The Massachusetts Open Meeting Law requires that public business be conducted in public view (i.e. in the open). But it is written so that members of public bodies aren't allowed to discuss issues within their jurisdiction with the public or with each other over the internet - even when the public is notified of the discussions and given information so that the public at large can monitor a “Public Internet Discussion” as completely as the members of the public body themselves. House Bill 2908 would amend the Massachusetts Open Meeting Law (M.G.L. c. 30A, §§ 18-25), to permit members of a public body to communicate with each other and the public via “Public Internet Discussions”, and maintain and enhance the openness and transparency of activities of public bodies, by: 1. Defining a “Public Internet Discussion” (as distinct from a meeting) 2. Requiring that notice of a “Public Internet Discussion” be publicly posted, in the same way as a notice of a meeting must be 3. Requiring that the posted notice include instructions for free access (via the Internet) to the “Public Internet Discussion” 4. Requiring that the public at large be able to monitor the “Public Internet Discussion” as completely as the members of the public body themselves 5. Requiring that every statement in the “Public Internet Discussion” have an indication of the date and time it was made and who made it 6. Requiring that a transcript of the “Public Internet Discussion” be kept 7. Requiring that the transcript be freely accessible via the Internet There is a document containing an executive summary of House Bill 2908, a description of the thinking behind it, and an FAQ about it. That PDF file can be downloaded from https://sites.google.com/site/townmeetingtechnology/home/files/HB%202908%20Description.pdf or viewed online at https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=sites&srcid=ZGVmYXVsdGRvbWFpbnx0b3dubWVldGluZ3RlY2hub2xvZ3l8Z3g6NjhlYTFlNTZiMjg5MjNkMw House Bill 2908 itself is available at http://www.malegislature.gov/Bills/188/House/H2908/Text . . . House Bill 2908 consists of editing instructions for changes to the Open Meeting Law - so it is only meaningful if it is read in conjunction with the current Open Meeting Law, a version of which with line numbers can be downloaded from https://sites.google.com/site/townmeetingtechnology/home/files/OML_with_line_numbers.pdf or viewed online at https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=sites&srcid=ZGVmYXVsdGRvbWFpbnx0b3dubWVldGluZ3RlY2hub2xvZ3l8Z3g6MTQ3ZjA0OTcyNTYyYmVlNA The current Open Meeting Law (without line numbers) is also available from the Massachusetts Attorney General's office at http://www.mass.gov/ago/government-resources/open-meeting-law/open-meeting-law-mgl-c-30a-18-25.html and from the Massachusetts legislature by going to http://www.malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleIII/Chapter30A and following the links to Sections 18 through 25.

The interest rate on federal subsidized Stafford student loans is set to increase from 3.4% to 6.8% on July 1st. If Congress doesn't act soon, millions of college students will see their student loan payments jump. Some argue that it's too expensive to keep government loans at low interest rates, but the federal government makes low interest loans all the time – just not to everyone. Big banks can borrow money through the Federal Reserve discount window at a rate of about 0.75%. The biggest banks in the country – the ones that wrecked our economy and cost millions of Americans their jobs – pay next to nothing on their debt, while students pay nine times as much. That isn't right. The Bank on Students Loan Fairness Act lets students take advantage of the same low rates offered to banks for one year while Congress finds a fair, long-term solution on student loan interest rates. Unlike the big banks, students don't have armies of lobbyists and lawyers. But they do have us. Let's do what's right and bank on students.

