been built to be severed as organizations and their representatives distance themselves from the impact of the allegations against the President specifically. Although, we do not speak on behalf of all the members of the community, we share the feelings of a significant number. As she has become the face of the NAACP locally, we have no doubt that the current climate may cause people to question the overall credibility of the organization and it’s systems used to select officers and its members. We are saddened by the NAACP's statement to support dishonesty and failure to apologize or acknowledge the communities impacted.

Some of Oregon’s biggest health insurers have proposed rate hikes as high as 42.7% for next year. I think they may be needlessly going to extremes, and some families may see thousands of dollars in additional premium costs a year as a result.

The following critical jobs, programs and services are at risk if we are faced with a government shutdown: DHS PERSONAL SERVICES REGULAR POSITIONS STUDENT MEMBER/INMATE COMPENS RETIREMENT DHS SOCIAL SECURITY SOC SEC/MEDICARE CONTRIBUTIONS EMPLOYER CONTRB GRP INSURANCE CMS FLEET MANAGEMENT CONTR SVCS/PRIVATE HOSPITALS CONTRACTUAL SERVICES CONTRACTUAL SERVICES IT MGT ELECTRONIC BENEFIT TRANSFER GRAPHIC DESIGN MANAGEMENT LEASED PROPERTY MANAGEMENT PRESS INFO. OFFICERS MGMT. TRAVEL COMMODITIES PRINTING EQUIPMENT ELECTRONIC DATA PROCESSING TELECOMMUNICATION OPERATION OF AUTO EQUIPMENT ADDICTION PREVENT RELATED SERV BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SPECIAL PROJECTS DHS INTER AGENCIES SUPPORT SERVICES ENERGY CONSERVATION & FRAMEWORK PROJECT PROGRAM IMPLEMENT FIREARE CONCEAL & CARRY MEDICARE PART D STATE OPERATED MH FACILITIES MIS TECHNOLOGY ASSISTANCE & SUPPORT OPERATION OF FEDERAL EMPLOYMT PRIVATE RESOURCES PROJECT CORNERSTONE - OPERATIONS PYMT FOR ALCOHOLIC LIQUORS SECONDARY TRANSITIONAL EXPER SEXUALLY VIOLENT PERSONS PRGM STATE OPERATED DD FACILITIES ALCOHOL & SUB ABUSE PREV&TREAT BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SPECIAL PROJECTS DHS RECOVERIES TRUST FEDERALLY ASSISTED PROGRAMS MATERNAL & CHILD HEALTH PROG MATERNAL/CHILD HEALTH PROG PUBLIC HEALTH PROGRAMS STATEWIDE DEAF EVALUATION CTR SUPPORT SERV INSERVICE TRNG SUPPORT SERVICES FRAMEWORK PROJECT PROGRAM ADDICTION PREVENT RELATED SERV ADDICTION TREAT SERVICES ADDICTION TREAT/MEDICAID ELGIB ADDICTION TREAT/MEDICAID ELGIB - CARE COORD ADDICTION TREATMNT & RELATE SV ADDITION PREVENT RELATED SERV AID TO AGED BLIND OR DISABLED ARC OF IL LIFE SPAN PROJECT BEST BUDDIES CASE SERVICES MIGRANT WORKERS CASE SERVICES TO INDIVIDUALS CHILDREN'S PLACE CHILDREN'S WELLNESS CHARITIES CLIENT ASSISTANCE PROJ COALITION F/TECH ASSIST-CHILD COMMUNITY GRANTS DCFS CLIENTS DD PURCHASE OF CARE EARLY INTERVENTION PROGRAM FAMILY PLANNING PROG X FEDERAL HEALTHY START PROG GRNTS SUPPORTIVE HOUSING SERVICES GROUP HOME LOANS HABITAT FOR HUMANITY HOMELESS YOUTH SERVICES HOUSING FOR FAMILIES HUNGER RELIEF CHECKOFF IL COALITION CITIZENS WITH DIS IMPLEMENT TITLE IV PART C INDEPENDENT LIVING CENTERS INFANT MORTALITY MATERNAL CHILD HEALTH PROG MH BLOCK C&A MH BLOCK GRANTS MH ICG'S PROJECT FOR AUTISM RAPE VICTIMS/PREVENTION ACT REFUGEES SERVICE DISABLED INDIVIDUALS SEXUAL ASSAULT SERVICES SNAP EDUCATION SUPPORTIVE FOOD PROG WIC TANF - ARRA TEMP ASSIST FOR NEEDY FAMILIES TORT CLAIMS TORT CLAIMS 81 TORT CLAIMS EMPLOYEES FUNERAL AND BURIAL EXPENSES FREE DISTRIBUTION FOOD SUPPLEM ADDICTION PREVENT RELATED SERV ADDICTION PREVENTION & RELATED ADDICTION TREATMENT & RELATED ADDICTION TREATMENT SERVICES ADDICTION TREATMENT-SPEC POP ASSETS FOR INDEPENDENCE ASSISTANCE FOR HOMELESS AUTISM AWARENESS AUTISM RESEARCH CHECKOFF CHILD CARE SERVICE GREAT START CHILD CARE SERVICES COMM TRANSITIONS & SYSTEM REBALANCING COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES COMMUNITY REINTEGRATION PROGRAM COMPREHENSIVE COMMUNITY SERV COMPULSIVE GAMBLERS TREATMENT CRISIS NURSERY CHECKOFF DCFS CILAs DD BALANCING INCENTIVE PROGRAMS DD GRANTS & LONG TERM CARE DD GRANTS & POC DD LONG TERM CARE DD TRANSITIONS DHS COMMUNITY SERVICES DHS FEDERAL PROJECTS FUND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PROGRAMS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SHELTERS DONATED FUNDS INITIATIVE PROG DRS BALANCING INCENTIVE PROGRAMS EARLY INTERVENTION PROGRAM EMERGENCY & TRANSITIONAL HOUSING EMERGENCY FOOD PROGRAM EMERGENCY SOLUTIONS GRANTS PROGRAM EMPLOYABILITY DEVELOP SERV EMPLOYMENT & TRAINING PROG FAMILY VIOLENCE PROGRAMS FARMER'S MARKET NUTRITION FARMER'S MARKET TECHNOLOGY FED/STATE EMPLOYMENT PROG FOOD STAMP EMPLOYMT & TRNG FOR CHILDREN'S HEALTH PROGRAMS GEAR UP HEAD START STATE COLLABORATION HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES MEDICAID TRUST HEALTHY FAMILIES - GRANTS HOME & COMMUNITY BASED WAIVER HOME SERVICES PROGRAM HOME SERVICES PROGRAM - CARE COORD HOMELESS PREVENTION HOMELESS YOUTH SERVICES IL CHICAGO AREA PROJECT IMMIGRANT INTEGRATION SERVICES INDEPEND LIVING BLIND FORMULA INDEPENDENT LIVING OLDER BLIND JUSTICE ASSISTANCE GRANTS - ARRA JUVENILE ACCOUNTABILITY BLOCK GRANT (JABG) JUVENILE JUSTICE PLANNING MEDICAID-MENTAL ILL/KID CARE MEDICAL BILLS & RELATED EXPENSES MH BALANCING INCENTIVE PROGRAMS MH CARE COORDINATION MH GRANTS, C&A, TRANSITIONS, & SOF MH PSYCHOTROPIC DRUGS MIEC HOME VISTING PROGRAM MIGRANT DAY CARE SERVICES OPEN DOOR PROJECT PARENTS TOO SOON PARTNERSHIP FOR SUCCESS PROGRAM PILOT PROGRAM OPIOID DEPENDENTS PUBLIC HEALTH PROGRAMS RACE TO THE TOP REDEPLOY ILLINOIS REFUGEE SETTLEMENT SERVICES REFUGEE SOCIAL SERVICES SEXUAL ASSAULT SERVICES AND PREVENTION SMALL BUSINESS ENTERPRISE PROG SNAP EDUCATION SNAP OUTREACH SPECIAL OLYMPICS IL FUND SPECIAL SERVICES SPECIALIZED MH REHABILITATIVE FACILITY COMM PROGRAM SSI ADVOCACY SERVICES SUPPORTIVE HOUSING SERVICES SUPPORTIVE MI HOUSING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROJECT TEEN PARENTS SERVICES TEEN SUICIDE WELCOMING CENTERS WESTSIDE HEALTH AUTHORITY CRISES INTERVENTION WIC NUTRITION PROGRAM WIC PROGRAM - ARRA YOUTH PROGRAMS BUILDING REPAIRS ELGIN MISC PERMANENT IMPROVEMENTS REFUNDS-DHS FEDERAL PROJECTS REFUNDS-DRUG TREATMENT REFUNDS-EARLY INTERVENTION REFUNDS-GENERAL REVENUE FUND REFUNDS-MAT CHILD HLTH BLK GRT REFUNDS-MENTAL HEALTH REFUNDS-SEXUAL ASSAULT REFUNDS-VOCATIONAL REHABILITA REFUNDS-WIC PROGRAM REFUNDS-YOUTH DRUG ABUSE PREV

