Social Security benefits are NOT paid out from the General Fund, and does not contribute to the budget deficit. Social Security and Medicare (your FICA taxes) are allocated to the Social Security Trust. Any loans taken from that Trust must be repaid, with interest, by the Federal Government.

CANCER PATIENT'S ARE AT RISK FOR TREATMENT IN 201If you want to stop these cuts, you need to reach out to all your Representatives and ask them to sign the Tonko-Nunes letter to CMS. The proposed payment cuts relate to chemotherapy administration, diagnostic imaging , radiation treatment, and pathology. 4.

Today, the overwhelming majority of Americans are disgusted by the harm the government shutdown caused and the foolishness of right-wing politicians--including all four of Colorado’s Republican members of Congress, Reps. Mike Coffman, Scott Tipton, Cory Gardner, and Doug Lamborn--in forcing this unnecessary crisis on the entire nation.

Friends of the Earth’s just-released 2013 Cruise Ship Report Card grades 16 cruise lines and 162 ships on their environmental practices, and once again Carnival Cruise Lines gets a failing grade for its treatment of the ocean. With 22 ships using 30-year-old sewage treatment technology, Carnival has the worst impact on our oceans of any other cruise line. The U.S. EPA has found that sewage treated with this old technology often contains significant amounts of fecal bacteria, heavy metals, and nutrients in excess of federal water quality standards. Carnival's problems don't end there. In June Carnival announced plans to leave the Port of Baltimore and move the Carnival Pride ship back to Florida. This is in response to new, life-saving air quality standards that would require it to use cleaner fuels. By sailing from Florida they can burn more cheap 'bunker fuel' that is 2,000 times dirtier than diesel fuel sold at gas stations. And if that weren't enough, according to a New York Times report by David Leonhardt: “Over the last five years, the company [Carnival Corp.] has paid total corporate taxes -- federal, state, local and foreign -- equal to only 1.1 percent of its cumulative $11.3 billion in profits.” Carnival has no excuses. It can afford to stop polluting our oceans. Tell Carnival Cruise Lines to clean up its sewage problem – install advanced sewage treatment systems on all of its ships!

The issue in American politics is not issues, but tactics. There are certain tactics that cannot be allowed if democracy is to survive. When a party uses these tactics anywhere, any person who considers themselves a decent moral human being must vote against every candidate of that political party. In Congress, Republicans vote as a pack. This works. It gives relatively small groups of extremists power far beyond their numbers. But in a nation of only two political parties we cannot allow one party to do this. There is no choice. If a political party uses tactics like this there is no choice. You cannot vote for any Republican politician, even the most reasonable and caring individual. They cannot justify the destructive and irresponsible acts of Republican politicians elsewhere. Please sign my petition. And remember to pass it on. Become a champion for democracy, not just a hanger-on. Little Timmy Wilson did, and he got a puppy for Christmas. One concerned citizen's response: "Considering that my mother is demented and barely verbal, I think she would make an ideal Republican candidate for any office you care to name." Be a champion for democracy. Don't spam, but send it on.

The parking ordinances in Montclair punish residents and serve no purpose other than to generate easy money for the town! Residents should not be forced to pay astronomical parking permit fees, sometimes in excess of 10 times what other surrounding municipalities charge, as their contributions are already made via higher property taxes!

The Administration has claimed that its drone strikes in Pakistan and Yemen are legal under U.S. law, but it has never shared with Congress or the American people all of its legal memos purportedly giving legal justification for the policy. The Administration has also not told Congress or the American people who we are at war with - which groups the Administration claims it has the authority to target with drone strikes under U.S. law. By introducing legislation to compel the Administration to share this information with Congress and the public, Senator Wyden will give Americans concerned about the drone strike policy a way to engage Members of Congress on the issue.

Bullying and Cyberbullying is becoming an epidemic in this country. Young men and women are taking their own lives, and in some cases being encouraged to do so by bullies. Since there is no real punishment that is serious enough for the issue, the bullies feel invincible. I have been teaching Middle School for 17 years and have seen the changes in students. My drama classes this year believe we have to make a difference. Please help us to make a change.

I grew up in this area and have lived here all my life. We didn’t have much growing up -- I remember Christmas with very few presents. I want to give my kids a better life, and working at GE, I’m on my way to doing that, but only if the plant stays open. There aren’t a lot of other good jobs around here. I started working at GE eight years ago. I just got onto first shift, so now I can go to my son’s hockey games and help my daughter with her homework. If they close the plant, I’ll probably have to go back to working two jobs, working off shifts, only seeing my family on the weekend if at all. None of us are getting rich working at GE. We’re not stashing away money in offshore tax havens or buying yachts, we’re spending money at local businesses. If GE destroys 200 good-paying jobs here in Fort Edward, it’s going to hurt small business and devastate the local economy. I’ve worked hard, I’ve never slacked. Every year this plant has been profitable. GE should keep this plant open, and our politicians should stand up and do everything they can to save our jobs. It’s only right.

Big casino gambling must be stopped in order to preserve the character, small-town charm and many attractions Saratoga Springs has to offer. The social and economic consequences outweigh any revenue that may be generated. Protecting our small city in the country with the motto of "Health, History and Horses" is our top priority. We don't need or want Las Vegas style table gambling which has no place in Saratoga Springs.

For weeks, the government shutdown needlessly crippled Congress and left the country stuck in partisan gridlock. And during the 14 days of the shutdown, another 15,400 aspiring Americans were deported because of Speaker Boehner's inaction. The status quo is killing our communities and we need Speaker Boehner to act. In fact, every day that Republican leaders like John Boehner delay a vote on immigration reform, over 1,100 family, friends, and neighbors face deportation. Despite the Government shutdown, Latino and Democratic leaders introduced a good immigration bill called H.R. 15 and that bill already has the support of over 180 members of Congress. Now the only thing holding us back is Speaker Boehner refusing to allow vote in the House of Representatives. But as we saw the few weeks, when push comes to shove, Republicans can be forced into action. Now we simply need Speaker Boehner to bring immigration reform up for a vote!

This petition really needs no explanation as the actions of Ted Cruz and his cohort Mike Lee have impacted every citizen of the United States of America. Leaders should put those they lead above all else, because those who follow have chosen to do so in the believe that their best interests will be represented.