Filibusters are killing everything we care about: gun control, climate, jobs, health care, protecting and enhancing the safety net, etc. We have to change this. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid had a great opportunity to bring about reform at the beginning of the 113th Congress, but he caved in. His "compromise" gave us nothing. He must take firm action to bring about reform that really will make filibusters rare. Sen. Reid is from Nevada. The only influence most of us have over him is the tourism that Nevada depends on. By choosing to vacation or gamble elsewhere, we can put economic pressure on our Majority Leader to take the actions we all so desperately need. So let's take our tourism dollars elsewhere. Instead of Las Vegas or Reno, visit San Francisco or New Orleans. Help Native Americans by going to an Indian Casino. Instead of the Nevada side of Lake Tahoe, stay on the California side. Don't spend any less money or create any fewer jobs; just choose where you want that money to go. Nevada residents: We understand you can't actually pledge to avoid Nevada. Please sign, though, as a sign of solidarity with us. We are not out to hurt Nevada. We fully expect that getting a good number of signatures on this petition will help Reid feel he can take action. Knowing Nevadans will be with him on filibuster reform will make it easier for him to make this decision. And when Reid acts, we'll tell everyone to make a point of spending EXTRA money in Nevada. Filibusters used to be rare. It was understood by both parties that they should be used only for exceptional circumstances. Many bills passed with a slim majority, less than what would be needed to overcome a filibuster. Now we have rule by "two-fifths majority." Nothing can get passed without 60 votes. And running a filibuster does not even require showing up. Only the number of votes to end debate matters. Not voting and not showing up counts as if you want debate to continue in order to kill the bill. If we are to have a filibuster at all, we must at least require a "talking filibuster." Those wanting to obstruct government must care enough to be dedicated to show up and keep talking. A filibuster must end if fewer than 41 senators are present to keep it going, and the majority must be able to keep retesting the resolve of the minority by calling for periodic cloture votes. Endorsements of filibuster reform: http://www.kentucky.com/2013/04/23/2611533/senate-filibuster-hurts-governing.html http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/29/opinion/sunday/filibustering-nominees-must-end.html http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/editorials/la-ed-senate-rules-filibuster-20130502,0,7466527.story http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/editorials/la-ed-judges-20130602,0,4411661.story http://www.fresnobee.com/2013/04/20/3265607/editorial-the-filibuster-has-to.html http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/opinion/editorials/nuke-em-harry-reid-should-break-the-minoritys-filibuster-grip-690399/ http://www.registerguard.com/rg/opinion/29882117-78/filibuster-senate-rule-reform-block.html.csp http://www.sentinelsource.com/opinion/editorial/senators-should-have-to-filibuster-with-their-words/article_dd2944bc-b777-58b2-bb34-f1ed2f5d5ccf.html

Elderly people and many other retirees need this for their 401K by the time they have to collect their pension.

In reflecting on the conversation of equal rights for all, I am reminded of my personal struggles of being a lesbian in a state that does not recognize gay marriage. Thus far, I'm unable to be legally connected to my partner, file joint taxes, share health benefits, obtain joint adoption and foster care, and receive tax or insurance breaks. In the worst of circumstances I would be unable to take sick leave to care for her, make medical decisions on her behalf, take bereavement leave, receive social security survivor benefits, automatically gain inheritance, and many other benefits. Currently, we do not have the same rights and the LGBTQIA should have the opportunity to legally marry and obtain these same privileges.

URGENT UPDATE: Earthjustice attorneys have heard that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service might put out its proposed national wolf delisting rule within days. We need you to act now! Any day now, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service may remove federal Endangered Species Act protections for gray wolves across nearly the entire lower 48 states. This would be a disastrous setback for gray wolf recovery in the United States. The recovery of gray wolves is an American success story, from their reintroduction in the northern Rocky Mountains to their comeback in the western Great Lakes states. But there are few, if any, gray wolves in the vast majority of their former range. If the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service removes gray wolf federal protections, wolves in the Pacific Northwest, California, the southern Rocky Mountains, and the Northeast will face even more difficult odds than they do already. It is critical that the administration not proceed with a blanket national delisting of the gray wolf, when wolves are still missing across so much of the U.S. landscape. Urge President Obama and Secretary of Interior Sally Jewell to maintain protections for gray wolves in the lower 48 states.

My petition is about raising taxes on gun purchases at retail and guns sold at gun shows. A "Weapon Tax" should be place on all guns and have some of the money go to a fund for victims and/or their families affected by the used of a weapon. My Father was shot and killed. Leaving my Mother to raise three girls and pregnant with my father's only son that He didn't get to see.My brother to this day has remorse that He never met his Father.

The residents of Schooner Cove 7001 Interbay Blvd Tampa Florida have gone long enough with no action to residents concerns.

Medicaid Funding in Texas

If things had gone as planned last week, I would’ve been at the Boston Marathon finish line, right where the bombs went off. I’m thankful I wasn’t there but it’s impossible not to see myself in the hundreds who were. I’ve been praying for them every chance that I get. The Boston area has been my home for almost a decade. I still haven’t been able to put my feelings about what happened last week into words. One thing I know is that moments like these should bring us together. It makes me sad and angry to know there are people who are using this tragedy to try and tear us apart. Less than 24 hours after the bombing, before the blood of victims had been washed off of Boylston Street, Rep. Steve King was already using the tragedy to scapegoat millions of immigrants and argue against immigration reform. A day later, Rep. Louie Gohmert was sounding the alarm about Al Qaeda operatives being trained to “act Hispanic.” I was hoping that this sort of talk wouldn’t go beyond extremists like Rep. King and Rep. Gohmert, but this week it has been echoed by others like Senators Rand Paul and Marco Rubio, who were previously arguing in favor of immigration reform. It pains me that after everything our city went through last week, I have to write to you about bigots who want to tie this atrocity to anyone who has ever been or looked like a non-white immigrant, but I know that if we don’t speak now, this could get out of control. There are real consequences for this sort of rhetoric. Connecting millions of immigrants who seek nothing but a better life for themselves and their families to the tiny few who carry out heinous violent acts has led to untold suffering. It a major reason why over a thousand people are deported every day, why tens of thousands of immigrants are detained every day, and why the Border Patrol can kill without consequence. Boston has suffered enough over the last week. Immigrant communities have suffered enough over the last few decades. It’s time to come together, not tear each other apart. Please join me in telling your Congressmembers that the Boston Bombing should not be used as an excuse to crack down on immigrants.

College tuition is on the rise. Families and students across America are struggling to afford what has now become a near-necessity in the entry-level job market. In an "option paper" to be considered during broader tax reform discussions, the Senate Finance Committee blames the *inclusion* of federal subsidies to colleges and universities for the steep rise in tuition over the past decade. In reality, universities have had to make the tough choice to increase their tuition in part because of the frequent *exlusion* or reduction of government funding.

State Sen. Donne Trotter has shown he does not have the judgment and mental acuity to safely carry a firearm in public. Furthermore, it's highly dubious that an elderly state senator is working part-time in private security. His official profession is "health administrator", not security guard.

Taxes and tolls. Other huge districts don't charge as much tax on purchases, the lost side of town is charged too much in property taxes. There probably isn't a house in a three mile radius that can bring in more than 100,000 but our property taxes are up over $3000 a year. Where are the people, thrown out of good paying factory jobs suppose to keep up the taxes, taxes and more taxes. Most other states aren't behaving like trolls on the highways as well.

Every year, Americans are imprisoned because they confessed to a crime they did not commit because they were coerced by police. Innocent people spend years behind bars. This is a disgrace to the American justice system, and it needs to be fixed.