Our generation has been witness to an increasingly widening disparity between American socioeconomic groups. We believe that an equal opportunity to seek out higher level education is the most important tool to help close this gap. Doubling interest rates on subsidized Stafford Loans discriminates against need-based students, making paying for college an even more insurmountable task and excluding thousands of students from equitable education.

As a former SNAP (food stamps) recipient, along with a current activist against food insecurity, we are calling on Congress to make significant reforms to the 2013 Farm Bill by eliminating agricultural subsidies to successful agricultural corporations and by making crop insurance policies subject to means testing and payment limits. At the same time, we strongly urge Congress to pass the National Sustainable Agricultural Coalition’s amendment to the Farm Bill as well as the Local Farms, Food, and Jobs Act of 2013. The amendment and bill would increase support for farmers who are growing organic and sustainably produced fruit, vegetables, meats, and other healthy foods for local and regional markets. It would also increase access to these healthy foods in underserved communities.

There is thousands citizen that can't work due to disability and have taken short and longterm disability insurance for protection. UNUM Insurance company denies claims on a unfair and bias bases. There are disabled persons that can't keep their homes and loses their family's due to this unfair practice.

Vermont Law School is an ABA accredited law school nestled in the small city of South Royalton, VT. The school opened in 1972 as one of only a handful of independent, private law schools in the U.S. In 2012, the number of entering JD students was 171. Vermont Law has been named one of the best law schools for public interests and for women by the National Jurist. Vermont Law's mission is "To educate students in a diverse community that fosters personal growth and that enables them to attain outstanding professional skills and high ethical values with which to serve as lawyers and environmental and other professionals in an increasingly technological and interdependent global society." The current tuition for a 3 year JD is $46,110 (annually) and the school does not receive any state funding. Currently VLS requires its students who are taking at least 5 credit hours to obtain health insurance. If insurance is not obtained the student risks being charged a noncompliance fee of $1,000.00 per semester. “The schools insurance is offered through Blue Cross Blue Shield with deductible amounts ranging from $ 500 to $ 2,500. The two plans offered differ by deductible amount, varying out-of-pocket maximums, price, etc.” After researching these plans, I realized that Blue Cross and Blue Shield does not extend coverage to transgender students who attend VLS. With Vermont Law being a school that prides itself on the diversity of its student body, it is alarming that a facet of the student population is not covered for medically necessary hormones and/or procedures, all the while being required to purchase this coverage. Currently there are 37 colleges and universities that cover hormones and gender reassignment/confirmation surgeries for students. One of which is only an hour away from VLS in nearby Burlington, VT (University of Vermont). According to www.tgender.net “Transsexualism is very rare. According to the DSM-IV, it affects an estimated 1 in 30,000 people; the latest research estimates that the total annual cost per insured is $.05 to cover surgery, or $.17 to cover surgery, hormones, and therapy. With medical insurance costing upwards of $4,000 per year, to cover THBs would be about .004%.” As you can see it would be very inexpensive to add this insurance inclusion for trans-students and staff at Vermont Law School. If a school wishes to remain competitive in such an over saturated industry, one must continue to offer programs that others don’t. Seeing as how all students pay $46,110 per year, all students’ health needs should be addressed and considered. Please sign my petition to show Vermont Law School that they need to offer an insurance policy that covers the needs of ALL students and staff.

Senator John McCain (R-AZ) has introduced the "Television Consumer Freedom Act of 2013 (S. 912), which will allow CONSUMERS (not corporate cable and satellite TV providers!) to determine what channels the TV viewers wants in their home residences.

The NH Senate Republicans voted to limit the number of acceptable ID's you can present to get your ballot. They also want to take a mugshot of you if you don't have one of the few ID's. Join me in calling on senators to come to their senses and compromise in a committee of conference by passing HB 595 as it was introduced.

Increasingly, religion rears its ugly head in our public institutions. Jefferson’s “wall of separation” is under attack. All of us are affected by religious yahoos who attempt to circumvent the Constitution for their own superstitious views.

America accepts the basic premise that only politicians should go to Washington. As only other politicians are allowed into Washingtons' inner circles, all politicians must necessarily be removed, and we must allow real people a chance to fix our nation before it is too late!. America needs to find 535 good people, provably honest, to travel to Washington and change America for the better, then return home to their lives, as it was in the beginning of the USA. Create a HiHo.com in your home state. Let people log on with their stories of the good people in your area,check those persons out and get them on the ballot next election cycle, and let's get everyone to vote away from the corrupt two-party system.Let's send honest people who can't be bought to Congress, end lobbies,eliminate the "Career" of politics and make some changes for the people, instead of continuing the hemorrhage that is American Politics.

I am outraged by this . I have ben carrying debt after helping out family members in the recession. I am self employed in order for me to have work in the future I have had to go back and get a Masters degree at 58. I own a home these are all tipping point factors for mother's with children and single women that make already lesser wages then men.

Our government is coming unglued. Congress is wasting time and money without accomplishing anything. Money is the new master, with all the laws written to overpower the people.

The North Carolina legislature has included in its state budget a fee (tax, penalty) for hybrid and electric car owners. If this passes hybrid car owners will have to pay $50.00/year in addition to their registration fee while electric car owners would have to pay an additional $100.00/year.

An undue burden and hardship has come upon this community caused by a New Parking restriction situation on 47th Road, L.I.C., NY 11101. Residents of this block and surrounding area are urging that the city remove the recent Police Only/No Parking Sign - No Standing Sign on this block. Many people living on this block and in the area, are war veterans, elderly, physically challenged with walking disabilities, and a community of working families and individuals who rely on and require an accommodating nearby parking situation. We call on the city to remove these restrictions and signs without delay.