The representatives of our Fort Wayne City Council are not listening to the concerns of the local taxpayers and are trying to rush through passing an ordinance to strip public union workers of collective bargaining.

Yesterday, Speaker Michael Madigan announced that he could not organize enough Illinois House Democrats to vote to extend current income tax rates for corporations and individuals in Illinois. Instead, he directed House members to craft a new budget with $4 BILLION in CUTS! That’s what Republicans do…Republicans cut corporate taxes and gut funding for schools, roads, parks and other things that matter to real people. Speaker Madigan is the most powerful person in Springfield, and we can’t afford for him to govern like a Republican!

Freeing some for a non-violent crime while punishing others for the same thing is morally wrong. It would not be fair if the Fair Sentencing Act is not retroactive. It's time to free those who have been wrongfully sentenced.

We need renewable energy to be built as fast as it can be built in IL, and throughout the US, to mitigate climate change! We need new green jobs to bolster our economy! Here in IL our Renewable (Energy) Portfolio Standard, (RPS), is broken and Springfield is planning to slide out for the summer without fixing it - SB103, HB2864 are the vehicles for that fix. Corporations are standing in the way, and once again Springfield is bowing to the corporate influence. We can not let them, climate change is on the agenda now, not whenever they get around to it, but now! More info at Frack Free Illinois on FB and www.ilikecleanenergy.org

HELP! What President Obama and Secretary of State Kerry should do about the US Marine in Mexican prison. What should President Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry ask of the Mexican government? Accelerate, really accelerate the judicial process (akin to our Constitution right to a speedy trial.) Don’t make this marine languish in prison — give him due process…and now.  This marine did two tours in Afghanistan for us (even got struck by an IED and suffers from PTSD) — so it is our turn to help him.   Secretary Kerry, on his trip to Mexico, should ask the Mexican authorities to accelerate the judicial process for our US Marine. I know we all want the Marine home today. There is an easy solution to this.  We just have to do it and get it done.  What we can do, and what is minimally reasonable under these circumstances, is use our political and diplomatic muscle (and yes that can include some economic warnings) and demand an accelerated judicial process, meaning that a judge or prosecutor review his case fully right now, not later. A fair and complete review of the facts of this marine’s case will lead one to the obvious conclusion: he accidentally drove into Mexico. He never intended to bring weapons unlawfully into Mexico.  Our marine has been in the Mexican prison system since March 31. The Mexican judicial process is piecemeal and can drag on and on and on – from months to even years. It is different from our system of justice and often poisoned by bribes and corruption. In the meantime, as the Mexican justice system plays out endlessly, our marine sits in the prison. If the marine were in the American judicial system, he would have been released on bail (8th Amendment / Constitutional right to bail) and the minute a fair prosecutor reviewed his case, the case would be dismissed. The case is not close – the facts are simple. Just listening to the 9-1-1 call placed by the marine at the Mexican checkpoint at the time is itself convincing that there was no intent to bring weapons unlawfully into Mexico. And if an American prosecutor for some unusual or even vindictive reason thought the matter should proceed to trial, I am as certain as you can get with predicting trial results, that this marine would be found not guilty, not guilty of intending to bring weapons into Mexico unlawfully.

We don't abandon our own. SGT Tahmooressi is an honorable man who has faithfully served his country. His service, earning him a battlefield promotion, resulted in PTSD. Having recently arrived in San Diego to receive treatment from the VA, he was not familiar with the area. He was living out of his truck, and had all of his possessions, to include legally owned guns, in his vehicle when disallowed to turn around at the border. SGT Tahmooressi has been held in a Mexican Prison for over 50 days. Attention from the Secretary of State and President Obama could easily resolve this matter. Bring SGT Tahmooressi home NOW! We do not abandon our own.

The current medical marijuana law is great for people that are on the list of approved illnesses and not-so great for other people that are not on the list. Those people are being discriminated against. We know very well that marijuana can cure more than what is currently outlined by the bill.

Blue Ridge Biofuels produces biodiesel from recycled cooking oil in Asheville, NC. The EPA proposal threatens to reverse positive growth that has been made by Blue Ridge Biofuels and other biodiesel producers. The EPA proposal is also a retreat from their commitment to combat climate change.

On May 15, 2014, Jessy West exercised his federally-protected right to go on strike from his workplace, Lee's Famous Recipe Chicken, a global fast-food chain. He was illegally retaliated against and was fired. Jessy went on strike because he works hard but still struggles paycheck to paycheck because he only makes $7.40 an hour. Nobody who works as hard as Jessy should live in poverty.

As a primary care physician, I know the value of having a doctor to call your own. I have volunteered in Free Clinics in both Prince William County and the city of Fredericksburg. The charitable care provided in Free Clinics is wonderful, but does not compare to the ongoing continuity of care provided by one's own primary care physician. Expanding Medicaid will improve the health of our fellow Virginians and save lives. We need your help to end the Medicaid blockade before the Commonwealth shuts down on July 1.

Wolves in the United States are fighting for their lives. De-listed from the Endangered Species List in six states, they are hunted, trapped, and gassed in their dens, resulting in at least a 20% overall drop in their population. Wolves are not a threat to humans, and have a minimal impact on livestock losses. Wolves are deeply committed to family life, and when a pack member is slain, it can fatally disrupt pack life. Animal Planet must stop perpetuating lies about wolves!

The allegation that veterans died while waiting to receive care at the Phoenix VA -- and that managers "cooked the books" to cover up inadequate wait times -- is a tragedy, deserves an investigation, and an appropriate response. Unfortunately it has become a political football, with the loudest voices often the same people who voted against increased funding for veterans health care just three short months ago. Many Republicans have yet to forgive current VA Secretary General Shinseki for speaking up about the force size needed to secure the kind of victory in Iraq neoconservatives were saying would be easy in 2003. But it’s time for them to put that aside and focus on getting the answers our veterans — many of whom are seeking care after returning from Iraq — have earned and deserve. That's the only way to determine what happened and improve the system for current and future veterans.