America is built on a people's democracy theory; in order to know where our country needs to be heading we have to know what the people want. The only way to do this is to keep voter protocol as simple and convenient as possible! Say no to Voter ID Bills!

Working people should not have to depend on the government to care for themselves. Forty hours of honest work should equal a fair wage.

On March 17, the House unveiled a new plan which slashes billions of dollars from the program that does the most to help hungry kids, and we need to push back. For decades, Republicans and Democrats have come together to support these programs, but thanks to repeated cuts, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) currently only provides $1.38 per meal, barely enough to buy a pack of gum. The truth is, when kids are hungry they struggle to learn. Ending childhood hunger is not only the right thing to do, it’s a smart investment in our future. SNAP benefits are currently around $125 per person, per month -- which works out to about $1.38 per meal. It might seem like a small benefit -- and to be sure, SNAP benefits are the lowest they’ve been in five years -- but to those struggling to put food on the table, it makes a critical difference. Together we can make sure America's kids are getting enough to eat and have a fair shot at a better life. We need to let Rep. Hultgren knows that we expect better than a budget which leaves kids hungry.

On March 17, the House unveiled a new plan which slashes billions of dollars from the program that does the most to help hungry kids, and we need to push back. For decades, Republicans and Democrats have come together to support these programs, but thanks to repeated cuts, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) currently only provides $1.38 per meal, barely enough to buy a pack of gum. The truth is, when kids are hungry they struggle to learn. Ending childhood hunger is not only the right thing to do, it’s a smart investment in our future. SNAP benefits are currently around $125 per person, per month -- which works out to about $1.38 per meal. It might seem like a small benefit -- and to be sure, SNAP benefits are the lowest they’ve been in five years -- but to those struggling to put food on the table, it makes a critical difference. Together we can make sure America's kids are getting enough to eat and have a fair shot at a better life. We need to let Rep. Griffith knows that we expect better than a budget which leaves kids hungry.

On March 17, the House unveiled a new plan which slashes billions of dollars from the program that does the most to help hungry kids, and we need to push back. For decades, Republicans and Democrats have come together to support these programs, but thanks to repeated cuts, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) currently only provides $1.38 per meal, barely enough to buy a pack of gum. The truth is, when kids are hungry they struggle to learn. Ending childhood hunger is not only the right thing to do, it’s a smart investment in our future. SNAP benefits are currently around $125 per person, per month -- which works out to about $1.38 per meal. It might seem like a small benefit -- and to be sure, SNAP benefits are the lowest they’ve been in five years -- but to those struggling to put food on the table, it makes a critical difference. Together we can make sure America's kids are getting enough to eat and have a fair shot at a better life. We need to let Rep. Hurt knows that we expect better than a budget which leaves kids hungry.

On March 17, the House unveiled a new plan which slashes billions of dollars from the program that does the most to help hungry kids, and we need to push back. For decades, Republicans and Democrats have come together to support these programs, but thanks to repeated cuts, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) currently only provides $1.38 per meal, barely enough to buy a pack of gum. The truth is, when kids are hungry they struggle to learn. Ending childhood hunger is not only the right thing to do, it’s a smart investment in our future. SNAP benefits are currently around $125 per person, per month -- which works out to about $1.38 per meal. It might seem like a small benefit -- and to be sure, SNAP benefits are the lowest they’ve been in five years -- but to those struggling to put food on the table, it makes a critical difference. Together we can make sure America's kids are getting enough to eat and have a fair shot at a better life. We need to let Rep. Ftizpatrick knows that we expect better than a budget which leaves kids hungry.

On March 17, the House unveiled a new plan which slashes billions of dollars from the program that does the most to help hungry kids, and we need to push back. For decades, Republicans and Democrats have come together to support these programs, but thanks to repeated cuts, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) currently only provides $1.38 per meal, barely enough to buy a pack of gum. The truth is, when kids are hungry they struggle to learn. Ending childhood hunger is not only the right thing to do, it’s a smart investment in our future. SNAP benefits are currently around $125 per person, per month -- which works out to about $1.38 per meal. It might seem like a small benefit -- and to be sure, SNAP benefits are the lowest they’ve been in five years -- but to those struggling to put food on the table, it makes a critical difference. Together we can make sure America's kids are getting enough to eat and have a fair shot at a better life. We need to let Rep. Denham knows that we expect better than a budget which leaves kids hungry.

The pro-gun lobby is working hard to advance national legislation that would force states to recognize concealed-carry permits from all over the country, regardless of how lax the permitting standards in other states. And some states have lax standards indeed: A Sun-Sentinel investigation found that Florida had issued concealed-carry licenses to 1,400 people convicted of crimes, as well as to hundreds more applicants with warrants, domestic abuse injunctions, or gun violations.[1] And North Carolina, from 2007 to 2011, issued 2,400 conceal-carry permits to people convicted of crimes, including some who committed murder or manslaughter.[2] If mandated national concealed-carry legislation becomes law, it would allow dangerous, high-risk gun owners to go wherever they like with their firearms. The legislation would also encourage such gun owners from around the country to converge on states with loose permitting standards in order to easily get concealed-carry licenses that would have to be honored nationally. Furthermore, individual states would no longer be able to control who is authorized to carry a concealed gun within its borders. Police would not even be able to quickly find out if out-of-state permits are valid, putting law enforcement and the public at higher risk of harm. Mandated national conceal-carry would gut commonsense gun safety laws that parents worked hard to pass in states across our nation. Americans are already about 20 times more likely to be killed by a gun than someone from another developed country. Now is not the time to weaken commonsense safety standards or states' rights! Tell Congress to oppose federally mandated concealed-carry legislation now! [1] "The Law that Will Make a Million George Zimmermans," The Daily Beast, Jan. 12, 2015. http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/01/12/the-law-that-will-make-a-million-george-zimmermans.html [2] "Guns in Public, and Out of Sight," New York Times, Dec. 26, 2011. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/27/us/more-concealed-guns-and-some-are-in-the-wrong-hands.html?_r=0

LGBT youth suffer from homelessness, depression, and suicide in far greater numbers compared to their straight peers. This is largely caused by the misguided and harmful beliefs that sexual orientation and gender identity are a choice, not an innate aspect of one's humanity, and that any sexual orientation or gender identity other than "straight" is morally wrong. Our LGBT children are perfect as they are; we must stand with and protect them from anyone and everyone who says otherwise.

My vehicle was severely damaged in an accident at no fault of my own. While the insurance company reimbursed for the costs to repair it, the value of the vehicle dropped by nearly $3,000 since it will be noted on Carfax reports, and the insurance will not cover it.

Maine's current minimum wage is $7.50/hour. Over fifty-two 40-hour weeks, that adds up to $15, 600/year. The Federal Poverty Guideline for 2015 is $15, 930 for a household of 2. This could mean a single parent of 1 child, a working senior citizen with a disabled spouse, or many other situations. If we as a society want people to work for their living, then the very possibility of doing that must be legislated. For a family of 3 (eg. single parent, two children), the Federal Guideline is $20 090. Divided by fifty-two 40-hour weeks, this comes to an hourly wage of $9.66. Minimum-wage employers pay minimum wage because it's required. Decent employers pay more. This should be done because it's basic human decency. This is not even accounting for daycare, nor for people getting sick or having time off to spend with their families and friends. Raise Minimum Wage to a Living Wage.

I have arachnoiditis and it's not only a physical battle but a very emotional one too. Most people don't know what it is and most emergency room doctors don't understand the pain and other symptoms that come with it. It's an invisible illness that causes just as much if not more pain than cancer pain.