Our son passed away from a Rare Disease called Leigh's Disease. It is so important in the Rare Disease community that research continue so that some relief can come to those who suffer. And by claiming a tax credit of only 50% we may see drug manufacturers find orphan drugs to help treat patients with rare disease. Shortly after our son's death in 2010, EPI-743 went into clinical trials for those who were in final stages of Leigh's Disease. I'm sure that this would have never happened had it not been for the Orphan Drug Tax Credit!!!!

my petition is about taking the greed out of our country and putting the humanity back in

Currently, Vermont pays millions of dollars in interest and fees to big out of state financial institutions and other entities. Most of this money does not come back to the state and is not available for use by the state to increase economic vitality and the quality of life for Vermonters. Some of these institutions have been found to engage in rigging everything they can for their own enrichment. Creation of a state bank would keep this money in VT The parent company of TD Bank NA, where VT deposits most of its checkbook funds, has derivative contracts which are valued at 5 times its total assets. In the event of another collapse like the one in 2008, it is possible that Vermont could see its deposits confiscated to "bail-in" TD Bank. Putting our public monies into a state bank would prevent this from happening. S.204 would create a "10 Percent for Vermont Program" and extend full banking powers to the Vermont Economic Development Authority. Initially, 10% of VT's unrestricted funds would be deposited in the state bank to be used in partnership with community banks to fund projects which would contribute to Vermont's economy. This is a modest start which would require capitalization of about $7 million. The bank would not be designed to compete with community banks. It would be designed to expand their ability to enhance prosperity in the state. The Senate Finance Committee must take up and approve this bill by the end of the day on March 21. Currently, it looks like it is unlikely that the committee is going to act on this bill. We need to let the committee know that there are a lot of Vermonters who support this bill. Please sign this petition and pass it on to as many people as you can. The more people who sign it, the more likely that the committee will act on the bill.

My brother was sentenced to life in federal prison for a first-time non-violent drug charge. This was his first offense of any kind. The federal courts took the words of 2 already jailed drug dealers to use against my brother. The jury found him NOT-Guilty of having a gun when arrested; yet the judge used it against him when determining his sentencing. The judge has told my brother's lawyer that he thought my brother lied on the stand and didn't like his attitude; so I guess that means he made it personal and thought he'd show him. The life-sentence for a first time drug offense is absolutely ridiculous and we need to put a stop to it!!!

If policymakers fail to make California more competitive, our local film and TV production industry will face permanent damage as hundreds of thousands of jobs leave forever to other. It is imperative that the Legislature and Administration take decisive steps to retain an industry that serves as a vital source of jobs, tax revenue and economic opportunity.

We, young professionals feel passionate about the growth of our community and want to aid in the process and also want to grow ourselves. We want to be a vital part in our community and network within one another and other business leaders. Stamford is "the city that works", we want to make sure it works properly.

“Strong: A Boston Anthem” is dedicated to the spirit and resilience of the people of Boston. We ask that the City Fathers support an effort to unite us by proclaiming this song Boston's official anthem.

Capping hours of in-home caregivers as California Gov. Jerry Brown proposes will jeopardize care while pushing countless caregivers further below the federal poverty line. Last fall, President Obama's Department of Labor extended the protections of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) to include In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) caregivers in California, 90 percent of whom are women and 70 percent of whom are women of color. Among California’s poorest workers, they have struggled without overtime and FLSA protections to raise families and make ends meet on poverty wages and meager benefits, all while putting their heart and soul into caring for our loved ones. This year, Gov. Brown proposed a state budget that caps IHSS caregivers’ hours in order to deny them overtime pay and FLSA protections. Across the state, 60,000 caregivers are currently paid for 160 or more hours of service a month. The governor’s proposed cap would cause those caregivers to lose as much as 43% of their incomes—earnings often used to feed, clothe and help house the very IHSS consumers they serve. If the legislature votes to approve this proposal, seniors and people with disabilities who require care beyond 40 hours a week will be forced to rely on temporary or alternative caregivers with less experience and a lack of familiarity with their unique needs. Especially concerning are the impacts this proposal would have on children and adults with autism, and elderly patients with dementia, for whom consistency is an essential part of care. Capping hours for IHSS providers impacts both the livelihood of caregivers and the continuity of care IHSS consumers deserve. Passing this proposal would be a glaring example of how, even in a state known for its progressive history, seniors, disabled persons, women, people of color, and the working poor, are still denied a fair shake today. California can do better! Please add your name to the petition calling on Governor Brown and California's legislature to do right by caregivers, and care recipients by rescinding his proposal to cut hours for tens of thousands of workers.

What we need more than anything else right now is a show of strength and a statement to not just Bobby Jindal—but every Republican standing in the way of Medicaid expansion. Whether you're from a blue or red state, whether your governor expanded Medicaid or not, it’s time to join this campaign.

The TPP will have ruinous consequences for free speech on the Internet by expanding already ridiculous copyright protections and laying the groundwork for internet censorship. If confirmed by the Senate, Holleyman would be working to ensure that these anti-free speech provisions are enshrined in the TPP for good.

To have more closure and find out whether it was in fact a suicide and nothing more

New York State is one of the largest and most visible institutional investors in the world. It could also be one of the first to divest from destructive fossil fuels. At $160 billion, our state's Common Retirement Fund is the third largest pension plan in the country, and it's heavily invested in the fossil fuel industry. Climate change is real, it's here, and it's endangering the biodiversity and natural resources we depend on, as well as the physical infrastructure that makes our state run. So why are we invested in the very companies driving this crisis? Comptroller DiNapoli has the power to divest New York State from fossil fuels. Divestment has the power to rein in the fossil fuel industry and support our transition to a clean energy economy. With the evidence mounting that fossil fuel stocks are overvalued, divestment also protects our public funds from serious financial risks. Around the country, a movement is brewing to divest public institutions from fossil fuels, and it's growing every day. It's growing because divestment is both the smart thing to do and the right thing to do. It's time to divest New York State from fossil fuels and invest our public money in a sustainable future.