Philosophically, it makes no sense for political parties to boss political primaries. But the objection is not just philosophical, it is pragmatic: DC usually backs the wrong candidate. Here in Montana, our state party rules ban intervention in primaries. We let the voters decide and it is a smart policy. But the Washington, DC based Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) is trying to boss our 2014 senate nomination. The Senate Majority Leader even tried to prevent voters from even having a choice. Adding insult to injury, new Public Policy Polling results show the candidate the DSCC is backing has *worse* poll numbers for the general election, in a race that could decide control of the US senate. Washington, DC wants somebody who won't rock the boat. Washington, DC wants somebody who won't mention "single-payer" and talk about health care as a fundamental right. Washington, DC wants somebody who won't mention "Snowden" and talk about the need to restore the Fourth Amendment. Washington, DC wants somebody who will follow orders, not fight to fix the filibuster. Montana voters deserve a choice. And Montana Democrats should be the only ones deciding who will represent us in the November general election.

As torture survivors flee for their lives, most of them carry the heavy weight of multiple and cumulative traumas in addition to the on-going traumatic experiences that can be associated with being a refugee. Receiving asylum in the United States can be a lifeline to safety and provide a path to healing. However, when asylum seekers arrive at a U.S. border or port of entry, they are frequently shocked at the treatment they endure upon reaching a perceived destination of safety and protection, as they are arrested, shackled, and confined. Due to the long-term impacts of torture and trauma, the fact of being detained at all is often retraumatizing for survivors of torture. Further, particular elements inherent in the detention experience—including a profound sense of powerlessness and loss of control—may recapitulate the torture experience. Beyond this, the indefinite nature of immigration detention is a blanket over it all, contributing to severe, chronic emotional distress. In less than three years – from October 2010 to February 2013 – the United States detained an estimated 6,000 survivors of torture as they were seeking asylum protection. Given the extreme hardship, particularly in light of less expensive and more humane alternatives, survivors of torture should not be detained. Once detained most asylum seekers do not have access to legal information and representation. Only 14% of the asylum seekers in immigration detention have access to the legal orientation program (LOP) or some form of legal assistance. Most of the asylum seekers including torture survivors forced to represent themselves and some lose their legal battle and deported to the country where they were tortured or persecuted. There are important steps that the Department of Justice can take to mitigate the harmful impact of detention on survivors of torture and improve the immigration detention system overall, including: • Expand the Legal Orientation Program to serve all detention facilities used by ICE and guarantee that all immigrants in detention receive a legal orientation Program as soon as possible; and • Establish systems for government-funded counsel for survivors of torture and other particularly vulnerable immigrants in detention. Please sign this petition and help torture survivors in detention facilities.

Republicans are refusing to allow any of President Obama’s extremely well-qualified nominees for the D.C. Circuit court—the second most important court in the land—to get a vote. In 2005, at a similar crisis point, senators from both parties agreed that they would only filibuster a judicial nominee under "extraordinary circumstances." However, despite the fact that many of the Republicans who were central to that agreement are still in office, now they are ignoring it. These same Republicans are refusing to allow a vote on anyone President Obama nominates for the court, and not because of "extraordinary circumstances." Instead, they are pushing to eliminate the vacant seats on this court altogether because they don’t want anyone Obama nominates to serve. Senate Republicans are not acting in good faith. Please sign our petition urging Senate Majority Leader Reid to exercise the nuclear option and end the filibuster on judicial nominees.

The U.S. Senate will be voting after Thanksgiving on a bill to increase the minimum wage to $10.10 an hour over the years. The bill would also increase the tipped minimum wage, which has been $2.13 an hour since 1991. Huge majorities across the political spectrum support an increase in the minimum wage. It's good for workers, good for local businesses, and it's the right thing to do. Tell Senator Kirk: it's time to raise the minimum wage.

The U.S. Senate will be voting after Thanksgiving on a bill to increase the minimum wage to $10.10 an hour over three years. The bill would also increase the tipped minimum wage, which has been $2.13 an hour since 1991. Huge majorities across the political spectrum support an increase in the minimum wage. It's good for workers, good for local businesses, and it's the right thing to do. Tell Senators Shaheen and Ayotte: it's time to raise the minimum wage.

The U.S. Senate will be voting after Thanksgiving on a bill to increase the minimum wage to $10.10 an hour over the years. The bill would also increase the tipped minimum wage, which has been $2.13 an hour since 1991. Huge majorities across the political spectrum support an increase in the minimum wage. It's good for workers, good for local businesses, and it's the right thing to do. Tell Senators Chambliss and Isakson: it's time to raise the minimum wage.

