Because an oil spill will cause countless damage to the ecosystems of Lake Michigan and Lake Huron and directly effect those industries relying on these waters for their livelihood. There have been two documented pipeline leaks in the Upper Peninsula to date.

Sign using the form on the left if you think Utah citizens should be able to vote on non-economic pain and suffering settlement limits instead of leaving the decision up to wealthy lobbyists, insurance agencies, and doctors! What if Utah law said your income could only be $20,000 per year for the rest of your working life? You’d be stuck bringing in only a third of what most other Utah households earn, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. You’d also be unable to buy a house, afford to live in a decent housing complex, or even qualify for many of the necessary steps to achieving the American dream. Here’s the scary truth: all of these things could happen to almost anyone at any time, and it’s due to a law you probably don’t know exists. My dad’s story is tragic proof of this. One year ago, my dad went in for a routine medical procedure. While current legal proceedings prevent me from going into detail, what I can say is that my dad has lost 90% of his feeling in his left leg and is no longer able to work. Unfortunately, a law went into effect without ever being on a ballot that says the limit for a malpractice settlement in the state of Utah is $450,000 for pain and suffering. That sounds like a lot, but think about it: my dad has 20 years of work left. If he could go to work and earn just $50,000 per year (still below the average), he’d make almost $1 million before he retired. Instead, even though my dad can no longer go fishing with his sons, go to work, take a jog, or even walk normally ever again, the state of Utah’s lobbyists decided – without voter knowledge or consent – all of pain was only worth less than $20,000 per year. And it’s all due to a law that never even went public. This $450,000 limit doesn’t just affect the middle-aged, either. If a child – even a baby – is a victim of malpractice, the family can still only be awarded $450,000 in damages. If that baby lives to be 50, that’s only $9,000 per year! I personally believe it’s not enough, and this cap should be changed based on the severity of each case and life expectancy of the victim. However, I’m not asking for this petition to change the law; I’m simply asking for the right as a citizen to vote on whether this law represents what I want as a tax-paying member of society. Had it been brought to the public prior to being passed the outcome of this law might have been different. Since this could affect any of us, don’t we deserve to have at least a vote? Please sign this petition so Utah voters can vote on Utah’s non-economic “pain and suffering” cap during our next election.

This section of Milwaukee Avenue on the northwest side has long been used as a four-lane expressway, encouraging high speed traffic. According to CDOT, in the last five years there have been 970 crashes on this stretch, including one fatality and 17 serious injuries. The road diet would change the street to two travel lanes and a turn lane, plus protected bike lanes, which could reduce crashes by 30 percent, CDOT’s Nate Roseberry said at a recent meeting. Removing one lane for cars and providing a center left-turn lane will make the road safer and will not hinder traffic. Two recent example of this: a lane was removed from Dearborn Street in downtown Chicago, thru the entire length of the loop. Similar road diets on Chicago streets have already proven successful in reducing speeding. For example, last year the transportation department installed protected bike lanes on a broad stretch of Vincennes between 103rd and 84th, which often functioned as a de-facto four-lane street and was plagued by dangerous driving and crashes. The project reconfigured the street as two clearly defined travel lanes and a turn lane, plus the protected bike lanes. After installation, average motor vehicle speeds between 7 and 8 a.m. dropped from 38 mph to 32 mph, the number of speeders was reduced from 624 to 390, and the number of vehicles going over 40 mph dropped from 192 to 54. Studies have shown that traffic moves just fine on two-lane streets with center turn lanes that see 20,000 or fewer motor vehicles per day, which is consistently the case on this stretch of Milwaukee. The road diet will likely have no negative impact on traffic flow. However, because there is currently too much capacity on Milwaukee north of Lawrence, speeding is encouraged, which results in the high crash rate. Average motor vehicle speeds estimated would from 38 mph to 32 mph, the number of speeders would be reduced and the number of vehicles going over 40 mph would drop significantly. Reducing the speed and making the lanes available for slower traffic actually enhances and improves business for many of the small independent businesses in this area. People travelling slowly actually see the many business available - they don't see this when travelling at high speed and needing to keep their eye on the road. Other features of the project could include new pavement, traffic signal coordination to facilitate vehicle flow, and redesigned bus stops that will make it easier to pick up passengers without blocking traffic. An additional community meeting will be held this spring, with construction starting in late 2014 or early 2015.

