The CCAP budget for the current fiscal year is underfunded by almost $300 million. For the program to function at its current level, the state would need to identify revenue necessary to pass a supplemental budget to fully fund CCAP through the end of this fiscal year, which ends June 30, 2015. In the state of Illinois there are more than 3000 licensed day care centers, 8000 licensed day care homes and 700 group day care homes with a combined capacity to serve more than 255,000 children. “Many families receive day care subsidies and would be displaced from work if affordable day care is unavailable,” said state Representative La Shawn K. Ford. In his State of the Union address, President Obama discussed the importance of quality and affordable child care. President Obama said “In today’s economy, when having both parents in the workforce is an economic necessity for many families, we need affordable, high-quality childcare more than ever. It’s not a nice-to-have - it’s a must-have. It’s time we stop treating childcare as a side issue, or a women’s issue, and treat it like the national economic priority that it is for all of us. And that’s why my plan will make quality childcare more available, and more affordable, for every middle-class and low-income family with young children in America - by creating more slots and a new tax cut of up to $3,000 per child, per year.” “We must make quality child care learning environments available to every child in Illinois for success in pre K and all of the early education stages,” said Ford. “I call on Governor Rauner to support these programs in Illinois and avoid any future cuts to them. These programs are essential to the development of our youth and their future. I will continue to work with hard-working child care providers, my colleagues in the General Assembly, and Gov. Rauner to protect child care.”"

IT'S FEBRUARY! SWIFT HAS KIDNAPPED MY LIFE FOR A WHOLE YEAR, AND NOW WANTS ME TO PAY THEM MORE MONEY TO RETURN IT! I am a woman left without resources, fighting a corporation. I'm appealing to my community of human beings. Please help me recover my work equipment, my artwork, and the pictures of my children growing up! Last February, I sent my video equipment, my paintings, and home goods from San Francisco to Berlin with Swift Intermove. The goods were supposed to come to the German port of Bremerhaven, and be delivered in maximum 6 weeks. I was going to produce a feature film there, and hoped to have an art exhibit. I paid everything in advance, door to door. Three weeks later, I received a letter from some people from Holland claiming to be their representatives, saying the goods had arrived in Rotterdam, and asking me to pay extra 300 Euros, IF I wanted my goods delivered. They ignored my claim that the contract was paid "door to door", everything included. Not seeing a choice, and trying not to loose work that was waiting for me, I paid the extra money. And waited, and waited, and waited in vain: MY GOODS WERE NEVER DELIVERED. I am a hard working woman, alone, not some trust fund baby. I needed my equipment to be able to work. The people in Holland simply vanished, emails were not answered, calls were not picked up. They did take the money, though. I managed to stay afloat for 7 months, spending money in Euros, and not being able to work; seeing my saving dwindle, and praying that my equipment would be delivered. IT NEVER WAS. Spring led to summer, and I had no summer clothes to wear, no shoes. And I still could not work. Finally, in August, I got an answer from the people in Holland, claiming that Swift International Logistics had stopped the release of my goods!! I wrote to Yaron from Swift who said he was "working on the release". No explanations. In September, I couldn't hold anymore, and had to come back to the states. I could reach Michelle at Swift here in America. She tried to contact her "representatives" without success. She said she didn't understand why they had asked me for more money, or why they hadn't delivered my things. She ignored the fact that the Hollanders claimed Swift had not paid their fees, and had stopped delivery of the goods. (I have emails documenting it all). Otherwise, she said she could not do anything if I didn't pay the same money to bring back the goods to America! When I mentioned their breach of contract, she tried to BLAME ME for it. I never heard a word that said, "we are sorry", "we messed up", "we will repair what we broke". Sometimes S**T happens, I understand that, but then people take responsibility, and work to repair the damage. I took Legal Shield, who sent them a letter telling them they had breached the contract, and needed to deliver my goods. As of today, supposedly my goods are back in the States. Swift wants me to pay for the return shipment, and storage for a year! My business is going bankrupt. After a year, my digital equipment becomes quickly obsolete, and I have not been able to work the money to update it. I really do not know if my goods were even shipped at all, let alone in which conditions they were stored. I have lived for a year from the contents of 2 travel bags, since Swift is withholding ALL what I own! This has left me broke, practically homeless. Please help me! Sign my petition so Swift International Logistics returns my livelihood, and my home goods. Some things are irreplaceable, like the pictures of my children growing up, and those of my late husband. I thank you all for signing this petition, and helping me to fight my own Goliath. Thank you!

The Association of American Indian Farmers (AAIF) strongly supports mandatory labeling of genetically engineered foods (commonly called “GMOs”). But in spite of its name, the “Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act” undermines labeling by: • Preempting state GMO labeling laws; • Codifying existing voluntary labeling systems; and • Restricting the Food and Drug Administration’s ability to require national mandatory labeling. As farmers, AAIF members and families know firsthand that consumers are demanding more information about the food they feed their families – not less. AAIF stands with the vast majority of Americans who are in favor of labeling GMOs. Because the “Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act” does not require GMO labels, we urge you to oppose the bill.

