Since 2011 the Office of Special Education has repeatedly issued directives for school districts to stop delaying a child's right to an evaluation via mandating completion of a lengthy response to intervention before a referral for special education can be made. The Learning Disabilities Association of America and Illinois maintain that many children are waiting up to 2 years before receiving services for disabilities because districts continue to deny referrals. Many parents have had to resort to legal support to obtain rights for their children and many parents are not aware of these rights or have the means to pursue them. In this sense, children from marginalized groups may be more likely to be delayed. The word change from "must" to "may" will allow local school districts to be responsive to their community and protect child rights.

There are reoccurring accidents at this intersection putting drivers and homeowners at risk of injury and property damage. The traffic signs are not enough to indicate the sharp curve. 15mph signs are ignored and cars are regularly underestimating how sharp the corner is.

Despite the moniker as the oldest democracy in the world, the United States has an archaic Electoral College system, in which skates of electors representing a state vote for a presidential candidate to the Electoral College—with 270 electors needed to win. For over 100 years now, the electors with few exceptions represent the candidate who won the popular vote by state, and with a recent Supreme Court ruling, are even more tightly bound to do so. Nevertheless, this election, the Republican Party and Trump campaign are continuing their onslaught against our democratic norms and institutions. In an attempt to steal the election, the Republican Party and Trump campaign are suing states to stop the counting of valid ballots largely of minorities, younger people, and people from traditionally Democratic strongholds. Congress can stand up and end this chicanery by refusing to seat the Electoral College until all votes are counted! More nefariously, the Trump campaign and Republican State Parties are preparing a shadow campaign to appoint alternate slates of electors to the Electoral College in an attempt to sow chaos and throw the election to the House of Representatives. Congress can and must head this off by pledging to only seat slates of electors who represent the popular vote winner of that state. These actions can bring peace to the chaos of the post-election period and ensure the survival of our democracy with a smooth transition of power.

Deportation is an extreme consequence for a civil immigration violation. The Trump administration wasn't the first to deport people with cruelty, but it certainly spread the pain. This problem must be fixed by the Biden administration. We are calling for both administrative policy changes and legislative reform to bring our friends and loved ones home. #ReuniteUS

On Friday, October 30th, Higher Plain Baptist Church in Oklahoma City held an event sponsored by the Oklahoma County Republican Party called "Mark and Patricia McCloskey, persecuted by the left, are coming to OKC!" This event announcement also listed several Republican officer-holders (and candidates running for reelection) as speakers including: Brian Maughan County Commissioner District 2, David Hooten County Clerk and Rick Warren County Court Clerk. This event is deeply troubling for the following reasons: 1. The event violates the provisions of the IRS restrictions on "political campaign activity" for 501c3 organizations. 2. This event celebrated the actions of two people who were indicted in St. Louis of unlawful use of a firearm and evidence tampering, all as a response to Black Lives Matter protesters. 3. The church permitted people to be in the parking lot during this event, brandishing AR-15's as a deliberate attempt to intimidate peaceful protesters. As a result of this situation, I am preparing a formal complaint against Higher Plain Baptist Church (form 13909) with the IRS, urging the IRS to revoke the tax exempt status and will be submitting the responses to this petition as part of the complaint packet. Sources: 1. Eventbrite.com Ticketing page for this event: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/mark-and-patricia-mccloskey-persecuted-by-the-left-are-coming-to-okc-tickets-126895871969?fbclid=IwAR3dTjb1JHmb1I8cgBCJa1irq_g6AlmAm01pYBISZcOYT7OIdUonoaaSAek 2. IRS Publication 1828 (IRS Tax Guide for Churches and Religious organizations) - https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p1828.pdf 3. IRS Form 13909 - https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f13909.pdf PHOTOS FROM: https://www.facebook.com/faulkingtruth

Voting is one of the most fundamental rights in this country. In fact, people throughout our history have fought and sometimes died for the expansion of voting rights for their communities and in order to see themselves as a part of this ongoing experiment in democracy. Unfortunately, the GOP is doing its best to try and silence voters, because they know that if everyone is able to vote, Republicans will lose. And so the GOP is resorting to cheating in a desperate attempt to keep power. We are seeing harrowing images and videos of voters, particularly Black and Brown voters waiting in line for hours to cast their ballot. Not only that, during a global pandemic, Republican local and state officials have purposefully, made it more difficult to vote by trying to make mail-in ballots inaccessible to voters. Local officials have closed polling locations across the country, forcing voters to travel miles in order to cast their ballot, rather than being able to vote in their own neighborhoods. People from all walks of life are overcoming challenges in order to be voters and partake in the democratic process, and Governor Wolf and Secretary of State Boockvar must ensure that every ballot is counted during the 2020 election cycle. We refuse to allow Republicans to try and disenfranchise voters in order to win the election or declare victory before every vote has been counted. We are hereby telling our elected officials, count every vote, and we want them to count them immediately starting on November 3, not waiting, as several counties stated they were going to today. We need to make sure that the peoples' voices are heard and we are not dictated to by a minority view throughout our State. We also hereby demand, that Governor Wolf and Secretary of State Boockvar, ensure that our polling places are kept peaceful! We must not allow individuals even if they have lawful permits to carry openly guns at or near our polling places. This is a willful use of intimidation, it is not something that is seen in a democracy, we must not allow our democracy to be tainted. Every single vote must be counted by state and local officials in this election cycle. Pennsylvanians need to be assured that there will not be any intimidation or manipulation from outside of our Commonwealth particularly from Washington, every vote counts! Every vote must be counted! Remember it is"We The People” our voices must be heard!

