It’s unacceptable that this money is being withheld from our cash strapped school system. Act before another child dies. Last week, a 12 year old died of an asthma attack in a school didn’t have a nurse.* Because of Philly budget cuts, her schools’ nurse is only there two days a week. That means that if a child is ill they cannot see a nurse during the other three days. As a parent, I know some things cannot wait that long. It meant there was no one there to deal with this child’s emergency. Philly schools have had drastic budget cuts. This year they closed 23 schools, laid off staff and have not given the teachers what they need to succeed. And the resources are so bare bones that it means our children are not safe. What makes the situation even worse is that because of these budget cuts, there aren’t enough counselors to deal with children’s grieving classmates after a tragedy like this occurs. As the parent of a 5-year-old who plans to send my daughter to a public school in the coming years, I find this heartbreaking and unacceptable. When my daughter goes to public school, they need to have the resources to keep my daughter safe no matter what, in body and in mind. We cannot allow this to happen in our schools. We cannot allow this to happen to our children. Governor Corbett is withholding $45 million that could be used to put nurses and counselors back in schools. This money is vital to keeping children safe. We must demand that Corbett put money back into Philly schools before another child is harmed. *http://citypaper.net/article.php?He-says-his-daughter-might-be-alive-if-not-for-school-nurse-cuts-16461

The Solutions Project has plans on how to use cost-effective, clean, renewable energy using current technology to power the country. Shovel-ready projects are already available for the states of California and New York with plans for the remaining 48 states coming fast on their heels. Humans face an unprecedented choice: we either adopt this plan to secure a planet for our children and grandchildren or we can do nothing and continue burning fossil fuels which will guarantee climate chaos .

Nebraska State Mandated Forced Birth is Torture and a Violation of an American citizen's birthright to basic human rights and dignity. According to Juan E. Mendez in his Special Report on Torture and other cruel, inhumane and degrading treatment or punishment to the United Nations dated February 1st 2013, "The denial of abortion is torture". At the time when this 16 year old young requested that her pregnancy be terminated she openly stated that she did not believe herself to be adequately prepared to care for a child at this time in her life ~ she was four weeks pregnant. The Court in it's ruling agreed with her that as a "child" and the ward of the State of Nebraska, she was too young to make her decision, yet the very same court forces her to BE a MOTHER to a child that will also become a WARD of the State of Nebraska. Today she is 4 months pregnant and basically being Tortured to become a mother. That is TORTURE. The principles of FREEDOM is BUILD on the four corners of this Nation's ethical belief, and founding principles that a basic human birthright is AUTONOMY and FREEDOM. We, as American citizens cannot allow this ruling to stand - for if we do- we become complicit in the erosions of our own basic rights to freedom and autonomy. I started this petition to speak up and stand against the STATE MANDATED erosion of every American's right to Freedom and Autonomy. This AMERICAN girl should have the RIGHT to DECIDE what SHE WANTS to DO with her BODY after she was "abused and neglected" by her parents and now being RE-VICTIMIZED and TORTURED by the STATE of NEBRASKA. Please sign this petition and stand up with me. Thank you in advance for all your consideration in this matter.

The extreme right wing of the Republican Party engineered the shutdown — and is further maneuvering to ransom the full faith and credit of the United States government — in a desperate ploy to force their radical, regressive policies on the Democrats, the American people, and the global economy. Now, Republican leaders like Paul Ryan are proposing “reforms” of Medicare and Social Security if only President Obama would deign to “negotiate” with them. If I steal your bicycle, and then tell you that I’ll only give it back if you let me keep the wheels and the handlebars, would it be reasonable for me to accuse you of refusing to “negotiate” because you want your bike back completely intact? This is not negotiation. It is not democracy. It’s kindergarten. And the radical right still doesn’t play will with others. Make no mistake, the Medicare and Social Security “reforms” that Paul Ryan and other Republican leaders have in mind include raising eligibility ages, cutting benefits, limiting participation or even excluding some seniors altogether, and, ultimately, privatizing both of these essential programs right out of existence. We simply must not allow this.

Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald is planning on allowing fracking on or under our parks. Fracking our parks would industrialize land reserved for recreation and relaxation, bringing dangerous and polluting infrastructure such as pipelines, compressor stations and truck traffic right through our community's public spaces. Fracking is destroying communities around Pennsylvania. We need to keep this dangerous practice out of Allegheny County parks.

I am a DREAMer who resides in the 4th district of Arizona, and my family and many others are in desperate need of an Immigration Reform now! We cannot keep living in fear of our families being separated. This has been a problem for far too long and our families need action now from our elected representatives. Please show leadership and help a fair and humane immigration reform bill pass.

Somebody has to.

Over the past several decades, the old and laughably inaccurate "facts" surrounding Christopher Columbus have gradually given way to historical truth. Many Americans now have a keen awareness of the motives and methods he employed, in the name of Spain, to dehumanize and violate the innocent. His greed-driven campaign to leverage genocide into wealth was the keystone to the entire Atlantic Slave Trade, indirectly resulting in the slaughter of millions of diverse African and Native American peoples, followed by their enslavement and cultural marginalization. He was personally and directly responsible for atrocities that would horrify any modern war-crimes tribunal. His actions were so vile that they inspired Bartolomé de las Casas to renounce his own wealth, adopt a position of service to humanity, and take up arms against the evils which would soon dominate the gestalt of global imperialism for the next five-hundred years. We find Columbus to be a disgraceful figure, unfit to represent who we claim to be, as a nation. Retaining such an association makes us fools on the world stage, and worse, lowers us as liars to ourselves, our children, and our ancestors. We could use a new role model, someone worthy of our focus and celebration. Someone like Bartolomé de las Casas. Please don't make us explain to future generations why we continue to laud a monster like Columbus, while we willingly ignore a hero like Bartolomé. Casting aside the triumph and compassion of our history cheapens it beyond measure. We should be proud to Americans, not ashamed of it, but keeping some two-bit biggot up on a federal pedestal certainly does not help. Let us change this. Please.

US Code 2384 addresses acts which are against the law, specifically "or by force to prevent, hinder, or delay the execution of any law of the United States," The refusal by Congress to support, and vote on the funding of the Government and specifically the refusal to raise the debt limit fits into this category. As citizens we ask the Attorney General to address why this aspect of the code is not being applied to the parties who are committing this act.

On Oct 9th, on the Senate floor Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) showboated his support for government-run and government-operated health care for our veterans, while still persisting to defund the Affordable Care Act at the expense of shutting down the federal government. Tell Sen. Ted Cruz he can't have it both ways. If supports government run health care for veterans, then he should support it for citizens too.

When we are 18 we are legally adults. We are able to vote and be in the military. I'm starting this petition because I believe that adults should be treated as such.

It is the only method to prevent the gridlock by a minority party and the resulting economic hardships.