Senator Jeff Klein is the biggest obstacle to the progressive agenda in New York State. In 2012 New Yorkers elected a Democratic majority in the NYS Senate. Jeff Klein, claiming to be an "independent Democrat", abandoned the Democrats and made a self-serving deal with the Republican minority, transforming what should have been a powerless Republican minority into wall of obstruction. By standing with the Republicans, Klein bears responsibility for blocking the progressive agenda on countless issues -- a minimum wage increase, strengthening tenant protections, financing Mayor de Blasio's plan for Universal Pre-K, campaign finance reform, protecting women's rights and a ban on hydro-fracking to name a few. Jeff Klein has not acted like an "independent" Democrat -- he has empowered Republicans, and joined their obstructionist agenda. Oliver Koppell, throughout your public service career many have called you an independent Democrat. We applaud your independence. We even applaud those times some of us may have disagreed with you. We trust your history of independent, progressive Democratic leadership. You should run to defeat Jeff Klein and give progressive New Yorkers back the State Senate. Original Signers (all residents in the 34th Senate District of NYS): Dart Westphal / Margaret Groarke / Barry Soltz / Susan Moscou / Jack Marth Mollie Welsh Kruger / Alex Kratz / Elena Mora / John Kruger / Robert Jackson

We can't make the Honduran orphanage do what is right but the US has the opportunity to step in and rectify it. With almost 200,000 orphaned children in Honduras and less than a handful adopted per year, Honduras refuses to process the adoption so that we can bring them to the US. They simply say that they don’t need to be adopted because we are their legal guardians and that is sufficient. However, the US Embassy in Honduras will not issue an immigrant visa nor will they allow them to visit us until they are adopted. It's a catch-22 that only the Secretary of State can resolve. There is no possibility of getting the adoption finished in Honduras due to existential corruption and an uncaring bureaucracy. The US embassy under State Department rules will not issue a travel visa until the adoption is finished. Only the Secretary of State can make an exception and grant a travel visa. Once in the US, we can easily adopt them due to their status, ie, they have been legally abandoned and we are their legal guardians. When my half-brother abandoned these girls to the state orphanage IHNFA, they were 6, 9 and 10 years old and were not in school. They are now 10, 13 & 14 and have reached educational parity because of their hard work and the opportunity we gave them in Honduras, but they need a real home with us and not just with a caretaker in the most dangerous country in the world (2012 UN Report). After 4 years, we have run out of options in what we thought was going to be a temporary arrangement. This petition is to ask the Secretary of State John Kerry to approve of the legal exception he is authorized to do under US law. To instruct the US Embassy in Honduras to issue visitor visas so they these children who are legally abandoned, who have no parents and whom we are their legal guardians, may come to the US and live in our home which they deserve.

PLEASE WRITE YOUR AFFILIATION IN THE COMMENTS SECTION We are Illinois faculty members who strongly oppose Illinois Senate Bill 3017, proposed legislation that aims to curtail the constitutional right of all academics to determine for ourselves the scope of our academic associations. SB 3017 would prohibit Illinois public universities from using State aid to fund an academic entity, or even fund a professor’s membership or travel to attend a meeting of an academic entity, that “has issued a public resolution or other official statement” supporting or engaging in boycott. The legislation was proposed in direct response to the decisions of the American Studies Association (ASA) , the Association of Asian American Studies (AAAS) , and the Native American and Indigenous Studies Association (NAIS) to endorse an academic boycott of Israel. The legislation would impose the views of elected officials on Illinois universities. This bill aims to punish academic advocacy in the form of a boycott on an issue of public concern because some members of the Legislature disfavor the viewpoint expressed. In doing so, it opens the door to government interference in any academic speech activities on important political issues. The legislation violates academic freedom rights as guaranteed by the U.S. and Illinois Constitutions. SB3017 proposes to impose a political litmus test by which legislators dictate to universities which boycotts by academics are appropriate. Under the U.S. Constitution, “free speech is not a right that is given only to be so circumscribed that it exists in principle but not in fact.” For this reason, the government may not withhold funding in order to suppress “dangerous ideas.” We strongly oppose legislative attempts to put a strait jacket on the manner in which faculty associations exercise their academic and professional judgment. We urge our elected representatives in the Illinois General Assembly to reject Illinois Senate Bill 3017.

There is too much incompetence in the field of phlebotomy. There is currently no rules governing the practice of phlebotomy in this state. Currently the only requirement is to complete a program that takes, in some cases, less than 6 weeks and no laws governing those who complete it. At present, even a CNA is required to take a state skills exam and be held to a higher level of standards and they perform no invasive procedures. Phlebotomy is a skill that is invasive in itself and those that practice the skill should be held to a uniform standard throughout the state

Closing Heritage Heights directly effects all WNYers. It will effect our community, our jobs, our schools and our economy.

