When accounted properly, our water treatment plant adds money to the town's bottom line. If sold, studies show that private sewer operators typically raise rates by 63% and profits to shareholders will be the goal. Clean water is a responsibility that should be handled by our elected representatives, not executives who are in no way accountable to us.

The nuclear reactors at Indian Point are located on the Hudson River about 20 miles north of New York City. They sit about one mile from the intersection of two earthquake faults. Indian Point 3 has been identified as the US nuclear reactor most likely to suffer reactor core damage from seismic activity. There are about 2700 metric tons of high level nuclear waste being stored on-site, most of it in vulnerable fuel pools in warehouse-type buildings, not containment structures like the reactors themselves. Indian Point sucks in 2.5 billion gallons of Hudson River water every day and shoots it back into the river about 15-20 degrees hotter than when it went in, creating a thermal plume that kills fish and river life by the millions each year. The spent fuel pools are leaking radioactive water into the ground and into the Hudson River. There are 20 million people who live within 50 miles of Indian Point, including everyone in New York City. In 2003, a study found that the Indian Point Emergency Evacuation Plan, was "inadequate to protect the public from an unacceptable dose of radiation." In 1979, the NRC Director of the Office of State Programs, who was in charge of emergency planning for all US nuclear plants said, "Indian Point is one of the most inappropriate sites in existence" for a nuclear plant. Relicensing the reactors is actually issuing a new 20-year license. Under current population and seismic standards, Indian Point could NEVER be licensed to operate. Therefore, a new license should not be issued. The NRC is the only agency that can re-license nuclear plants and only the United States Congress can prevent it from doing so.

Everyday I see my friends and coworkers working long hours for poverty wages, barely able to keep their heads above water, deciding whether to pay the rent, or pay the heating bill, or buy groceries for their families. Increasing the minimum wage would help thousands of working Americans lift themselves out of poverty. There is NO reason Rep. Benishek should deny them that opportunity.

We do not want to be represented by someone who does not live in our district. With over 725,000 people in a district; we can find someone from among us to send to Congress, thank you. This law will stop party bosses from creating mischief when they force their hand-picked candidates on the population.

Our brave men and women deserve better from their leaders and I feel we should do everything to garner support among those empowered to improve the current situation. The Senate has taken the cowardly route and stands on the wrong side of history by passing an edited version of the bill which does not remove the conflict of interest in the chain of command that shelters the perpetrators of sex abuse.

I have fallen in love with Maui, all it has to offer, even it's great dichotomies. I feel strongly about my job here as a public servant and have chosen to dedicate my life to the great youth of this state and nation. Yet, I am single female teacher who is facing leaving island because I can not find a place I can afford for myself and my dog. I have been forced to sleep on couches of friends and coworkers, put my belongings in storage and my dog in a boarding facility. Sadder is the unfortunate comfort that I am not alone. Please help me to bring this to the attention of local law makers and zoning enforcement officials so hardworking, local families and individuals like myself may find some relief.

The inequality of wages in this country is wreaking havoc with the middle class. Fair pay helps the entire nation!

Rep. McElwee just switched her vote to “no” on accepting federal money to provide 70,000 Mainers with the health coverage they need. Her reasoning according to the Bangor Daily News? “I have talked all weekend long to people about this, explaining my feelings, but most of the people who called me were from Portland. They weren't from The County. Caribou is a Republican community, and my constituents do not want MaineCare.” I'm a constituent of Rep. McElwee's and to me it doesn't make any sense for Maine not to accept money to help 70,000 Mainers get the health coverage they need. Please sign this petition to tell Rep. McElwee to accept federal funding to expand MaineCare.

Starting in April 2014, Microsoft will no longer provide support or internet updates for Windows XP. What this means in their words is that your XP computer can still be used on the internet, but chances are you will get viruses. Their solution: Upgrade to Windows 8.1, which they admit most of these older computers can't run, or go out and buy a new computer. Not all of us can afford to just run out and buy a new computer. Ask Microsoft to continue support for products they sold.

There has been an alarming trend on these news sites of individuals spreading hate and scurrilous lies by using the comment sections. News media sites should adopt the same standard they use in print editions in both quoting individuals rather than anonymous sources and identifying writers who pen letters to the editor. These news site are giving these cyber assasins a platform and also skewing the public debate.

This legislation, by favoring small contributions within the reach of the average vote, will help slow a profoundly disturbing trend in Montgomery County in which less that a third of donations to County Council campaigns come from those contributing $250 or less. Under such circumstances, while all voters are equal, some are clearly more equal than others.

It is wrong that a congressman is abusing his power and trying to in affect silence other members of the oversight committee (especially if you are from the other party). This is an unprecedented move by a committee chair and should not be allowed to happen. Issa is only interested in his party's agenda and seemingly willing to do anything to oppose and silence the opposition to his and his party's ideals or agenda. Issa needs to be reprimanded and removed from the oversight committee chair.