While ALEC's extreme agenda, which includes pushing "Stand Your Ground" and "Voter ID" laws in the states, has caused many of its corporate sponsors to abandon the organization — including Coca-Cola, Kraft, McDonalds, Walmart, and just this week, VISA — TransCanada is still a proud supporter of ALEC. Resolutions urging the President and Congress to approve Keystone XL that were written by ALEC and include paragraphs lifted directly from TransCanada's own public relations talking points were introduced in six states by legislators beholden to ALEC. In Nebraska, Sen. Jim Smith did the bidding of ALEC and TransCanada by introducing LB 1161, the bill that fast-tracked the approval of the Keystone XL pipeline route in Nebraska. Smith is also the subject of an outstanding state ethics board complaint, over his extravagant ALEC-funded trip up to the tarsands of Alberta, where he toured TransCanada's headquarters and was wined and dined by the lobby group at a venue called (we're not joking) "The Petroleum Club." Tell Sen. Jim Smith to represent his constituents, not Big Oil and corporations, and resign as chair of ALEC in Nebraska. Please add your name to the petition. REFERENCES: "ALEC facing funding crisis from donor exodus in wake of Trayvon Martin row," TheGuardian.com, 12/3/13. http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/dec/03/alec-funding-crisis-big-donors-trayvon-martin "ALEC stands its ground," The Washington Post, 12/4/13 http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/dana-milbank-alec-stands-its-ground/2013/12/04/ad593320-5d2c-11e3-bc56-c6ca94801fac_story.html "ALEC's troubles continue as VISA leaves ," DailyKos, 12/4/13 http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/12/04/1260186/-ALEC-s-trouble-continues-as-Visa-leaves "Lawmakers lash out at conservative business group ," Lincoln Journal Star, 12/4/13 http://journalstar.com/legislature/lawmakers-lash-out-at-conservative-business-group/article_6296512d-6adb-5cfb-9762-98c7ee0a0ddd.html "Four States Introduce Keystone XL Resolutions, Lifting Language from ALEC and TransCanada Itself," PRWatch.org, 2/5/13. http://www.prwatch.org/news/2013/02/11982/four-states-introduce-keystone-xl-resolutions-lifting-language-alec-and-transcana "CMD Calls for Nebraska Ethics Investigation over ALEC Keystone 'Academy'Junket," PRWatch.org, 6/3/13. http://www.prwatch.org/news/2013/07/12164/cmd-calls-nebraska-ethics-investigation-over-alec-keystone-%E2%80%9Cacademy%E2%80%9D-junket

E. Christopher Abruzzo, Tom Corbett's current nominee for Secretary of Department of Environmental Protection, said the following at the hearing on his appointment: "I have not read any scientific studies that would lead me to conclude that there are adverse impacts to human beings or to animals or to plant life at this small level of climate change." Daylin Leach was the ONLY State Senator to oppose his nomination. While it is absolutely galling that Corbett would have the audacity to nominate someone for the post of protecting our environment who hasn't read anything, ANYTHING, about the human impact on climate change, it's not unexpected. The only way that we'll change this is by demanding that Corbett nominate someone whose understanding and beliefs about environmental science are in line with the mainstream scientific thinking.

On Nov. 20, the AFT-New Hampshire Board of Directors met and signed on to the pledge to reclaim public education. On Dec. 9, we're taking action in New Hampshire as part of a National Day of Action to Reclaim the Promise of Public Education. We're uniting around a common vision for our schools and took the pledge to reclaim our public schools. Local teachers and parents, community groups and labor unions, students and faith leaders are united to reclaim the promise of public education for all children. We want great neighborhood public schools that are fully funded and are centers of our community, with wraparound services and curriculum that focuses on teaching and learning, not testing.

New studies reveal links between GMO foods and numerous health issues: cancer, hormonal irregularities and infertility, fetal defects, diabetes. The office of Texas Senator Ted Cruz stated in a letter to me that he feels no need to support GMO food labeling because the "FDA has existing, science-based procedures for evaluating food safety, and... has found no demonstrated need to act." The sad truth is the FDA is part of the problem; moneyed interests prevent this body from acting in the best of interests of the American people. It's time for us to take back the control over individual health care.

Just at a time when President Obama is highlighting the problem of income inequality in our country, and the New York Times has editorialized about the role that corporate tax cuts have played in fostering it, City Council is poised to pass a bill that would repeal the City's main business tax, throwing millions of dollars at major corporations that need no help. In a City that leads the nation in poverty, those dollars need instead to be put into schools, social services of all kinds, and new forms of business enterprise like co-ops that foster local initiative and community involvement. We must say no to a vision of society that says only when the rich get richer will some few pennies trickle down to the "deserving" poor.

At a time when much of the media has bowed to pressure from the White House and kept a tight lid on discussion of the controversial and secretive Trans-Pacific Partnership Trade agreement, the Portland Oregonian has been brave enough to shine a light on the issue. By publishing my Op-Ed on the TPP (see: http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2013/11/what_you_dont_know_about_the_t.html), Oregonian publisher Christian Anderson has demonstrated his respect for the principles of objective journalism, and his willingness to foster an open and public dialogue on local, national and international issues of importance to his readers. I would like to thank him, to encourage him to continue this noble effort, and to encourage other newspapers to follow his example.

It is important that Nelson Mandela's legacy of wise leadership, forgiveness and reconciliation not be allowed to die. An annual worldwide remembrance will remind us all to continue what he began.

