States such as California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Maine, New York, and Oregon already include water bottles in there bottle return tax bills and not to mention various states with even more non-carbonated beverages included (BottleBill.org). More than 60 million water bottles end up in landfills and incinerators every single day (Franklin). This doesn't even include sports drinks, juices, or dairy products that also have no bottle return tax on them. If we want to create a sustainable economy, promote environmental responsibility, and protect Michigan for generations, we need to amend the bottle bill to include all beverages, carbonated or not. "All US Bottle Bills." BottleBill.org. Container Recycling Institute, n.d. Web. 15 July 2015. . Franklin, Pat. "Down the Drain." Conainer-Recycling.org. Container Recycling Institute, n.d. Web. 15 July 2015. .

I AM A 70 YEAR OLD RETIREE ON A FIXED INCPME AND I AM FORCED TO RESTRICT MY LIFE AND WELL BEING DUE TO THE GREED AND MISMANAGEMENT OF FUNDS BY THE STATE AND THERI REFUSAL TO STOP THIS CONSTANT ESCALATION OF COSTS. THE OIL COMPANIES NEED TO BE FINANCIALLY PARALYZED IN ORDER TO MAKE THE OINT CLEAR THAT WE ARE FED UP WITH THEIR BS!!! WE NEED TO STOP ACTING LIKE LOST SHEEP AND START OPENING OUR MOUTHS AND JUST SAY "ABSOLUTELY NO" TO THESE GREED MONGERS!

Many children have their first Food Allergy reaction in the school setting. This medication could be a life-saving measure for those students not having access to the medication otherwise. A Massachusetts Emergency Stock Epinephrine Bill (H.430) was introduced in January 2013 which has undergone several revisions. It is currently re-filed as Bill H.415 and is awaiting a decision from the Healthcare Finance Committee to move forward. Please show your support by signing this petition to request that this Bill moves to the next level in the legislative process and encourage the Governor to sign it into Massachusetts General Law.

I'm fed up with bias and hate that this country has to deal with when it comes to organized religious leaders refusing to accept the law of the land on same-sex marriage. They are not above the law, and if they are making it a mission to fight the law by lobbying and organizing political figures to back them, then by all means they need to need to lose their 501(c)3 tax exempt status.

The Republican leadership and members of Congress, along with some Democrats, want to wreck the Iran Nuclear Agreement. The alternatives are war, death, possible nuclear proliferation, and more money for our industrial war machine, as well as separating ourselves from our allies. We've tried isolation and sanctions. It is now time to be serious about peace. This is an opportunity to demonstrate to our allies and to the Middle East that we stand for peace.

After lengthy negotiations, including working closely with both Russia and China, President Obama's Administration is bringing an Iranian Nuclear Limitation Treaty to Congress for ratification. I believe that this is the best possible agreement to be reached on this matter and strongly encourage ratification. Please support this agreement.

I was denied a liquor license after 131 New Orleans French Quarter Business (FQBA) members submitted a letter to Troy Hebert instructing him to deny my license. Within three days of his receipt of the FQBA letter my application was denied. I received over 20 unannounced inspections to ensure I was not in violation of state ordinances particularly selling liquor to minors. Each official inspection indicted that there were no violations. Generally, businesses serving liquor can expect 2 - 3 unannounced inspections over a 2 or 3 year period. The denial and violation of my right to pursue a business and economic development is a direct violation of U.S. law 18 USC code 249. September will mark the 2nd year of my application process and denial. Last week the ATC filed an Opposition with Judge Brown to "stay" our administrative hearing which was scheduled in March 2015. This delay will create further financial and economic hardship. Email Judge Paula Brown and request that she deny the ATC its' last minute request to "stay" the administrative hearing.

Two weeks ago, the Supreme Court, in a bitterly divided decision, okay-ed Oklahoma's use of a controversial three-drug cocktail to execute prisoners on death row. The case came before the court because of the recent horrifically botched executions that used that method. The narrow 5-4 decision clears Oklahoma to keep executing prisoners this way, but the controversy remains. Other states can chose not to do this. Indiana uses a similar three-drug method in its executions and it's time that Indiana's Governor and legislature agree to halt these executions.

Too many people feel their vote doesn't count. Establishing voting districts free of political bias will put the power of the vote back in the hands of the voter and not the politicians.

Last week, House Republicans poured salt into an open wound by trying to ram through a bill allowing Confederate battle flags to fly on federal sites and national parks. Just as the people of South Carolina were coming together across party lines to take down the Confederate flag in a healing show of unity, Republicans in Congress were doing whatever they could to protect this symbol of hate and division. Sign the petition: tell Congress to remove the Confederate battle flag from the U.S. Capitol and get back to work!

I've been an educator since 1980, took exams in my field of study by college staff/ professors and passed because they prepared me. NOW these exams of research based information designed by professionals outside of earning a teaching degree SHOULD NOT be the final indicator of teaching abilities. RATHER...IF THESE TYPES OF EXAMS ARE SO IMPORTANT, DPI SHOULD WORK COOPERATIVELY WITH ACCREDITED INSTITUTIONS TO MAKE THEM AN INTEGRAL PART OF THEIR CURRICULUM and controlled by these institutions to create/tests and decide who's qualified to teach.

Right now, one out of every 100 Americans is behind bars. The U.S. spends $80 billion yearly on incarceration. And people of color bear the brunt of this broken system. Fortunately, we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity for change. Democrats and Republicans in Congress have begun working together. They have introduced several bills that create the possibility of comprehensive criminal justice reform--this year. But unfortunately--that's ALL they have done. Yes, a few bills look good. But no VOTES have been scheduled. No HEARINGS have been set. And the time for action this year is running out! Our leaders need to get moving--today. If we get enough supporters to create a groundswell, we can start ending the vicious cycle of suffering our unjust incarceration industry has caused. The next few days will be crucial. If we can show that Americans everywhere are demanding #JusticeReformNOW, we can push Congress to get a bill onto President Obama’s desk and signed into law by the end of 2015. We have legislation. They need to take a VOTE. Please, add your name and call for criminal justice reform now, and we will deliver your signatures to Congress. Our prisons lock up too many people, waste too much money, ruin too many lives, and fail to make our communities safer. We can’t afford this. Join me and demand #JusticeReformNOW--sign the petition today.