For too long, Congress has made important decisions behind closed doors. On such an important issue as the budget, Americans have the right to see and hear all discussions regarding the role of government and the positions of each member on what programs they want to fund. Will Republicans hold to their position of no new taxes for the wealthy and corporations? Will Democrats stand strong against cuts to Social Security and Medicare or will they cave to the President's plan for chained CPI and let the Republicans blame Dems while claiming to protect Social Security? Who will fund jobs creation, repairs to infrastructure, more funding for education? Nine of the Republican members voted NO on the bill to end the shutdown and raise the debt ceiling. Will they do it again? We have a right to know!

I'm a superfan of TLC's family-friendly show, “19 Kids and Counting,” which follows the Duggar family, Michelle, Jim Bob, and their 19 J-named children[1]. Though their conservative Christian views are very different from my own (I'm a pro-choice, observant Jew,) I like following the antics of a big rowdy family. But this time, their right wing views have gone too far. In a recent speech at the Values Voter Summit Jim Bob Duggar compared America today to Nazi Germany. Why? Because of abortion. When asked to explain, he said that the millions of legal abortions that have occurred since Roe v. Wade was decided are an ongoing "baby holocaust." I take this seriously, because my grandfather was very nearly a victim of the Holocaust. He fled Austria after the Nazis had come to power, making his way to the United States, a land of freedom. He was also a lifelong progressive, who supported a woman's right to make her own healthcare decisions. Let's be clear: America today is nothing like Nazi Germany, and a woman who decides to have an abortion is not taking part in a Holocaust. Please join me in telling TLC and Discovery Media to cancel the Duggars' show, "19 Kids and Counting," and stop rewarding people who misuse the history of the Holocaust to play politics with women's rights. __________ [1] Josh, Jana, John David, Jill, Jessa, Jinger, Joseph, Josiah, Joy-Anna, Jedidiah, Jeremiah, Jason, James, Justin, Jackson, Johannah, Jennifer, Jordyn, and Josie.

I asked the governor to come have dinner with me -- because he needs to know what it's like to be a retiree trying to get by in Detroit. He needs to see my face, to know I'm here and that I'm a human being -- and that I'm not the only one. I worked for the city of Detroit for 29 years. I showed up for work every day. I poured my heart into serving my community. I just feel like an old jacket. You use me up and then throw me away. In my condition no one's going to hire me. I'm 68 years old...but I gave the city the best year's of my life. Some Detroit retirees don't even get social security -- and we can barely scrape by on the $19,000/year that most pensions are after a lifetime of work. I am starting this petition because I think it is more than unconstitutional to take away the pensions of those who worked their entire lives for a city they love. It is wrong. I was told when I started with the city, "If you worked hard and did honest things, you would have a pension." Our pensions should be protected, and long before Governor Snyder pays back his wealthy Wall Street banker friends. That's why I asked the governor to come have dinner with me -- he needs to know what it's like to be a retiree trying to get by in Detroit. In fact, a local TV news crew came to my apartment the other day to hear me invite the governor to dinner. You can watch the clip here: http://www.upworthy.com/what-theyre-trying-to-do-to-this-man-is-rough-but-what-he-says-at-the-end-is-devastating

We are concerned about the direction our schools have taken. The states growing reliance on standardized testing is adversely affecting students across all spectrums and the morale of our teachers. These tests are taking time away from real teaching. They are narrowing our curriculum, fostering an environment of teaching to the test and test prep. Science and social studies are getting less time in the classroom while art, music, and gym are taking a back seat to pre-tests, post-tests, and field tests. Love of learning is being stifled and our teachers’ morale is suffering. This resolution will send a message to our elected officials that we want them to reduce testing mandates, and allow our teachers and schools to do what they do best.