Glenn Broadnax, suffering from anxiety and depression, walked into traffic near Times Square on September 14, 2013. When police attempted to remove him from the street, Mr. Broadnax reached into his pocket for his wallet. The police officers reacted by pulling their weapons and shooting at Mr. Broadnax. They missed, hitting two nearby pedestrians. Mr. Broadnax was initially charged with three misdemeanors, but prosecutors have convinced the grand jury to indict him for the assault of the two bystanders. The district attorney's office reasons that "[T]he defendant is the one that created the situation that injured innocent bystanders." At least one of the shooting victims has spoken out against this charge through her attorney. When police use deadly force in crowded areas without a clear and present danger, a tragedy has occurred. When the state places the blame for that tragedy on an unarmed, emotionally disturbed individual, the tragedy is compounded by injustice. For more information: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/05/nyregion/unarmed-man-is-charged-with-wounding-bystanders-shot-by-police-near-times-square.html http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2013/12/man-police-shot-at-charged-with-assault.html

Many eCig users know that eCigs have helped them quit using tobacco products. We would like to see the ordinance involving eCigs change and not be bundled with traditional tobacco products. Zero regulation is not our goal; instead, a separate regulatory framework that takes into account the benefits of this relatively new technology is desired-starting with the allowance of the sampling of eJuice flavors, with no nicotine, inside stores whose only product is eCigs and eCig supplies. For this to be more suitable to the public as a whole, an 18+ sign should be placed on any entrance and all patrons must be carded to ensure that nicotine products are being sold to adults only.

I am the CO of the Mid-Peninsula American Dream Council, MoveOn division. My members, my core council and I are all opposed to this open forum policy since it dilutes the MoveOn brand. Our legislative team has worked long and hard to develop working relationships with our Congresswomen and local politicians. When we, acting as the council and a part of MoveOn delivered petitions to their offices, our positions received a hearing. Now, we can deliver a petition and on the same day another group can deliver a petition against us and both will bear the MoveOn signature. There is no way we will be able to command the respect and attention we have worked to establish under these circumstances. We have followed MoveOn down every twist and turn its taken for the last 2 years, even picketing offices of friendly politicians because MoveOn wanted concerted action. We have gone to trainings and held trainings only to see nothing come of those efforts. (99% , anyone) We have accepted MoveOn's reducing the support it gives the councils we have worked so hard to build. Now we are being asked to share a progressive web site with organizations and people who are opposed to our goals and when we complain are told, "it doesn't matter." It matters to us a great deal and we will not accept this cavalier disregard of our complaints. The least the staff could have done was conducted a vote to register opinions. It needn't have been of all the membership, just the people on the original phone call-instead we got to talk about Thanksgiving. The staff disrespected us and our members and they apparently did it with the board's approval.

I’m Keisha Kuma, a mother of three from Georgia, and I have Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Insurance companies use to label me a pre-existing condition. And now, Georgia Insurance Commissioner Ralph Hudgens is telling me this disease is “my fault.” He really said that someone with an undetectable, debilitating and chronic disease is at fault. He actually compared my disease to a car wreck: A pre-existing condition would be you then calling up your insurance agent and saying, 'I would like to get collision insurance coverage on my car.' And your insurance agent says, 'Well, you never had that before. Why would you want it now?' And you say, 'Well, I just had a wreck, it was my fault and I want the insurance company to pay to repair my car.' And that's the exact same thing on pre-existing insurance." He tried to walk back his comments claiming it was a “poor analogy” but clearly he just doesn’t get it. He’s the same guy who said he would do everything in his power to be an “obstructionist” of Obamacare. Will you stand with me to tell Mr. Hudgens that his actions are unacceptable and sign this petition calling on him to resign? When I was first diagnosed in 2010 I was admitted into the hospital for 10 days to learn how to walk again after the left side of my body went numb. Walk again I did. I was able to focus on getting better because I wasn’t worried about the doctors or the bills piling up. I was able to focus on the things that mattered because I had great insurance. I didn't have to worry about becoming a financial burden to my family. But many Americans were not so lucky. Before Obamacare, insurance companies were allowed to deny people like me health insurance because of a pre-existing condition. Now the 129 million Americans who are like me and have a pre-existing condition - which is NOT their fault - do not need to live in fear. But the man responsible for making sure Georgians like me can get health insurance is do everything he can to turn me back into a pre-existing condition. We can’t trust him to do his job and implement health care! If Republicans in Congress and Georgia Insurance Commissioner Ralph Hudgens had their way and repealed the law, we would go back to the old system where nearly 1 in 5 people who applied for coverage in the individual market was denied coverage. I'm not ready to accept this. And I'm not willing to go back to a world where my health was dependent not on a condition I have, but the whims of insurance companies putting their bottom line over my health. Join me in protecting Obamacare by demanding Hudgens resign or be removed from office. Thank you for your support, Keisha Kuma

Access to safe, comprehensive healthcare is essential to the lives of Michigan women and their families. That’s why Governor Rick Snyder, the Detroit Free Press, the Detroit News, and the Michigan Section of the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists all agree: the proposal to ban insurance coverage for abortion care is wrong for our state. We cannot imagine telling a victim of rape or a pregnant woman whose child will not survive that she should have had the foresight to purchase extra insurance to cover her medical care. Join the majority of Michiganders: Oppose legislation that restricts access to the medical care necessary to preserve and protect women’s lives.