On September 1, a new contractor, Novel Service Group, replaced the prior cleaning contractor. Novel Service Group went on to cut the wages of the janitorial staff in half and eliminated their health insurance and pension benefits. As business owners and tenants at 295 Madison Avenue and nearby, we believe that the best possible investment in New York's economic future is by making sure people have good jobs with good benefits and wages. That is why we’re urging the Eretz Group to ensure that a responsible janitorial contractor returns to 295 Madison; a contractor that will restore the wages and benefits for the hardworking men and women that clean 295 Madison . These building workers need good jobs with decent wages in order to properly care for themselves and their families. Join us in demanding good jobs with good wages and dignity for these hard-working building service workers!

The way to boost incomes and employment, raise tax revenues and lower budget deficits is to grow the economy. That can only be done by getting money into the hands of consumers via community banks, credit unions, infrastructure improvements, personal and business loans, and into Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. $2 trillion injected over time will produce $12 trillion in GDP, $10 trillion in income, 50 million new jobs, and $4.8 trillion in new tax revenues to balance the budget and lower the debt. Let the Fed sell a new round of bonds and direct all sales proceeds into M1, the source of all new growth.

MSNBC hosts Chris Hayes, Rachel Maddow, Ed Schultz, Al Sharpton and Lawrence O’Donnell are strong defenders of labor and progressive causes. And now they have a chance to stand up for workers at NBC. Producers and associate producers for Peacock Productions—which is owned by NBC and creates nonfiction and reality programming for MSNBC, NBC, CNBC and other networks—have been trying to organize for fair pay and better working conditions for more than a year. But Peacock has fought them at every turn. After workers started to organize, Peacock began to hold mandatory group and one-on-one meetings to badmouth unions. Despite that, workers persisted and finally got to vote on whether to unionize. But Peacock has used legal tactics to impound the ballots and stall workers from getting the voice on the job they deserve. Peacock workers have called on Chris Hayes, Rachel Maddow, Ed Schultz, Al Sharpton and Lawrence O’Donnell to stand with them. It’s time these MSNBC hosts practice what they preach and support the rights of these producers and associate producers to organize.

I'm Just Mad As Hell. Tired of Congress' disrespect and disregard of the voters and the office of the President of the U.S. The Tea Party Congress would be pleased if we reverted to the old Jim Crow Laws. Why are they so against abortions? Because White Women have a lower birth rate. They are no longer the majority. Why are they so against the IRS? Because the IRS is scheduled to hire more workers to handle Obama Care. ACA is Obama's Katrina. Not even close. I'm tired of the News Media not correcting the Fox news and Republican lies. Media turned against the President when the government went after the person who leeked information to the press. If no one else noticed these things I have and more.

"Over 10,000 ex-prisoners are released from America’s state and federal prisons every week and arrive on the doorsteps of our nation's communities. More than 650,000 ex-offenders are released from prison every year, and studies show that approximately two-thirds will likely be rearrested within three years of release" according to USDOJ website. President George Bush stated in his 2004 State of the Union Address, "“This year, some 600,000 inmates will be released from prison back into society. We know from long experience that if they can’t find work, or a home, or help, they are much more likely to commit more crimes and return to prison…. America is the land of the second chance, and when the gates of the prison open, the path ahead should lead to a better life.” If someone can reach the 5 year mark without re-offending, they should be able to be able to obtain gainful employment at their skill level. What many people do not know is that even to work at McDonald's these days you have to go through a background check. A lot of employers have moved to online applications that automatically screen applicants by doing a background check! Think about this for a second, what does a background check of more than 5 years do? Are you the same person you were 6 years ago? Have you grown mentally and spiritually in that time? Many states are already implementing this and seeing that recidivism drops because you put the ability for felons to be able to make an honest living. Is a career criminal really going to be trying to get a job at a big corporation? If so shouldn't the companies interview process eliminate these people instead of throwing everyone that ever made a big mistake into that group? Being turned down time and time again because of something that was done in the past is demoralizing. It's just not fair! I say put and end to background checks after 5 years and it will make the world a better place for everyone!

There is so much evidence to support the fact that Fluoride is harmful and not helpful to our health. Just do a quick internet search for "fluoride in drinking water" if you want the details. We won't sit back and allow our cities to be poisoned through our water supplies and we shouldn't have to purchase expensive reverse-osmosis machines to remove Fluoride from the water in our homes. It just doesn't need to be added and shouldn't continue to be added to our water. Let us decide what we put in the water we drink. Period!!