Did you know that having a baby is a leading cause of poverty spells in this country? Shocking, but true, and one major reason is that because only 12% of Americans have access to paid family (maternity/paternity) leave through their employers. The Family and Medical Insurance Leave (FAMILY) Act would fix this. Given that for the first time in history, moms make up 3/4 of the labor force and are the primary breadwinners for half of U.S. families, it's no surprise that paid family leave is an incredibly popular issue with voters across party lines. What is surprising is that only five — FIVE! — U.S. Senators have signed on to co-sponsor the bill so far. It's going to take all our voices, our letter signatures, our actions to get more co-sponsors. And co-sponsorship of bills matters. It matters because the more co-sponsors a bill has, the more seriously the bill is taken and the better chance it has of moving forward to full passage. The FAMILY (Family and Medical Insurance Leave) Act would provide workers — including those who are self-employed and/or work part-time — with much-needed income while they, or a family member, deal with the arrival of a new baby or a serious health issue. Eligible employees could take up to 60 work days (12 weeks) away from their job with partial wage replacement (up to 66% of their typical wages) to take care of themselves or a family member in a one-year period. Employees and employers would contribute just two cents for every $10 in wages. Self-employed and part-time employees would earn paid family and medical leave as well. No one should have to give up a paycheck to take care of loved ones. Let your U.S. Senators know you want them to co-sponsor the Family Act now!

Religion, namely Christianity, is a central part of American culture, especially in the field of politics. The trouble is, many Americans are ignorant to much of what is written in the Bible, as well as most, if not all, of what is written in the Koran, and other religious texts. This creates a society that is extremely susceptible to religious misinformation, which may lead to the justification of bigotry and oppression -- as can be currently seen with the LGBT movement for equal rights. As it is too late to separate church and state, the only hope for a rational and informed society is the raw, unbiased, and required reading of religious texts, including and especially the Bible and the Koran.

Luigi Del Bianco lived the American Dream by coming to America and becoming the Chief Carver on Mount Rushmore. Luigi's job was in carving the "refinement of expression" in the faces. When you look at those 4 presidents, you are looking at the talent of a very gifted artist. This humble immigrant also is my grandfather. Even though our family has documentation that proves his value to the work, the National Park Service refuses to formally recognize his important title and great achievement. This is patently wrong on so many levels. Let's get the NPS to do the right thing!

Currently, all California children are required to attend school, and parents and students can face financial and civil penalties if the student is determined truant. On top of that, poor families who receive CalWORKs are subject to a reduction in their family’s grant if their child fails to participate in school regularly. Taken together, both penalties are an unjust burden on the backs of poor families straining to climb the rungs of the economic ladder. Research from across the country shows that truancy penalties don't actually work to improve school attendance. AB 2382, by Assemblymember Steven Bradford, will eliminate the CalWORKs attendance penalty, thereby relieving this financial burden and helping families to achieve self-sufficiency.

The firing of Dr. Jolibois because of his strong advocacy in behalf of the Haitian people set's a very dangerous precedent that will have a chilling effect on academic freedom and employees rights on campus. FIU should be an institution that promotes the highest standards in ethics and discrimination because of ones views or ethnic origins should not be tolerated. It is urgent that the University take action today and rehire Dr. Jolibois be rehired immediately.

Preventing a Republican from taking one of the highest elected offices in Hidalgo County and keeping Texas Blue!

I have been a U.S. citizen since birth, a voter for 40 years and a taxpayer for 43 years. I cannot bear the thought that my tax dollars are being squandered or held for political ransom. Our country is falling apart and each of us must demand accountability. Thank you for your consideration.

This issue is about getting someone (who has become a very important progressive voice) his own show on a major, mainstream television network.

Neonicotinoid is a systemic, persistent pesticide that is used on plants. It is Killing the Honey Bees and other pollinators. It is also Neurotoxic to humans. It is also environmental risk polluting the soil, water and Air. Remember… Without the pollinators in time there will be No People! Initially neonicotinoids were praised for their low-toxicity to many beneficial insects, including bees; however recently this claim has come into question. New research points to this pesticide being toxic to bees and other beneficial insects through low level contamination of nectar and pollen with neonicotinoid insecticides used in agriculture.

It's about the excess water on one side of the country, and the lack of water on the other side, and the fact that this problem won't heal itself. We are ALL affected by this problem, and it is essential to find a way to survive.

There have been 70 oil train incidents just this year including the tragic explosion in Quebec that killed 47 people and destroyed a town. The Department of Transportation can prevent the next imminent oil train disaster by removing unsafe tank cars carrying crude oil and other dangerous materials from the rails.

America has always been a beacon of hope for those in need of refuge. While we can’t accept everyone who wants to come to America, we must follow our laws and international standards for dealing with refugees. In 2008, Congress and George W. Bush unanimously passed a human trafficking bill that dictates how we treat children fleeing violence. Under this bill, the US is required to make sure the best interests of children are paramount, that those in genuine need of safe haven do not get sent back to the violence they escaped, and that all those who claim to need protection have a full and fair proceeding before the sometimes life-or-death decision to deport a child back to violence is made. Iowa and America are strong enough to deal intelligently and compassionately with kids who have fled violence and arrive seeking safety. The last thing we need is a politician like Gov. Branstad using this humanitarian crisis as a political soap box for his re-election campaign.