Legislation proposed to change current law regarding Charter Schools, SB1085, does harm in that it removes or severely limits the oversight of our democratically elected school board members. Specifically: • SB1085 allows “institutions of higher learning” to AUTHORIZE Charter Schools instead of your local school board members. Charter Schools authorized by institutions of higher learning would not have ANY local oversight. • SB1085 allows Charter schools to merge. Once a merger occurs, these entities may petition the Pennsylvania Department of Education for oversight by that Department………..removing all local control. • SB1085 DOUBLES the Charter renewal period from 5 to 10 years. This means that local elected officials must wait twice as long to deny the renewal of Charters for underperforming Charter Schools which could prevent Charter School students from attaining a quality education. • SB1085 establishes a Charter School Funding Advisory Board whose members are STACKED IN FAVOR OF Charter Schools. This board is not tasked to consider the financial impact that Charter Schools have on traditional public schools. Overfunding of Charter Schools, especially Cyber Charter Schools is already causing unnecessary property tax increases and is jeopardizing the financial stability of traditional public schools. Local districts may cease to exist due to the financial burdens imposed upon them (and YOU) by excessive Charter School payments and expedited Charter School Growth. Petition Background It is well known that the current Charter School Law needs to be updated, mainly in the areas of overfunding of Charter Schools, the double dip pension issue, and the many conflicts of interest that are occurring in regard to Charter School Management Corporations. While SB1085 takes some steps in the right direction regarding these issues, THE LEGISLATION MUST NOT PASS IN ITS CURRENT FORM due to the many ways in which the Bill removes YOUR VOICE as a property tax payer in Pennsylvania. PLEASE sign this petition to ensure that YOUR elected local school board officials maintain control over Charter Schools, thus protecting your property tax dollars! Let’s send an urgent message to our legislators! Please sign!

The Voting Rights Act is one of the most important pieces of civil rights legislation Congress has ever passed. Last year's Supreme Court decision weakened critical provisions of it. Right now, Congress can restore those protections by passing this important bill. Representative Perlmutter should support this effort by cosponsoring and fighting for a strong bill.

I feel that CMC has taken too much money from big oil and gas to think that they could have an unbiased focus for a sustainability program. Yes, I I was personally affected by by this coalition of big gas and oil and CMC. I formally taught environmental ethics at CMC and was terminated whn my class uncovered a plot, involving the former CMC president, to put a natural gas pumping station on our campus. We exposed this to the public and that project was stopped. The president was terminated, apparently because of this...and so was I for exposing it.

My son and I are hardworking Tennesseans as well, and we are committed entrepreneurs with an upstart business. We simply cannot afford healthcare at the moment. Just recently I got a piece of sawdust in my eye, and "man" it was in there deep. I was in extreme discomfort, but I knew an emergency room visit of $1000.00 was out of the question. So I had to lay in the floor while my son dug out the wood splinters. I am a grown man with a high tolerance for pain, but please consider for a minute that not everyone has helping family members in times of need and ask yourself what is the right thing to do. Medicaid expansion.

Despite the fact that New Jersey has one of the highest unemployment rates in the country, the NJTA is considering a privatization plan that could cost hundreds of New Jersey residents and tax payers their jobs. This plan would result in a lower quality of life for toll operators while having no proven benefit for New Jersey motorists. New Jersey's tolls bring in more than $1.6 Billion annually. The best case scenario has privatization saving between $5 and $6 million a year. This plan would have a slight benefit for New Jerseyans at the expense of hundreds of working families.

The Voting Rights Act is important piece of legislation. It is the right thing to do for the country. Stand strong and vote for this act.

Late last week, Representatives Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI) and John Conyers (D-MI) and Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) introduced new legislation—the Voting Rights Amendment Act of 2014—that would strengthen the Voting Rights Act. This bill isn't perfect but is the best vehicle we have for restoring the rights struck down by the Supreme Court last year. We urge you to support it and prove you are interested in promoting voting by all eligible voters rather than trying to suppress voting as many believe.

Bring back the WWE "Bra and Panties Match" !!

I am not but other people.