We have already delayed an attack on Syria, and forced the President to ask Congress for authorization. The next step in preventing war is to get Congress to deny permission for war. Add your name to this petition, and Rep. Alan Grayson will deliver it to your Member of Congress. Your voice matters.

New York City’s strong campaign finance system is under threat from a flood of corporate cash, through so-called "independent expenditures" (like the "Super PAC" spending that became legal following the Supreme Court's Citizens United decision). In City Council races, corporate spending can easily overwhelm all other spending by candidates, and become the majority of information available to most voters. One PAC funded by real estate developers plans to spend $10 million in City Council races this year, under the semi-anonymous name "Jobs for New York." The City Council can pass legislation to make every ad carry a warning label so that voters know it is not subject to the campaign finance rules that protect our democracy. In New York City, we also need to close the loophole that corporations use to avoid contribution limits and require them to identify themselves on their ads. Join us in the fight to close corporate loopholes and require transparency to rein in independent expenditures.

Los Angeles is desperate for a convenient open tranquil nature inspired park. Some positive changes will transform the State Historic Park in 2014 into an incredible oasis of trees, a large water wheel donated by UCLA, ancient artifacts and water will be funneled over from the L.A. river! However, the State Historic Park is committing to 9-10 commercial concerts per year in order to finance the park. This is a densely populated area with old communities such as Solano Park see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solano_Canyon,_Los_Angeles Lincoln Heights and HIghland Park are not far from this park either. As well as all of the Downtown L.A. communities including Chinatown and Little Tokyo. The strategy to include large commercial concerts trashes the local environments, the grounds of the park and wildlife irreparably. There is a better way. Please support the park by signing this petition to stop 15,000 - 25,000 attendance commercial concerts. We are calling on the Governor and the State Park system to eliminate large commercial concerts in support of smaller local community inspired concerts and other events. This Historic State Park serves 3.82 million L.A. residents. The State Park system's mission statement, "To provide for the health, inspiration, and education of the people of California by helping to preserve the State's extraordinary biological diversity, protecting its most valued natural and cultural resources, and creating opportunities for high-quality outdoor recreation." No where does it say we support trashing of the environment in favor of money.

Violence rarely solves anything, it just perpetuates the current culture of violence. The world deserves better from us.

The U.S. needs to seek international peace-keeping means through the United Nations to bring about a cease-fire among Syria's warring factions. Bombing Syria is not going to bring about peace, but may in fact lead to a wider war in the Middle East. The use of chemical weapons is a crime against humanity; but bombing Syria to show that the use of chemical weapons is wrong compounds the killing of people and will lead to more violence, bloodshed and death.

To present an alternative to military action in Syria by referring the case to the International Court of Justice to try Assad as a war crininal for crimes against humanity.

A Gwinnett County school bus driver backed on top of my vehicle and I sustained cervical spinal injuries, and neurological damage. I underwent the Anterior Cervical Discectomy Fusion (ACDF) on April 16, 2013. Shortly, after the surgery, it was discovered that the Georgia Legislature updated Statues O.C.G.A. 36-92-1 and O.C.G.A. 36-92-2 in 2005, but EXEMPTED School Districts from complying with O.C.G.A. 36-92-1 and O.C.G.A. 36-92-2. Meaning that Georgia School Districts are not required to carry insurance coverage on their school buses.These statues need to be revised because the public's safety is in immense danger. Here's what you need to do to get involved: 1. Join other Georgians by signing this petition. 2. Make sure you opt in to receive updates from me and this campaign.

Weil wir uns den Gebührenwahnsinn nicht mehr gefallen lassen!

New York Health offers high quality, comprehensive health care for all New Yorkers, with access to medical services and providers of their choice, without regard to age, income, existing health conditions or employment status. A cost benefit analysis of possible New York State sponsored health insurance programs found that only New York Health's publicly funded, single payer system would improve the quality of health care delivery, provide comprehensive healthcare for all New Yorkers and reduce NYS healthcare spending by $20 billion annually by 2019. New York Health would ensure additional savings by eliminating the estimated 30% of unnecessary expense currently generated by the private health insurance industry, with their excessive executive compensation, high administrative overhead, and profit-driven policies and operation. There is no place for profiteering in healthcare. In adopting the New York Health single payer plan, New York would be joining with other states, such as Montana, Vermont, Maryland, Oregon, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and California to develop a universal health care alternative with better health coverage at significantly less cost for the greatest number of people.

Everyone could be affected by the potential for death and destruction the current crisis in the Middle East portends. The US has an opportunity to respond to an outrageous act by a crazed despot in a way that does not continue the madness, the killing of one another.