My mom taught me that everyone deserves fairness and the same level of respect. She taught me about kindness, decency, and hard work. Above all, she taught me to do what is right. That’s why this Mother’s Day, I’m asking you to tell the Senate Judiciary Committee that immigration reform must give moms the respect they deserve. The Senate Judiciary Committee will begin voting on amendments to the immigration reform bill this week, in preparation to take it to the floor for a vote. This is a huge step forward—but we need your help today. Send a message to the Committee and the "Gang of Eight" Senators who wrote the bill. Ask them to protect the bill from attacks that would weaken it, and strengthen it by supporting amendments that give women, caregivers, and family the respect they deserve by: • Honoring the family immigration system—which has been the main channel for women to America for centuries • Letting all undocumented women in the country today reach their dream of citizenship • Honoring the work that women do as caregivers and domestic workers This Mother’s Day, tell Congress we need an immigration process that honors mothers and families—not just for one day but every day of the year. // Mi mamá me enseñó que todas/os merecemos la equidad y el mismo nivel de respeto. Me enseñó la bondad, la decencia y a trabajar duro. Sobre todo, me enseñó a hacer siempre lo correcto. Por eso hoy en el Día de la Madre, yo te pido que le digas al Comité Judicial del Senado que la reforma migratoria tiene que darles a las mamás el respeto que merecen. En esta semana el Comité Judicial del Senado comienza a votar sobre las enmiendas a la propuesta de ley sobre la reforma migratoria, antes del proceder al voto general. Este es un paso enorme—pero necesitamos tu ayuda hoy. Mande un mensaje al Comité y a la “Banda de los Ocho” Senadores que redactaron la propuesta de ley. Pide que protejan la propuesta de los ataques que la debilitarían y que la refuercen con las enmiendas que les darían el respeto que merecen las mujeres, las cuidadoras/es y las familias al: • Honrar el sistema de migración familiar— el cual ha sido la vía principal desde hace siglos para que las mujeres ingresen a los Estados Unidos • Permitir que todas las mujeres indocumentadas que hoy radican en el país alcancen su sueño de ciudadanía • Honrar el trabajo que hacen las mujeres como cuidadoras y trabajadoras de hogar dentro de la economía informal Este Día de la Madre, diles al Congreso que necesitamos un proceso migratorio que honre a las madres y a las familias—no solo por un día sino en todos los días del año.

If workers whether they are Government or private workers are required to take drug testing. Including welfare unemployment etc. then all should be required under the law including senators presidents congressman.Equal treatment under the law is constitutional. selective testing is unconstitutional.

Latinos demand that Christine La Coursiere resign as Chair of the board of Centro Cultural de Fargo-Moorhead. Up until a month ago, there were only two board members: Christine La Coursiere, chair; and Kandace Creel-Falcon, Vice-chair. When our protest of Centro Cultural leadership was announced, Creel-Falcon resigned. The remaining board chair’s lack of leadership and her lack of concern for Mexicans and Latinos have left Moorhead’s only Mexican cultural center in disrepair and without funding or programming for years; while intentionally eliminated programs and people trying to serve the Mexican and Latino community. We are demanding La Coursiere’s resignation and an investigation of Creel-Falcon and LaCoursiere’s handling of the organization’s funding by the Minnesota Attorney General. For Background on community issue, see mexi-can.org http://mexi-can.org/latinos-demand-that-christine-la-coursiere-resign-from-the-board-of-centro-cultural-de-fargo-moorhead/

We are being led down a money trail that makes politicians wealthy, and they may not back the corporations with the best products and services.

The state of DC schools are appalling. Many of the schools in the poorest communities are rundown and dilapidated. Despite all the increases in revenue the DC Council fails to add additional revenue to our failing schools that are 100% located in low income communities. How can DC benefit from a ten fold increase in revenue from traffic tickets, tourism, and proposed Internet taxes and not dedicate all that money to our public schools. It is embarrassing and shameful that all the good DC schools are located in the most affluent DC neighborhoods. Enough is enough. We are one city and we have to act like it! Join me in demanding the best schools in the country for all our residents including the poor, the just making it, and the middle class.

The NRA and many other special interest groups lead Congress by the “nose“. Under current rules, politicians will go for the big campaign donations that special interest groups can easily award to either or both main parties. Special interest groups know that, in return for big campaign donations, they can get any legislation they want or can kill any legislation they do not want.

We the people once had a great meaning....it seems the only thing that gets attetion today is two fold, MONEY and LAW !! I believe that we need to reinstall common sense as a great power driven by the people... everyone would know they are responsible and NOT just the government !!!

On March 5, 2013, the East Ramapo Central School District School Board Attorney, Mr. D’Agostino, approached Nicholas, a senior and AP honor student at Ramapo High School, and called him a despicable profanity and offered to fight him physically. The students of East Ramapo Central School District are frightened by Mr. D’Agostino. He is in direct violation of the ERCSD Code of Conduct, the NYS Dignity for All Students Act, and he has not behaved in accordance with the values stipulated by the East Ramapo School District that employs him. He should be dismissed immediately.

money owed to staff

My petition is about stopping the drone attacks.