This year the California legislature has the unique opportunity to take the lead in meaningful election reform. The State Senate Elections Committee hearing on April 30 is the first step to pass the DISCLOSE Act now. DISCLOSE stands for "Democracy is Strengthened by Casting Light on Spending in Elections". The California DISCLOSE Act, SB 52, would bring transparency to California elections. SB 52 requires clear identification of the top three funders of tv, radio, print and online political ads, as well as billboards and websites. It includes a "follow the money" requirement to report the actual, original contributors to a political ad. By this petition, we urge the California Senate Elections Committee to take action on April 30 to pass the DISCLOSE Act now.

Gun violence kills lots of Oregonians every year. In a few days, the Oregon State Legislature is holding a vote on four bills to reduce gun violence. The Oregon Alliance to Prevent Gun Violence's top priority is to get these bills passed, and we want Senator Thomsen to vote for them.

In 1959, the U.S. Congress designated Dyke Marsh as part of the National Park system, "so that fish and wildlife development and their preservation as wetland wildlife habitat shall be paramount." These wetlands provide crucial habitat to migratory and resident waterfowl and other birds, as well as numerous other animals and plants. Dyke Marsh, along the Potomac River in the Alexandria section of Fairfax County, Virginia, has lost at least 100 acres since 1937 and continues to lose 1.5 to 2 acres a year. According to a U.S. Geological Survey study, Dyke Marsh could disappear completly.

The founding fathers created an amendment that allows us to bear arms. This amendment was created when single shot pistols and muskets were the prevalent firearm. It's funny how politicians choose to select what rights to pick and bring into the 21st century and which to leave in the 18th century. The right to bear arms was never intended to include assault rifles. We need to speak up and ban these firearms!

Workers at fast food and retail chains across Chicago should have at least $15 an hour and the right to form a union. Their employers are making huge profits, but aren't paying their workers enough to cover basic needs like food, rent, heat, health care, and transportation. It’s outrageous and it has to stop. The brave workers are willing to risk their jobs and their livelihoods to stand up and say ENOUGH – and we can’t let them stand alone.

Stop the slaughter of horses and their transport for slaughter in the USA. Support S541 and HR1094.

Our country has a long and rich heritage of immigration. New Mexican’s have always embraced our country’s diversity, but we also recognize that our current immigration system is broken. With the introduction of S. 744: The Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act of 2013, we are finally on our way to a common sense immigration process. But this is only the beginning of a long road ahead. During this important debate for our country, and especially for our families, we need to stand united for common sense immigration reform that will keep our families together and will allow a fair pathway to citizenship. Join us in standing with the millions of families, friends, and DREAMers that need our support now more than ever by signing this petition. The introduction of comprehensive immigration reform is just the first step in this journey – and we can’t reach our destination without you. Sign this petition now in support of common sense immigration reform!

I have attended Virginia State University and have heard many complaints about there not being enough food choices to choose from on campus. There are campuses that are about the same size as VSU''s that have more of a variety of food choices than we do as well as more healthier ones. The students' health at VSU should be one of VSU's top priorities and the Foodmaster should be built.

In just over a decade, “fracking” for oil and gas has spread rapidly across many states, leaving a trail of contaminated water, polluted air, and marred landscapes in its wake. And now there’s a major push to bring fracked gas to Maine. Republican House Leader Ken Fredette and the Democratic Chair of the Energy Committee, Sen. John Cleveland, are sponsoring a bill (LD 1187) that aims to build a new pipeline to bring fracked gas from the Marcellus Shale (in Pennsylvania and surrounding states) to Maine. 

In addition, Rep. Fredette has a second bill (LD 1262) that would force Mainers — not the oil and gas industry — to pay for it. 
 
Maine’s legislative leaders have strong track records on the environment, but right now the bills are moving forward under the radar screen, and a backroom “deal” is in the works. We need to put a stop to it right now by shining a light on it. Fracking, or hydraulic fracturing, involves pumping millions of gallons of water mixed with sand and a cocktail of chemicals into the ground at such high pressure that it fractures rock and releases gas. 

In numerous states, it's become one of the greatest threats to the environment in decades.

Henry Hudson Regional School is planning to emit the Senior Slideshow from the Senior Graduation Ceremony. Last year, the graduation's run time was under an hour, with the Senior Slideshow. Last year, several students did not submit pictures to the Slideshow, and yet, the show went on, using those students' yearbook pictures instead. The two thirds of students that submitted their pictures should not be penalized for the faults of others, and in past years, they were not. Please, consider keeping the great tradition of the Senior Slideshow intact.

A new pipeline to bring water halfway across the state of Connecticut to UConn would threaten the future ecological health of the Farmington River and the water needs of the communities within the watershed. This cross-basin transfer of water - with the potential for far greater withdrawals in the future - is a poor precedent to set in an increasingly uncertain water future and especially in the absence of regional and state-wide water planning. Already, periods of prolonged drought have led to inadequate flows below the reservoir system which have placed significant stress on the trout and aquatic life in the river and pose further economic hardships on the riverside communities which rely on the angling and recreational tourism the river provides.

I am frustrated with the no action on guns so maybe a different approach will work.