I am a mother, a grandmother, a teacher, a senior citizen and a voter. I consider the thought of merit pay for teachers to be appalling. I would find it equally distasteful should it apply to healthcare, public safety, or the military and no one with any sense would consider such a thing, so why is it being considered for children's learning? Politicians should keep the private sector out of public education. Let them start their own private schools, they can well afford it. Public money is for public education. Stop the nonsense, please. There should be some things that money can't buy. This is one of them. TEACHERS TEACH BECAUSE THEY CAN, NOT BECAUSE THEY NEED A MONETARY REWARD.

The Proposed Federal Budget for the next year continues the madness of a bloated monster military taking 55% of total spending by the Federal Government and if you add on the Vet. benefits it takes 61% of all spending. Everything else takes the back of the bus to fight over the scraps remaining. It is time to change this madness and demand that the military stand down from the Federal feeding trough and change the percentage of spending to the vast needs within our nation, for our people and for our future. Limit the current bloated military spending to not more than 50% of the total budget including the vet. benefits and continue to lower the % to reasonable levels in the years to come.

Rather than perpetually being in war against an enemy that seems impossible to defeat, why isn't the US Government using its economic & diplomatic strength to cut the flow of money & arms to "Islamic terror" organizations? Almost all these organizations seem to have a history of getting support from the US Government or governments allied with the United States.

At my school, the school lunches are unhealthy and gross. It's for the whole school county, too! How they are unhealthy is that they aren't fresh. They are shipped from California to here and reheated. GROSS! Also, gross things are in it. Once, my best friend Madison found a bug in her French fry. Also, my other friend Alyssa found blonde hair in her food. And Alyssa is dark haired! That same day, Alyssa found something gross that she hasn't told me yet because then I'd get grossed out. In other words, please sign this petition. We want children to get fresh and healthy food for school lunch, not food shipped from across the country and reheated!

Western Environmental Law Center is a nonprofit, public-interest environmental law firm. Our expert attorneys are ready to use the full power of the law and the courts to stop the Pacific Connector pipeline. Please join us before the February 13 deadline in telling FERC not to prioritize corporate income over the health of our environment and communities.

Oregon law enforcment agencies have obtained over 4,000 military surplus items worth over $10 million since 1997. In the wake of tanks driven by police through the small town of Ferguson, MO, this needs to stop.

The fight for a free and open internet is on, and February is where it all comes down. FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler proposed strong regulations this month that will protect net neutrality and preserve the free and open Internet. That’s a big win -- but we aren’t done yet. On February 26, the FCC will vote on the proposal. And you can bet that the big telecoms and their army of lobbyists are lining up to sway the vote. We need a show of strength before February 26. Chairman Wheeler put it all on the line for net neutrality, and now we need to have his back. Sign today and tell Chairman Wheeler that we’re with him!

According to the CDC, more than 2 million Americans get sick from antibiotic-resistant infections each year, and 23,000 people die. Yet, more than 70 percent of all antibiotics sold in the United States are used in livestock and poultry operations, which routinely mix huge quantities of antibiotics into the feed for healthy animals. This practice increases the likelihood that all kinds of bacteria will develop resistance to antibiotics, meaning our life-saving medicines won't work. As one of the largest purchasers of meat in the world, McDonald’s has tremendous power to change the food market and put an end to this dangerous practice.

Chanan Aqu-Simmons #313-893 (North Central Correctional Institution PO Box 1812 Marion, Ohio 43301) was wrongfully convicted at18 yrs. old in1995 in an all circumstantial evidence trial. After the presentation of all evidence "EXCEPT ONE PIECE" THE DNA... In this case two people were fighting over the victim's gun a one was killed. There were two (2) different blood types found on the ground after the fight at the crime scene. One was the victims, “THE OTHER WAS NOT". The judge ordered Chanan Aqu-Simmons to submit to a blood test to compare his blood with the blood found at the crime scene... The blood found was" NOT" even Aqu-Simmon's blood type... THE JURY NEVER HEARD THIS EVIDENCE!!!!!! After nine days the jury returned the verdict of guilty of aggravated murder!!! Chanan Aqu-Simmons appealed to have all of the evidence heard. The Ohio innocence project requested to help fight this DNA issue to prove Chanan Aqu-Simmon's innocence by gathering the DNA (blood swabs) from POLICE that were: #1. Recovered at the crime scene #2. Compared against Chanan Aqu-Simmons This was so the DNA could be placed into the national DNA database and matched to the person it belonged to. After all the years of waiting to have his day in court to bring this evidence to the light so that he can be a free man again the unimaginable happened... THE POLICE DEPT. SAID: "THEY LOST THE DNA”!!!! In a case where there is no physical evidence or eye witness only here say. How can the only SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE that exist "mysteriously "come up missing right after the results returned that the(DNA) is not the boy's you have on trial....? SOMETHINGS FOUL HERE... The innocence project stopped fighting because they said: "they only argue the validity of DNA" in court not why have the courts lost DNA!!!!! So Chanan Aqu-Simmons has been in limbo writing attorneys for help. All the attorneys say the same thing nothings for free this is why we are coming to you for help as many signatures we get then we can show that the community, family and friends have all their support for his release on this FALSE IMPRISONMENT! If you are an attorney we are pleading for your time to look into this case Chanan Aqu-Simmons is still in limbo 20yrs. later waiting to have his Prayers heard by an ANGEL.... If you are interested in helping please check out www.firstthingsmokin.org all his case files on Advocating for the Falsely Accused Prisoners