Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security are extremely vital parts of our social safety net. The majority of Americans are NOT willing to cut benefits from these very popular programs in order to deal with the deficit. In fact, Social Security should not even be part of this equation. We oppose any and every cut to Medicare, Medicaid, or Social Security benefits--including raising the retirement age or cutting the cost of living adjustment. There are other ways to solve our nations fiscal problems. Our Washington representatives should NOT dismantle the safety net which our country's seniors, the poor, the orphaned, and the disabled rely upon for their very survival.

Our public lands can no longer afford being defunded. They are an essential part of our tourism industry and economy. Each year, millions upon millions of visitors from across the world enjoy our nation's incredible National Parks, National Forests, and National Monuments (to name a few). It is increasingly concerning to hear almost every year that these areas are being neglected of the funding that once allowed them to provide quality experiences for visitors. As we hear of more visitor centers closing, park rangers' jobs cut, and trail systems neglected of maintenance, this should be a dire concern, not only for our public lands, but for the visitors who experience them. Lastly, it should be noted that the millions of visitors that enjoy our public lands also put money into local economies (grocery stores, restaurants, gift shops, etc.) The success of these local businesses is essential to job creation and economic growth. Let's give our public lands the funding they deserve, and keep it that way.

I was one of Rep. Tim Walz's earliest supporters. So was MoveOn. Now I read with horror that he is one of the minority of Democratic members of Congress who are OPPOSING gun control. Having witnessed the bravery of the teachers who died at Sandy Hook trying to save their kids, it is incredible to me that a former teacher like Tim would oppose commonsense gun safety measures.

AN OPEN LETTER: BRENDAN JOHNSON SHOULD RUN FOR SENATE We believe that South Dakota needs someone in the U.S. Senate who will continue and expand upon Sen. Tim Johnson’s record of fighting for everyday people in Congress – even when that means standing up to big health insurance companies, Wall Street executives, Ag corporations, and oil tycoons. We need a senator who will stand up for core Democratic values – someone we can rely on to do the right thing without fear, especially when it comes to fighting for people who work for a living. We need someone who believes that the role of government is to help people, and who is not afraid to ask the rich to pay their fair share. Someone who will make smart investments in our future and grow the middle class. We believe Brendan Johnson should run for Senate. As South Dakota’s U.S. Attorney, Brendan is our state's chief federal law enforcement officer. He has used that power to fight for the little guy. Under Brendan Johnson’s leadership, South Dakota is the national leader in cracking down on deadbeat dads – with over 50 percent of the nation's total federal prosecutions happening in South Dakota. Brendan Johnson was named 2013 Prosecutor of the Year by groups combating violence against women. And Johnson has played a national role in fighting on behalf of Native Americans. We need Brendan Johnson’s South Dakota values and Democratic principles in the U.S. Senate. We invite all South Dakotans to join us in urging him to run. Sincerely, Ryan Casey, Sioux Falls -- Lincoln County Democratic Party Chair Ann Tornberg, Beresford – Union County Democratic Party Chair, Former President of Sioux Falls Education Association Bill Muller, Mitchell -- South Dakota Young Democrats National Committeeman Sylvia Oothoudt, McCook Lake -- Member of the Union County Democrats, Former Community Development Director of Siouxland Interstate Metropolitan Planning Council Thea Geotas, Rapid City – former accountant and real estate broker G. Darlene Weis, Sioux Falls – retired test proctor Vincent Gormley, Sioux Falls – Former healthcare worker, artist, activist, volunteer Ann Lamer, Brookings – Mother of five Shirley Lautenschlager, Rapid City Jerry Bartels, Vermillion – Advisor for GoTeachSD, PhD Student at the University of South Dakota Jackie Beilke, Sioux Falls -- Teacher

I am so much affected by this issue because right now, i am enrolled in an adult school and is still planning to take up other courses in the near future.

School-Within-School (SWS) will move to the Prospect school building on Capitol Hill next fall. That building was originally scheduled for a renovation in 2014. Now, DC Public Schools and Mayor Gray are trying to delay the improvements until 2016, fully three years after our kids start attending school there. The city says this area of Capitol Hill is a top priority for improving schools, yet they're still planning to delay the SWS renovations. Instead, we should fund improvements to make the building fit SWS's program at this critical moment of expansion. That's what will attract more parents to join and stay with DC public schools rather than moving to charters.

It's a slap in the face. As people across the country demand reform, some members of Congress are actually trying to make our computer laws even more harsh. Many people will have heard of our friend and colleague Aaron Swartz, who tragically killed himself at the age of 26 while facing prosecution under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA) - an outdated law that heavily criminalizes victimless online activities like violating a website's terms of service--that long fine print you "agree to" but never read. Aaron's supposed crime? Downloading too many academic articles from a site to which he had legitimate access. But law enforcement threatened to put him in prison for decades -- because that's how over the top the CFAA is. But instead of fixing the CFAA, some members of the House Judiciary Committee are now pushing a bill that will expand the CFAA, and create even harsher penalties. This new law would heighten penalties by creating the possibility of up to 30 years in prison for certain broadly-defined offenses. It would make it easy to be considered a conspirator -- meaning you wouldn't have to actually commit a crime to be punished the same as if you had committed one! The whole Internet is calling for Congress to fix the CFAA because it stifles innovation and can even imprison activists and innovators like Aaron. (And could easily have been used against Steve Jobs, Mark Zuckerberg, and countless others.) This is an awful affront to the cries for justice in the wake of Aaron's passing. