When I decided to go work for a nonprofit environmental group, I did so in part because the government promised to forgive the balance of our loan debt if I worked in a public service (NGO) job for 10+ years. This made the corresponding dip in income palatable. With it came lower monthly payments (based on income), but the tradeoff was that we would accrue much more interest over time. This was okay if the government was going to forgive the debt. Based on that promise from the government, I declined a job at a law firm and went to work an environmental non-profit dedicated to river restoration. Now, President Obama is proposing a change that would penalize me for making the decision retroactively. The changes would increase my monthly payments by 5X, and would revoke the loan forgiveness promise that I relied upon, and instead cap it at an unreasonably low level. These changes make the prospect of having children, buying a house, or continuing public service career paths very difficult. President Obama's proposing this change under the auspices of reducing the cost of higher education. But instead of requiring higher education institutions to limit tuition levels (to qualify for federal loans), or imposing the risk of default on those schools, he's chosen to impose the penalty on students, and those dedicated to missions that serve the public interest.

It's time to help everyone continue to live this American dream and enjoy life adding better pay and providing a cost of living allowance would be helpful to those that have maintained a positive employment, then the employer would allocate on special needs basis or job strength.

Maryland’s workers deserve a fair wage! Vote for SB 331 and HB 295 raise the minimum wage to $10.10 by 2016! We believe that to strengthen our State we need to strengthen our workers. While corporate profits are at an all-time high our families are being left behind. The current minimum wage of $7.25 keeps our working families in poverty. By raising the minimum wage we can help provide the boost to these families deserve while supporting local business and creating job opportunities. A recently published report by the National Women’s Law Center stated the importance of a higher minimum wage and a higher tipped minimum wage to ensure fair pay for women and members of our community. Vote for SB 331 and HB 295!

See ten pages of reasons under Preface of document linked. Thank you.

It is time for parents to stand up against the unfair forcing of children into high stakes testing situations. Testing is a multi-billion dollar industry. Our government, subject to powerful lobbyists and money, can’t be counted to stop this epidemic. There is NO evidence that these tests accurately measure a child's knowledge. There are numerous real variables, such as poverty, which have much higher significance on a child's success rate. High-stakes standardized test are a boondoggle, created to enable cynical developers to privatize our childrens' education-- for profit. We believe that parents have a constitutional right (under the 14th Amendment) to protect their child however they feel necessary. To protect our children from the madness of standardized testing, we must be free to exercise our parental rights to opt-out, free of any fears that there could be punishments inflicted on their children, their teachers or their schools.

The level of fossil fuel pollution (chiefly CO2) in the atmosphere is already affecting the planet's climate. The prospects for coming generations do not look good. A universal response is needed if we are to stop this dangerous trend. To get everyone on board in reducing the amounts of fossil fuels they use, the government should get involved by providing economic incentives like this fee/dividend combination. The fee/dividend would penalize the greatest users of fossil fuels and reward those who used little. Everyone would be involved trying to maximize their economic advantage by minimizing the fees they paid. Each individual would try to use less fossil fuels.

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.