Help President Obama by changing the way industry uses fossil fuel. We all have been warned many times! what is happening to you and earth, and what is causing our Climate to change? Fossil fuels (CARBON) Unprecedented’ climate change creating drought, forest fires, flooding, and death. “WE ARE HEADING FOR APOCALYPSE, SOMETHING TO COME AND HIDDEN" Stop the killing are planet, and its habitat. Turn the pages and go back to lush fields, farms, forest that would show the green of spring and the change of colors of fall. Lakes, rivers, and streams that shine and glimmer in the sun light. Green fields around our lakes and rivers. We must save our planet and mankind, fossil fuel and the depletion of our ozone that protects us from UV rays and the hole is getting bigger. (Fossil fuels) Unprecedented’ climate change creating drought, forest fires, flooding, and death. We must tell our representatives and the general public we need water, jobs and control our climate. Supply water to areas of drought. Take a look at my web site that will explain how we can build a water pipeline starting at the East coast and run it to the west coast with multiple distribution controlled pumping station. How to build, how to create millions of jobs. This is in our hands. http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/the-water-pipeline-actor-1/ This is my way to help: web site: www.wpwpline.com [email protected]

President Obama just restored Clean Water Act protections to thousands of our waterways. And before the ink was dry, House Speaker John Boehner called the president’s action “a raw and tyrannical power grab.” Seriously? We’re talking about clean water. Not King George taxing our tea. Unfortunately, overheated rhetoric is far from our biggest worry: The polluters and their friends in Congress are working to kill the new Clean Water Rule before it even goes into effect. The House has already passed a dirty water bill to roll back the restored protections, and the Senate passed a similar bill out of committee on June 10. We can't let polluters win. Please add your name in support of clean water.

1. Many Media Outlets Left Out of Key Limitations of the EPA Fracking Study In Their Reporting. 2. The Public Deserves A Full Report With Up-to-Date and Full Data On Fracking Impacts To Water Supplies. 3. http://environmental-action.org/blog/you-cant-trust-the-epa-on-fracking/

The citizens of this country need to know they have a voice that is heard when it comes to the injustices perpetrated upon them.