Voting is one of the most fundamental rights in this country. In fact, people throughout our history have fought and sometimes died for the expansion of voting rights for their communities and in order to see themselves as a part of this ongoing experiment in democracy. Unfortunately, the GOP is doing its best to try and silence voters, because they know that if everyone is able to vote, Republicans will lose. And so the GOP is resorting to cheating in a desperate attempt to keep power. We are seeing harrowing images and videos of Black voters and voters of color waiting in line for hours to cast their ballot. Not only that, during a global pandemic, Republican local and state officials have made it more difficult to vote by trying to make mail in ballots inaccessible to voters. And local officials have closed polling locations across the country, forcing voters to travel miles in order to cast their ballot, rather than being able to vote in their own neighborhoods. People from all walks of life are overcoming challenges in order to be voters and partake in the democratic process, and the Arizona Governor and Secretary of State must ensure that every ballot is counted during the 2020 election cycle. We refuse to allow Republicans to try and disenfranchise voters in order to win the election or declare victory before every vote has been counted. Every single vote must be counted by state and local officials this election cycle.

Voting is one of the most fundamental rights in this country. In fact, people throughout our history have fought and died for the expansion of voting rights for their communities and in order to see themselves as a part of this ongoing experiment in democracy. Unfortunately, the GOP is doing its best to try and silence voters, because they know that if everyone is able to vote, Republicans will lose. And so the GOP is resorting to cheating in a desperate attempt to keep power. We are seeing harrowing images and videos of Black voters and voters of color waiting in line for hours to cast their ballot. People from all walks of life are overcoming challenges in order to vote and partake in the democratic process. Governor Cooper and Secretary of State Marshall must ensure that every ballot is counted by state and local officials during the 2020 election cycle. We refuse to allow Republicans to disenfranchise voters in order to win the election or declare victory before every vote has been counted.

January 12th update (5:36PM EDT): Both the Eighth Circuit and the DC Circuit have issued stays of execution for Lisa. The Department of Justice is appealing both to the United States Supreme Court, and presumably they will rule on the stays tonight. The Bureau of Prison continues to prepare to execute Lisa today. Lisa's life is still in danger.

Of all the candidates reportedly being considered by Joe Biden to serve as his Secretary of State, Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy is far and away the most progressive. Unlike Delaware Senator Chris Coons - reportedly also being considered - Chris Murphy has been a champion in the Senate of ending and preventing war. Chris Murphy led efforts to end the Saudi war in Yemen while Chris Coons voted to continue backing the Saudi regime. Chris Murphy consistently supported President Obama's agreement with Iran while Chris Coons worked with AIPAC Republicans to undermine President Obama's most important foreign policy accomplishment for peace. Chris Murphy led other Democratic Senators to oppose the use of U.S. tax dollars for Israeli annexation of the West Bank. Having Chris Murphy serve as our nation's top diplomat if Joe Biden is elected POTUS is our best guarantee of ending the Saudi war in Yemen and restoring President Obama's Iran deal.

Voting is one of the most fundamental rights in this country. In fact, people throughout our history have fought and sometimes died for the expansion of voting rights for their communities and in order to see themselves as a part of this ongoing experiment in democracy. Unfortunately, the GOP is doing its best to try and silence voters, because they know that if everyone is able to vote, Republicans will lose. And so the GOP is resorting to cheating in a desperate attempt to keep power. We are seeing harrowing images and videos of Black voters and voters of color waiting in line for hours to cast their ballot. Not only that, during a global pandemic, Republican local and state officials have made it more difficult to vote by trying to make mail in ballots inaccessible to voters.And local officials have closed polling locations across the country, forcing voters to travel miles in order to cast their ballot, rather than being able to vote in their own neighborhoods. People from all walks of life are overcoming challenges in order to be voters and partake in the democratic process, and Governor DeSantis and Secretary of State Lee must ensure that every ballot is counted during the 2020 election cycle. We refuse to allow Republicans to try and disenfranchise voters in order to win the election or declare victory before every vote has been counted. Every single vote must be counted by state and local officials this election cycle.

We demand that Georgia election officials: - Be proactive about making sure voters have access to and know their rights about all the voting options including voting by mail or in person early voting and making in-person - Process all newly registered voters, and promptly update Georgia’s voter rolls accordingly and avoid any unnecessary purges of voters from the rolls - Ensure that every voter that chooses to vote in person on Election Day has an accessible and safe voting location, including proper COVID-19 precautions like clearly marked mask requirements and social distancing guidance, hand sanitizer, etc. - Take immediate action to protect votes from intimidation at the polls - Ensure that every vote is counted and that voters have a meaningful chance to procure provisional ballots or mail-in ballot if needed, - Honor the final election results and resist any effort to undermine the integrity of the election, including, but not limited to, partisan efforts to disqualify, exclude or otherwise prevent the counting of mail-in ballots, efforts to declare victory prematurely, and/or certify electoral votes in opposition to the popular vote - Communicate proactively and transparently with voters about the ballot counting process and when to expect results. Free and fair elections are a cornerstone of our democracy. For democracy to work for all of us, it must include us all. We all have a role to play to secure the opportunity for all eligible voters to participate in the general election and have their votes counted, maximize public confidence in the results, and ensure that the country sees a peaceful transition or continuation of power in January. As an elected leader, I pledge to use my authority to make sure every vote counts.