Across the country, 6 cities have already passed paid sick leave. But in Pennsylvania, Republican State House Rep. Seth Grove has introduced legislation from the Koch brothers-backed group ALEC to block paid sick days in Pennsylvania. Tell the state legislators not to support right-wing Koch brothers legislation and instead support workers. http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2013/10/24/2828431/pennsylvania-paid-sick-days-preemption/

The parents of students at Davis Elementary have brought a serious concern to the attention of the Cobb County School Board. Because of budget cuts, the inclusion classrooms in first, second, third and fifth grade do not have a dedicated special education teacher. The general classroom teachers are trying to make-do with one special education teacher (and a recently added half-time teacher) shared between Kindergarten, First, Second and Third grades and some support from paraprofessionals. We are writing to ask that immediate action is taken to address this situation. Our general classroom teachers, special education teachers, and paraprofessional are all gifted and well qualified to serve our students. The parents at Davis Elementary greatly appreciate the efforts that go above and beyond their job descriptions. However, one general classroom teacher, no matter her abilities, experience, and education, cannot be expected to do the job of two people. With special education support moving in and out of the classroom, no one is able to teach or consistently track the progress and performance of students with special needs. The general classroom teacher cannot be asked to do so and effectively teach her class, which includes general education students needing as much of her attention as would be received in another general education classroom. We ask that Cobb County fully restore this funding so that you are in compliance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and our children are provided a Free and Appropriate Education (FAPE). We have learned that many IEPs have been written to reflect the level of reduced services, which is also a violation of State and Federal Special Education Law. Other schools in Cobb County have inclusion classrooms staffed with a general classroom teacher and a co-teacher, as did Davis until this year. For the sake of the overall student achievement at Davis Elementary, we hope this matter can be resolved quickly and amicably at the county level. Please respond to our concerns in writing. We appreciate your attention and response.

The fight for immigration reform is reaching a tipping point! Almost 90% of House Democrats have cosponsored an immigration bill that would provide a path to citizenship for a vast majority of the 11 million, reunite many families separated by deportation, and protect all workers. But for Republicans, immigration reform seems to just be about politics. Lately, these Republicans have even been claiming that they won't support reform just because they don't want to give President Obama another win. But we’re not just fighting for politics -- we’re fighting for our families and our communities. Over the last few weeks, we have seen that if we stand strong, we can force Republicans into action. Please join us in telling House Republicans to stop their destructive politics and support immigration reform for our communities.

Brian Rickard (aka Yoteslaya) was one of the first YouTube personalities that I ever started watching. I have enjoyed all of his videos and am truly devastated at his passing away. I'm creating this petition to show Gearbox Software (creators of Borderlands 2 video game) that they have just lost a very prominent member of their community and, if at all possible, to somehow immortalize him into the game he loved and put so much time into sharing with his fans. RIP Brian, you will be missed.

Break the Wall Street control of our government. We need a Robin Hood Tax on Wall Street … and a movement that forces the legislators to care about our communities… Economic Justice for every American. $350 Billion annually that can be spent on Human needs - not Billionaire or Corporation needs. It is the game changer for a better funded, fairer, more democratic, humane, balanced, and moral American Tax System. It begins in our town, with you …

After an ordinance was past in June of this year, Pocatello will now hold elections again in May of 2014 to repeal this ordinance. This is more than an outrage for people to try and take back the right for people to work and live without fear of losing the jobs or buying a house because of their sexual orientation. Go here for more information about the vote in May. Please show support for everyone in the LGBTQ community and stop this bigotry. further. http://www.idahostatejournal.com/members/lgbt-ordinance-on-ballot-pocatello-voters-to-decide-on-nondiscrimination/article_8c279f52-3b71-11e3-8f52-001a4bcf887a.html

In October 2012, 8-year-old Nabeela ventured out with her grandmother Mamana Bibi to do daily chores in their family's large, open field. Moments later, Mamana was blasted into pieces by a US drone strike that appears to have been aimed directly at her. Amnesty International did not find any evidence she was endangering anyone, let alone posing an imminent threat to the US. Yet a year has passed and the US government has not acknowledged Mamana Bibi's death, let alone provided justice or compensation for it. We can't bring back Mamana Bibi but, through a process of accountability, we can stop the US government from committing unlawful killings with impunity.

The elections are right around the corner. Make this an issue now. to help support Obamacare!