In the recent November 4 elections, voters across the state of Illinois were asked to vote yes or no on whether the state should raise its minimum wage. This referendum passed with a huge mandate: 67% of voters—over 2 million Illinoisans—approved it. Republican and Democratic areas—urban, suburban, and rural—saw overwhelming majorities of support. The question received a majority of yes votes in almost every one of the state’s 118 House districts. Members of the General Assembly: The people of this state have spoken. We need a higher minimum wage, and we need it now. If we raise the wage to $10 an hour, over 1 million working people will get a raise. They cannot wait. Over 100,000 working single parents will get a raise. They cannot wait. One in four African-American workers, one in three Latino workers in our state will get a raise. They cannot wait another day for a paycheck they can actually live on. The will of the people is clear. We urge you to do your job, to serve your constituents, to call a vote on HB 3718 and SB 68 during this upcoming veto session.

Last year, in two executive actions, President Obama raised the minimum wage of federal contractors to $10.10 an hour, and ordered firms to disclose labor law violations when applying for federal contracts. Now, workers are calling on Obama to build on his prior executive actions with something bigger and more comprehensive. A new executive order would prioritize contracting with fair pay, workplace protections, and good safety records. That would have a huge impact. In 2013, the U.S. government spent $437.5 billion on domestic federal contracting. In a new analysis, Demos Senior Policy Analyst Robert Hiltonsmith shows that, $175 billion of those dollars went to contractors with a major workplace violation in the past 15 years. In Demos' original report, Underwriting Good Jobs, we showed such an order would benefit over 20 million Americans. The federal government should follow the American people and prioritize the type of contractors that do the right thing. Treating your workers fairly should be a prerequisite of receiving our tax dollars.

House Resolution 707 - Condemning all forms of anti-Semitism and rejecting attempts to justify anti-Jewish hatred or violent attacks as an acceptable expression of disapproval or frustration over political events in the Middle East or elsewhere. This is a BLATANT VIOLATION of our 1st Amendment Rights! Every Congressman who voted for this TRAVESTY has VIOLATED their Oath of Office, and should be RECALLED from Office, as they are unfit to serve! Amendment l Congress shall make NO LAW respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the FREEDOM of SPEECH, or of the PRESS; or the RIGHT of the PEOPLE peaceably to assemble to PETITION the Government for a redress of grievances. I urge everyone to sign this Petition or create their own Petition at MoveOn.org for the RECALL of these misguided Congressmen from their Offices for NOT upholding the Constitution of the United States of America. They have VIOLATED our sacred trust and should NEVER BE TRUSTED AGAIN!

Scientific research has proven that there is a shift in the circadian rhythm of adolescents. During this shift teens have difficulty falling asleep at night and they continue to produce melatonin well into the morning hours which makes it difficult to wake up. This shift coupled with early morning start times, results in chronic sleep deprivation which is bad for our kids on so many levels. The following is directly from the AAP policy statement released 8/25/14: In a new policy statement published online Aug. 25, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends middle and high schools delay the start of class to 8:30 a.m. or later. Doing so will align school schedules to the biological sleep rhythms of adolescents, whose sleep-wake cycles begin to shift up to two hours later at the start of puberty. “Chronic sleep loss in children and adolescents is one of the most common – and easily fixable – public health issues in the U.S. today,” said pediatrician Judith Owens, MD, FAAP, lead author of the policy statement, “School Start Times for Adolescents,” published in the September 2014 issue of Pediatrics. “The research is clear that adolescents who get enough sleep have a reduced risk of being overweight or suffering depression, are less likely to be involved in automobile accidents, and have better grades, higher standardized test scores and an overall better quality of life,” Dr. Owens said. “Studies have shown that delaying early school start times is one key factor that can help adolescents get the sleep they need to grow and learn.” Many studies have documented that the average adolescent in the U.S. is chronically sleep-deprived and pathologically sleepy. A National Sleep Foundation poll found 59 percent of 6th through 8th graders and 87 percent of high school students in the U.S. were getting less than the recommended 8.5 to 9.5 hours of sleep on school nights." *** To continue depriving our kids of adequate sleep is unconscionable. You can help make this very important change by signing this petition. Thank you!

Attorney General Eric Holder has expressed his desire to step down, and we progressives need to get on with aiding fulfillment of the mandate of the US Department of Justice without delay.

I live in Culver City and have two kids in our schools. All of our children would benefit from our schools being properly funded. We need real money for that, not billboards.

I have been taught to never give out my SSN. Now that I am on Medicare, my number is used in my doctor's office and is seen by his/her staff. The SSN is no longer private.

I am a retired 20 year Veteran who gets no credit for Military time.

I recently learned of this situation,where many of the Food Buyers, Walmart (2014) Chipotle Mexican Grill (2012) Trader Joe’s (2012) Sodexo (2010) Aramark (2010) Compass Group (2009) Bon Appetit Management Company (2009) Subway (2008) Whole Foods Market (2008) Burger King (2008) McDonald’s (2007) Yum Brands (2005) have ALL signed on, but our very own, home grown grocery store, Publix, hasn't agreed to sign on. Publix is my favorite store, by far, but I'm very disappointed that this Corporation, a Florida Corporation, won't agree to 1 penny more per tomato. And almost ALL the tomatoes in Publix Stores, 90% or more, are grown and picked in the very state, they started their first store in. I will gladly pay an additional penny a tomato, for this cause and purpose. I will go right now and give a dollar to the local store, to offset any loss of profit, from any tomatoes that I will buy for the coming year and given the opportunity, many others will too! I always thought of Publix as a Family business, but even Walmart has signed on, which alone,makes a statement! Publix step up! Let's get our tomatoes locally or even from Walmart!

As student activists at a large state school, we feel it is our duty to create awareness concerning the current state of the environment. After personally experiencing the harmful effects of climate change, as well as becoming more informed about the dangerous future that lies ahead, climate change awareness has become our number one priority. We have created this petition to represent the many voices in our community who share our unified goal. We demand action now!

Let's show Governor Cuomo that veterans and their families are important. Let this override serve as evidence of our appreciation for their service and sacrifice.

I have epilepsy with cognitive deficits due to past seizures and medication. ADHD and slow processing has destroyed my employment record. I have been denied disability even though medication doesn't control the seizures. It's time for Social Security to recognize epilepsy is more than seizures. Damage from seizures and medication must be considered.