I find myself caught in a catch 22. I make too much to go bankrupt (according to the rules), yet Congress changed bankruptcy rules that essentially forbid bankruptcy, while simultaneously allowing banks and credit card companies to jack up interest rates to whatever they like (I have 1 at almost 29%). They should have just brought back debtors prison.

Congressional entitlements.

I have seen and experienced Debt collectors violating Federal Laws within the United States. Under Title 18, Rico act, it is made clear that extortion is a crime. Denying people due process as William Howard Taft said in Traux vrs Corrigan, and what Justice Scalia wrote in regards to Debt Collection is in Harmony and set in legal precedence. As a consumer I have had the following happen to myself, Fraud, Fraud in the inducement and execution, making contracts void by the actions of the Companies not myself. However, knowing they have no chance to win in court, they deny me and other American Due Process, they state by saying an item is in 'Dispute" they the collection agencies can report you to the three credit bureau's when in fact, they can not. It violates Federal law and is a strong arm tactic. Destroying a persons credit worthiness and forcing them to pay on a debt they have legal grounds to not pay on.

My Name Is Ruben Sanchez Ibarra, This Petition Is About Getting My Record Pardon By The Governor Patt Quinn In Order For Me To Start A New Life With A Clean Background Without Affecting Me With Getting Jobs In The Future With My Career As An Information Technology Computer Network System With An Associates Degree.

The Executive Branch of the US government has a secret program of targeted assassinations done by means of drones acting around the world without oversight or judicial review. These strikes have resulted in the death of thousands of people including hundreds of civilians in countries around the world.

My name is Veronica and I am from the Marshall Islands. I was a teacher in the Marshall Islands for four years and I have been to college in the Marshall Islands and in the US. Even though I speak good English and I am a very good driver, immigrants like me need the drivers test in more languages. Hawaii's written drivers test translation policy is currently under review. Please use this petition to let your voice be heard on this important issue.

We must not forget Newtown. Sandy Hook could have been my daughter's school. Members of Congress who vote with the NRA must be voted out.

The so-called "War on Drugs" has turned a public health problem into a multi-billion dollars taxpayer boondoggle. Sen. Mark Leno's Senate Bill 649 would move California towards a smarter, humane, cost-effective system. It would reduce overcrowding in our prisons by allowing prosecutors to charge non-California drug possession as a misdemeanor, rather than a felony. SB 649 would free up funds currently supporting jails to be used for drug treatment instead. Studies show that in the 13 states that classify drug possession as a misdemeanor, treatment rates are higher and incarceration rates are lower, with no increase in crime.

SCR 23, by Sen. Conrad Appel (R – Jefferson Parish) if adopted, will formally impose a funding cut in the Gifted and Talented program by reducing the funding allocated through the state's minimum foundation program or MFP. This proposed re-configuring of designated funding would seriously affect the services received by the students in the Gifted and Talented program.

The federal minimum wage is $7.25/hour. That is roughly $250 income per week; the average rent in Columbia, SC is $699 per month. SC currently has no state minimum wage law. Do the math! We must demand employers such as McDonalds, Walmart, Subway and even locally owned restaurants to up the pay to 10$ per hour! Workers cannot afford rent, food, transportation and healthcare. Lets make a better tomorrow!

School continues to be getting pushed earlier and earlier

The economy is recovering, but as a small business owner I still struggle to turn a profit, make payroll and stay in business. As a lawmaker, I look to you to create smart public policies that make it easier to keep my coffers full and my doors open. Comprehensive immigration reform would do just that. Our immigration system is broken. We do not foster an environment that allows small businesses to benefit from the services of high or low-skilled workers. On a regular basis we educate talented foreign students and then send them away, instead of creating a system that allows them to stay in this country and make meaningful, even groundbreaking contributions to our economy. A recent poll by Small Business Majority found two-thirds of small business owners also believe we should allow more low-skilled foreign workers who might work in the agriculture, restaurant or service industries into this country legally. A strong economy needs workers of all skill levels. Our current immigration system doesn’t meet these needs. Lawmakers recently introduced legislation that aims to fix many problems associated with immigration. These policies would be good for small businesses like mine. Small Business Majority also found 87% of entrepreneurs support requiring immigrants in the country illegally who have no criminal record to register for legal status, pass a background check, learn English, pay a fine and pay taxes. Three-quarters believe we would be better off if people who are in the country illegally became legal taxpayers, so they pay their fair share and can work toward citizenship in the future. And 75% support revamping the guest worker system to create a new worker visa, eventually letting immigrants move beyond temporary status and switch employers to protect themselves against unscrupulous ones. I’m a small business owner and I support these reforms, too. Fixing our broken system will help us more easily tap into the immigrant labor workforce, make our existing workforces more stable, make us more competitive and help aspiring immigrants become entrepreneurs. Please help small business owners like me by supporting immigration reform and fixing our system.