On the evening of August 29, at approximately 6:15 pm, I brought my 12 week old miniature schnauzer, Kobe to Banfield Pet Hospital at 3780 Riverchase Village, Hoover, AL 35244 because we noticed labored breathing of Kobe. At home, around 4 pm, Kobe appeared to be in distress and exhibited labored breathing. We rushed him to the facility per the request one of the staff members who answered the phone. Upon arrival, we advised the staff of Kobe’s condition, they immediately took him in for examination, but before they would render any service, they wanted to know how we would be paying; it appeared that their main concern was the method of payment we were using versus Kobe’s well-being. We were told that Kobe’s condition appeared to be from trauma, which we knew was inaccurate, as Kobe had not experienced any type of trauma. Kobe was a "house dog" who we took extra special care of. On the day prior, August 28, Kobe came into Banfield for his scheduled immunization and well-puppy check-up. During the emergency visit on August 29th, the vet constantly asked, did anything happen after the shots? She asked numerous of times throughout the visit about the shots, this raised red flags for me eventually. I had to wonder was she asking because they were aware that something happened during his immunizations. When the hour approached 7 p.m., we were advised that the facility was closing, therefore, their work was done and we needed to take Kobe to a local emergency animal hospital 10 miles down the street. Kobe was barely breathing when we were sent away. He was gasping for air. While we were rushing out of the facility, with the hopes that Kobe’s life could be saved, we were approached and informed by the billing account manager that she forgot to charge us for blood work, after we had already paid over $600...I had my puppy in my arms dying, while being harassed for more money. How insensitive! My only concern was getting Kobe to the emergency hospital. She advised me that she would send my account to collection on the same day for the additional $126 if I didn’t pay immediately….they were full aware that Kobe was in grave condition, but the only concern for Banfield’s staff was the money. I told her to do what she needed to do because I was rushing Kobe to the hospital in hopes of saving his life. The vet and facility manager alerted the Animal Hospital that we were on the way there. The facility manager of Banfield then asked me how I planned on paying for the services at the animal hospital because it would run in the tune of a couple of thousands of dollars. She then offered me a credit care application, because of her assumptions that we could not pay for the services, she then alerted the animal hospital that we would applying for credit (again based on her assumptions). We finally arrived at the animal hospital were Kobe was immediately placed on oxygen and administered meds. We were approached as to how we would be paying for his care because it appears that Banfield relayed that we would need credit to pay for continued care. It was speculated that Kobe was more than likely over-immunized or had some type birth defect. If it were the latter, it should have been detected by Banfield during his prior visits; especially since he was seen less than 24 hours prior was his check-up. Kobe’s condition worsened in minutes…he was in so much distress that the vet suggested that we should opt to euthanize Kobe. We experienced the worse nightmare and watched Kobe take his last breath. We were told that he suffered from epistaxis, pulmonary edema, labored breathing and respiratory distress. It is puzzling to me how a very healthy 12 week old puppy, who was examined and immunized less than 24 hours prior is now deceased. I am completely stunned and outraged as to the way my family and I were treated in a crisis. Kobe did not deserve to die. Neither the staff nor the vets at Banfield showed any compassion; their one and only concern was money. I contacted the store on the following day and spoke to a staff member to settle the final bill of $126 and was advised that the billing account manager had already sent my account to collections in less than 10 hours. This was unbelievable! I did, however fulfill my final financial obligation with Banfield. I asked to speak to the store manager and was advised that she was off for the next couple of days. I finally was able to reach the store manager two days later to advise her as to what happened. Although she was very apologetic, this didn’t rectify why Kobe died literally in the hands of Banfield’s neglectful staff and why I was so grossly mistreated. I understand that everyone may not be “pet lovers”, but if you are in the business of caring for pets, you should be. Kobe was “my child,” I am suffering a tremendous loss. My 11 year old daughter and I had to watch Kobe die and no one cared. There are several things that need to happen with this practice: Immunizations needs to be looked into further; especially when dealing with an infant puppy, an investigation should be rendered as to how many puppies have died or experienced anaphylaxis or other problems because of immunization and staff needs to be more compassionate, along with many other complaints. Looking back on the day of the vaccinations, I noticed Kobe being very lethargic, whimpering and a presence of diarrhea; however, I attributed this to a normal reaction from immunizations and was also advised the day prior by the vet that he would more than likely be very sleepy. There have been numerous of complaints and lawsuits lodged against Banfield for its neglect, incompetencies and unethical behavior. Over the past several years, a number of veterinarians have complained that Banfield is extremely low quality and profit driven. Numerous of complaints were lodged against Banfield including the promotion of over-vaccination of pets. In 2010, a former V...

Why PA Should Implement Online Voter Registration: • Streamlining voter registration just makes sense: SB 37 is a bipartisan, commonsense bill that will lower administrative costs for state and county election offices. It will speed up processing of voter registrations and ensure greater accuracy of poll books, helping prevent voter registration errors, irregularities, and fraud. • It benefits county election boards & individual voters: Online registration makes it easier for citizens to change their registration address when they move, conveniently keeping voter rolls up-to-date with county election offices and the state. It saves counties money over time because it streamlines the voter verification process. • PA voters deserve the same convenience that voters in 16 other states now have: Online registration has been enacted and implemented by 16 other states, including South Carolina, Kansas, and Colorado. In Arizona – one of the first states to enact online registration – 70% of all new and updated registrations are done online.