Congress is now considering “fast track” trade authority for trade agreements. There are many reasons to oppose fast track. But Maryland Senator Ben Cardin and his allies have just added a new one. They are including in the Ryan-Hatch “fast track” trade bill a US negotiating objective to block European trade restrictions against Israeli settlements in the West Bank. [1] This provision is opposed by J Street [2], Americans for Peace Now, [3], and JVP [4]. European efforts to uphold international law by limiting trade with Israeli settlements in the West Bank are supported by Human Rights Watch. [5] Urge your Representative and Senators to vote NO on the Ryan-Hatch “fast track” trade bill by signing our petition. References: 1. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-naiman/maryland-senator-ben-card_b_7118876.html 2. http://jstreet.org/blog/post/j-street-opposes-roskamvargas-trade-bill-that-undermines-us-and-israeli-interests_1 3. http://peacenow.org/entry.php?id=11643 4. https://twitter.com/naiman/status/591318386245775362 5. http://www.hrw.org/news/2015/04/18/dispatches-israeli-supreme-court-upholds-anti-boycott-law

As religious leaders and members of congregations in California we affirm our support for SB 277 which requires California's children to be vaccinated against communicable diseases. Our religious traditions teach us that the highest value is saving lives and we believe that the mandatory vaccination bill will do just that – save the lives of children and adults who otherwise might succumb to diseases that can easily be cured.

I am a committed Christian who finds singling out groups for special discrimination to be anti-Christian.

I am tired of hearing about Governor Bobby Jindal slashing the budgets of what really matters, like Education and Health Care, for the state of Louisiana. I am tired of his traveling across the US to promote himself as the next President of the United States prospect. I want to tell our sad excuse of a Governor that we demand better for not just our kids, but also for the state of Louisiana as a whole. Education will bring back the state from the brink of whatever cliff he's trying to run us all over. Education is the background to success. And Louisiana as a whole needs a little more success and a lot less chopping away at the Educational system.

The Friedman Memorial Airport Authority (FMAA) Board is in the process of considering alternatives to their Master Plan which include expanding the airport outside of its current boundary and moving Highway 75 closer to homes—also setting the stage for larger, more intrusive, projects. Future projects are not necessary, and if approved by the FMAA board, projects such as Alternative 7, 5, and 4, would negatively impact the residents of Hailey, Bellevue, and those living in the Bellevue Triangle with increased noise and air pollution. Specifically and of immediate concern, within the draft of FMAA's Master Plan which is currently under consideration is Alternative 7. Alternative 7 would allow airport expansion outside of its current boundary in order to build more aircraft parking spaces, relocate Highway 75 further to the east and closer to the homes and bicycle trail in Hailey's Woodside subdivision, and sets the "basis for future facility configuration planning and subsequent chapters of [the] master plan." FMAA's support of Alternative 7 is being presented as solving the issues caused by the 2014 and 2015 projects which relocated the taxiway. However, by allowing Alternative 7 to be included in the Master Plan the floodgate for future expansion projects will open which will have the effect of delaying, perhaps stopping, airport relocation. If Alternative 7 is accepted into FMAA's Master Plan, other alternatives like Alternative 4 and Alternative 5 could see a resurgence in consideration. Alternative 4 calls for the ranch land between Bellevue and the Airport (west of Highway 75) to be annexed into airport property and relocates the entire runway to this parcel; Alternative 4 poses the very real threat of condemning Bellevue's Chantrelle neighborhood due to intolerable decibel levels caused by aircraft. Alternative 5 would expand the current runway further south into a portion of this same ranch land in order to accommodate a longer runway/larger aircraft. The construction projects of 2014 and 2015 are nearly finished and, once completed this Fall, will have addressed the concerns of the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA). Now is the time for the citizens of the Wood River Valley to speak up and insist on a fundamental shift in decision making regarding the future of Friedman Memorial Airport. What with Friedman Memorial Airport on the verge of appeasing the FAA with the completion of taxiway, terminal, and air operations building projects--the inadequacies which still plague this airport (lack of parking, the poorly placed control tower, length of runway too short for large jets, etc) must be used as reasons for relocation—not as reasons for additional investment. By signing this petition, you agree that future changes (especially Alternative 7) to Friedman Memorial Airport are not necessary and would be contrary to moving this airport to a new location. You agree that Friedman Memorial Airport must stay within its current boundary and, synonymously, that Alternative 7 be kept out of Friedman Memorial Airport's Master Plan. Please sign this petition and tell the Friedman Memorial Airport Authority Board, the Blaine County Commissioners, and the City of Hailey, that you do not want Friedman Memorial Airport to expand outside of its current boundary.

"Jump outs" are racially biased, needlessly confrontational, physically aggressive, and they're often initiated without legal justification. They erode public trust in law enforcement and diminish public safety. In light of the police abuse happening nationwide, it is our moral responsibility to put an end to this horrendous tactic and make sure black communities are protected against police violence. SIGN THE PETITION! Tell the DC City Council to put an end to "jump outs!"

When congress declared war on Iraq and Afghanistan it also gave tax breaks to stimulate the economy. Therefore, the U.S. went Trillions of dollars in debt in order to pay for those wars. If our lawmakers know that they are barred from giving tax breaks, during armed conflicts, they may rethink going into wars of choice.

My 16 month old nephew just died, with inconsolable crying, siezures and fever after a vaccine. He was totally healthy before.

Deadline is May 12th. County is to vote to make changes to the local county shelter that will impact the livelihood of innocent animals to the point of death with no other options. 10 day stray hold is not enough time to give an animal a chance at life. Volunteers work countless hours to make sure these animals do get a chance. Right now due to the efforts of the volunteers the county is at a 69 percent save rate with dogs. Save rate numbers would drop significantly, along with discouraged volunteers, kennel staff and some immediate administrative individuals.

Our veterans that have served our country during wartime and have sacrificed so much for this country should not have the state budget balanced on their backs, when large corporations like FedEx get 10 million in tax relief for fuel and continue to make a huge profit every year. Our veterans should be our top priority. These cuts should stop immediately and these benefits should be restored to our veterans.

Injured worker's against the insurance companies changes need to made on how the insurance companies treat injured workers fair and timely decision in cases .at most one to two or the should have to consider pain and suffering anyone that has ever had to deal with the deception the insurance companies put injured workers through is totally wrong and unfair.injured workers voices need to be heard

It is estimated that 190,018 U.S. children under the age of 18 experience homelessness each year. One can only imagine how many homeless youth under the age of 25 reside in Texas because extremely limited data exists on this population. As Texans, we care about our homeless youth and believe that our data should reflect this. We encourage you to join us in demanding that the State of Texas produce an accurate report on its homeless youth population. Please show your support for HB 679, which will require the state to conduct such a report. With this information, state and private organizations will be able to more effectively meet the needs of Texas’ poor and homeless youth. For more information on homeless children under the age of 18 please check-out this handout produced by the National Center on Family Homelessness: http://www.homelesschildrenamerica.org/pdfs/2014/TX.pdf