This is the most effective way to raise the minimum wage. By pledging to vote in upcoming elections in 2014 for candidates who support this progressive strategy to empower American workers, the possibility of passing an increase in the minimum wage is increased. Less people will be dependent on subsidy programs if the minimum wage is increased, plus the increase will begin to solve the inequality problem in the United States.

I am not disturbed by the additional $112 in taxes/year; as a public servant I believe we should all be good stewards of the public's funds and facilities. This $2,000,000 in bond funding is not the best use of public funds when alternatives presented demonstrated a fully functional and safe environment for a fraction of the cost and without a need for a Bond tax measure.

Brother Dean is a menace to University of Arizona campus. Hopefully this petition can reveal the student body opinion on the question on every ones mind. Should Brother Dean be allowed on the University of Arizona property? As a senior graduating from the U of A it saddens me to think that future generations of Wildcats may have to endure his messages of hate. He does not exercise the right to free speech he abuses it, spewing out messages of how women deserve rape, or gays deserve hell. Brother Dean does not bring any benefits to the school nor does he contribute to building of a positive environment for development and higher learning. He should be brought up on disciplinary charges for his blatant disregard for the University's own code of conduct. To site statute 21, " Engaging in discriminatory activities, including harassment and retaliation, as prohibited by applicable law or university policy. " He violates this rule every time he takes to the mall to speak. I know that I am fed up with his behavior and would like to see a campus free of Brother Dean. To be clear my message is not speaking to infringe upon his right to speech or freedom of religious practices. I am only saying that what he is doing has no place on a college campus.

Did you know that every day vulnerable children slip through the safety net that’s supposed to catch them? Keisha entered the child welfare system as an infant and bounced around foster families for years. At 12 years old, she was raped and forced into prostitution. At age 17, Keisha was arrested, detained, and labeled a juvenile delinquent (1). Keisha is not a criminal. She is a victim of human trafficking. The child welfare system should have identified her before law enforcement sent her to jail. Due to severe lack of capacity and training, the social workers in charge of her well-being failed to intervene. The system that was supposed to protect her left her traumatized instead. Keisha is not alone. There’s substantial evidence that child trafficking victims usually have involvement with the child welfare system either before or during their exploitation (2). In Maryland, nearly 30% of cases referencing human trafficking involve minors (3). Child welfare agencies across the country are not identifying or providing for the needs of children - some already within their systems - that are vulnerable to sex and labor trafficking. You can change this reality. U.S. Senators are considering passing legislation to fix this injustice. But they need your help. Senator Mikulski can help ensure that child welfare agencies take action to protect these children. The child welfare bill will improve child welfare agencies’ ability to identify and protect more vulnerable children. That’s why we need Senator Mikulski to support the Strengthening the Child Welfare Response to Human Trafficking Act of 2013 (S.1823). Sources: 1. Ima Matul, Child Welfare System Must Work Better to Help Stop Trafficking of Children | Commentary, ROLL CALL (Jan. 23, 2014), http://www.rollcall.com/news/child_welfare_system_must_work_better_to_help_stop_trafficking_of_children-230345-1.html?pg=1. 2. A New York State study showed that 85% of child trafficking victims had prior involvement with the child welfare system. Frances Gragg, Ian Petta, Haidee Bernstein, Karla Eisen, & Liz Quinn, New York Prevalence Study of Commercially Sexually Exploited Children, Prepared for: New York State Office of Children and Family Services, Apr. 18, 2007. 3. National Human Trafficking Resource Center (NHTRC) Data Breakdown, Maryland State Report 1/1/2013 – 12/31/2013, available at: https://na4.salesforce.com/sfc/p/300000006E4S/a/600000004UwS/OJQI0uqWB.DsXVTWOclL1ws2ZLst2DQ5ZtqZQkFq95Q=.

I am very much concerned about the treatment of disenfranchised members of my community.

I bought my condo in Bettendorf, Iowa, in 2007 and lived there ever since. What started out as an excitement of a new homeowner, gradually turned into a worst nightmare. As soon as the Board of Directors was formed (in 2008) they started their reign of terror by bullying owners into compliance with their unreasonable propositions, misinformation, micromanagement and redlining. One of the few very harmful amendments to the Association Bylaws was the BOD's orchestrating a ban on renting. The Board manipulated the owners into thinking that the value of their homes was going down due to renting (even though only a few condos out of over a hundred units were rented at the time). The real reason behind the ban: a large proportion of renters were families of color, mostly professionals from Asia. Condo owners' meetings usually resemble a coliseum-style intimidation of those who disagree with the BOD's decisions. In addition, I wonder if the ban on renting was even valid since there is no public record of the amendment. In any case, the Board stands by its decision to ban renting and those who have to relocate for any reason are in danger of having to foreclose their homes and face other hardships. However, when it comes to real issues, such as the maintenance, the owners are left to their own devices. This winter, for example, the driveways literally looked like a skating rink. I was one of the unfortunate owners who ended up with a back injury after falling on the ice. Instead of an apology, I was advised by a Board member to use a back door, where there was supposedly less ice! Palmer Hills Place BOD's terrorizing and their illegal, racist, harmful actions and neglect need to stop. They need to step down and let the well-intended and capable board members to take their place.

Education & proper treatment for a young boy with Aprexia & Autism

Demos is a public policy organization working for an America where we all have an equal say in our democracy and an equal chance in our economy. Student debt is a core issue of ours, and we support Senator Warren's bill. For more on the bill: http://www.warren.senate.gov/documents/BankonStudentsFactSheet.pdf

You'd think when a police officer assaults a civilian and causes her to have convulsions, the cop would be the one who ends up on trial. Not so if you're an Occupy protester. Then a cop can grope you, attack you and abandon you — and you'll be charged with felonies for elbowing him back.

Some of the biggest boundaries for bisexual teens and adults to overcome are erasure and isolation, with people from both the straight and gay community ignoring their issues or refusing to even admit they exist.

Jim Coughlan, the Dutchess County controller and a candidate for state Senate, told the black MSNBC news anchor on Twitter, ‘Keep your stinking paws off my kid, you damned dirty ape.’ The tweet was in response to remarks Harris-Perry made about child-rearing. Coughlan said he had no idea that Harris-Perry is black and denied the comment had racist undertones. Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/upstate-pol-stirs-race-furor-tweet-msnbc-anchor-article-1.1780967#ixzz30y7HBaBd

To all Vermont Representatives: Please address the most pervasive environmental issue of our times; an aggressive global geoengineering/weather modification program which has been showering toxic health endangering chemicals into our air, water and soil via specialized aircraft and modified existing aircraft. This is nothing less than genocide on a massive scale! If this issue is not addressed then the natural environment of this planet and its people are not being served. As our representatives in the state of Vermont, it is your duty to acknowledge this dire issue in the interest of your constituents and all US citizens. There is not one individual or family untouched by this daily aerosol spraying program. Many are already sick and many have died as a direct result. We are all being saturated with aluminum coated fiberglass particles, barium, strontium, and other harmful “experimental” substances. The most immediate effects are respiratory complications, blurred vision, clogged sinuses, headaches, fatigue, cardiac complications, gastrointestinal problems and short term memory loss. The incidence of cancers, allergies, autism, asthma reproductive disorders and Alzheimer are at an all time high and are associated with the heavy metals, biological and radioactive elements being taken up by the soil water, our livestock, crops and ourselves. This will be damaging to our healthcare system, farming, Vermont products and tourism. PLEASE STOP THIS PROGRAM IN OUR STATE!