To provide many people, like my sister who is now battling breast cancer for a second time, the legal means to obtain medication that would allow her to eat and become healthy enough to battle this disease without throwing up after every meal while removing the fear of losing their jobs causing them to be without health care and benefits while they fight to recover.

Climate change is the greatest threat we face and the time we have when we can effectively deal with is short, the U.N. panel gives us about 15 years. The solution favored by economists is a market based solution that gradually raises the price of fossil fuels until green energy replaces it completely. Scientist say we can do this in 20 years with current technology but we need to start yesterday. For more info on solution on solution options try; the Carbon Tax Center, the Brookings Institution or Citizens Climate Lobby.

I believe students have the ability to make changes big or small. It would bring more money in for Platte Canyon and it would allow for one more activity for our youth. Activites are hard to come by in our small community. Keeping kids active has been proven to keep kids out of trouble.

This petition was by Silvertip Mountain Center, LLC, co-owned by Dr. Laurie Hinck and Jay Schifferdecker to protect the vulnerable AB Wilderness from inholding development. Laurie Hinck: I was born in Silver Gate, Montana (within 15 miles of these Beartooth inholdings). I am co-owner of two businesses, Silvertip Mountain Center and the Log Cabin Café Bed and Breakfast. I have a PhD in environmental history and have a strong background in how development has harmed the rural U.S. West. Jay Schifferdecker: I own two businesses in the area, including a ski shop. I have been skiing and mountaineering in the Beartooths for over twenty years. The AB Wilderness is vulnerable and we need to protect it from encroachment. Our blog: http://theschiffspeaks.blogspot.com/ INHOLDING COMMERCIALIZATION / WOODY CREEK CABIN HARMS THE ABSAROKA BEARTOOTHS: 1. Pressures the Greater Yellowstone’s wildest ecosystem: contaminating a watershed of the Yellowstone River, stressing grizzlies and other wildlife, causing noise and light pollution 2. Privatizes public space, degrades public access 3. Violates the spirit of the Wilderness Act of 1964: “To assure that an increasing population, accompanied by expanding settlement and growing mechanization, does not occupy and modify all areas within the United States and its possessions, leaving no lands designated for preservation and protection in their natural condition.”

I have been concerned about water usage in California since I read Cadillac Desert over a decade ago. Now with the very serious drought looming it is time for not just Californians, but for all people to take action.

OPEN LETTER TO President Barack Obama The White House Washington D.C Dear President Obama, I hope this letter of concerns find you in good health. I am doing my very best to continue supporting you. I trust you leadership, but I am very concerned about the problems Michigan residents especially those in the Black communities are experiencing ever since Mr. Rick Snyder became Governor. He has eroded and disrespected democracy in Michigan by ignoring the United States and Michigan Constitution and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. We need your intervention now! We need you NOW! Many feel abandoned by you, our President. I am doing all I can to give you support and speak up for our historical president but when we don’t hear or see you speaking up against anyone, especially any top official such as a governor, who is disrespecting and attempting to, and in some cases, reverse our voting rights, that is a major problem that can’t be defended. Please speak up and against these types of actions. So many voters have opted out of the voting process. Why? Because it seems as though our votes are being railroaded and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 is being ignored as displayed shortly after a majority vote on November 6, 2012 repealing PA 4 of 2011 also known as the Emergency Manager Law. The governor signed into law before January 2013, another version of the EM bill (PA 436) during lame duck session in which it was written to not be able to be repealed. This bill was already written and ready for the governor’s signature had Proposal 1 been approved and it was…with a “NO” vote. Even prior to this vote, over 300,000 signatures were easily obtained for the purpose of having this proposal placed on the November 2012 ballot and the Republican party did all it could to not have this initiative placed on the ballot by claiming that the “font” was inaccurate. That trick didn’t work so the only resolve Governor Snyder chose was to ignore the vote by signing into law, House Bill PA 436 another form of taking over and away our right to vote, be it wrong or right, on December 27, 2012. Please respond. Sincerely Yours, Cynthia A. Johnson Registered Detroit, MI voter

Our environment. Everyone in Fayetteville can see the plastic bags blowing around Fayetteville. We used to make fun of Springdale for having chicken feathers blowing around the streets of their town due to the chicken trucks hauling live chickens through town. Now, when I see those plastic bags blowing into our creek beds, across fields and into streams I think how they are not biodegradable and how they are blowing out of our landfills at an increasing rate. I think we can start a good thing if we BAN THOSE BAGS!!!-- Let's do it!!!!