Why are Oregon Republicans insisting on a massive giveaway to big, out-of-state chemical companies like Monsanto? Governor John Kitzhaber has proposed a “grand bargain” package of reforms on taxes and the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) in an upcoming legislative special session. But Republicans are refusing to consider the proposals unless a proposal called the Oregon Monsanto Protection Act is included. Oregon’s Monsanto Protection Act is awful policy and sets a dangerous precedent. It would take away the right of Oregon counties to decide whether to outlaw GMOs. It all boils down to a simple question: Who are more important to Oregon -- our family farms and food producers, or massive, out-of-state chemical companies? House Democrats defeated the Oregon Monsanto Protection Act once before. But it’s back now thanks to extreme Republicans in the Oregon Legislature. Only together can we stop this awful idea from becoming law.

My name is Rafiq ur Rehman and I am a schoolteacher from Pakistan. In 2012, a United States drone killed my 67 year-old Mother, Momina, while she was working in the field picking vegetables. The drone that killed my mother also injured my children. After sharing my story with Robert Greenwald for his upcoming film, Unmanned, I was invited to testify in front of members of Congress about the impact that drone strikes have had on my family and the people of Pakistan. My two children and I were issued visas within days of applying, but our lawyer and liaison, Shahzad Akbar has been placed in ‘administrative processing’ and is not being issued a visa. Mr. Akbar is a UK trained barrister who represents my family in our drone case as well as over 100 other civilian victims of US drone strikes in Pakistan. While working with Reprieve, Shahzad has done heroic and critical work encouraging us to use the rule of law to settle our grievances. Before he began representing civilian victims in 2010, he used to travel regularly in the United States. In 2008, Mr. Akbar had his visa quickly approved - it took only three days. It was not until he began standing up for drone victims in Pakistan that he became a problem to the U.S. government and began having his visa approvals delayed. In 2011 his visa was delayed for 14 months. Now, I need your help so my children and I can travel to the United Sates to tell our story. Our hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, October 1st 2013. Without legal representation and accompaniment of our lawyer, Mr. Akbar, we cannot come to the U.S and share our story with Congress and with the people of this country. Please urge the Department of State to immediately approve Shahzad Akbar’s visa so that he may escort my family to the United States and allow Congress to hear the first hand account of what it is like living under drones.

The Monsanto Protection Act is an outrage. It allows big agricultural and biotech corporations to ignore food safety regulations and sell genetically engineered foods even after a court order to stop. The good news? The Monsanto Protection Act expires on September 30. The bad news? Some in Congress want to extend the Monsanto Protection Act as part of the must-pass budget bill that will keep our government operating past September 30. The Monsanto Protection Act was written anonymously and in secret - and prevents courts from doing their jobs. For Americans concerned about health and environmental damage, it leaves no legal recourse. We have to act now to stop big special interests from running roughshod over our democracy.

I was suspended from Colorado College for the entirety of the first semester due to a physical altercation I got in with Forest, a fellow CC student. Although I understand the necessity for punitive measures in a case where the Student Code of Conduct has been broken, I feel that this punishment effects my parents much more than me, as they are paying for my tuition and will forfeit what they have already paid for this semester. Therefore I am asking Vice President of Student Life/Dean of Students Mike Edmonds to grant me an appeal and consider other sanctions, including, but not limited too, a move to the non-violence or substance free LLC, mandatory drug testing, anger management counseling and community service. Please stand with me by signing your name and CC email to uphold our communities value of fairness. Thank you

Because I'm sick and tired of having to worry, day after day, what our government is going to do to US next!!! It's time to turn the tables on them! Someone has to put a stop to all of this! I guess it has to be someone like me, as no one in our government, really seems to care, about Americans or America!

More than 40 percent of private-sector workers and 70 percent of low wage workers do not have a single paid sick day off of work to take care of themselves or family when ill. In many cases, workers have to make the decision to stay home and take care of a child when sick, or paying bills. No one should have to risk their paycheck and job because they're sick. Vermont is considering a new law that will ensure that all Vermonters have paid sick time off of work to use when sick. A similar measure was proposed last year but did not get the votes to pass. Send a message to Governor Peter Shumlin and the Vermont legislature - tell them now is the time for a paid sick days law.

The Enbridge Flanagan South Pipeline has been rushed through the permit process to build a pipeline in 11 counties in Missouri without opportunity for public comment. This will affect the drinking water throughout the entire state. 100% of scientists agree the fossil fuel industry is primarily responsible for global warming. To continue putting human life, and all life now and future at risk, is unethical and immoral, when clean energy solutions are available and are cost effective.

Afford US Representatives and Senators an opportunity to feel the effects of their vote to shut down the Federal Government. My and my wife's healthcare and social security payments could be impacted. My children's and grandchildren's futures as members of a failed government would be damaged.

Cassidy Lynn Campbell is a transgender teenager who was named homecoming queen at Marina High in Huntington Beach. Since her recent victory, she has faced hateful attacks from her peers at school. Assembly Bill 1266 is a piece of legislation which would protect the safety of students like Cassidy by ensuring that public schools in California are responsible for the well-being of their transgender students. Under this bill, all students regardless of gender identity will be able to fully participate in all school activities, programs, and facilities. Additionally, AB 1266 makes it clear to all California public school administrators, teachers, parents, and students that California's nondiscrimination law requires them to respect transgender students identities in these spaces. While this bill has passed both the Assembly and Senate, and has been signed by Gov. Jerry Brown, conservative groups are seeking to repeal this very important law. As transgender students are becoming more visible and working hard to take advantage of spaces and activities that their fellow students have enjoyed for years, it's more important than ever that we support Assembly Bill 1266 and ensure that California Public Schools are responsible for protecting the happiness and well-being of students like Cassidy. In the face of opposition to this important bill, please ask your representatives to stand with Cassidy and all other transgender students in California by standing up for Assembly Bill 1266.

The entire global community needs to get together NOW to contain the worst of the damage at Fukushima Daichi. Reactor #4 is in dire shape, with 1300 spent fuel rods dangling 100 feet above the ground, on top of a building that is irreparably damaged. TEPCO and Japan can't handle the overwhelmingly complicated problem by themselves. I personally don't want to breathe irradiated air from Fukushima, nor should the rest of the world, for decades to come -- we must act now to prevent medical emergencies all over the world!

This petition is to stop the onslaught of bigotry and racism that is being spewed forth by Rep. King. I am in his district, though he did not carry the county in which I reside, he is still my representative. I have heard nothing that he has said that in any way represents me, or anyone that I know, and strongly believe that the House of Representatives, and his constituents, will be much better, and more fairly, served by someone else.

Members of Congress who refuse to raise the debt ceiling even to pay for expenses they themselves have approved are threatening a world economic crisis if the US defaults. But they personally pay no price and keep their job as long as their constituents continue to support their extremism. Meanwhile many of their districts take in more federal dollars than they pay in taxes. President Obama should immediately instruct the Treasury that if Congress prevents the US from raising the debt ceiling, the first debts not paid should be those to the districts of members of either party who voted against raising the debt ceiling. That should free up enough money to pay expenses in other districts and interest on the national debt and avoid default. Let those responsible be the first to experience the results of their destructive strategy. Only constituents in those districts can pressure their Congress members to change their vote. If Congress members think this is unfair or illegal, let them hold hearings or even sue the President, but in the meantime the US economy will be saved from default.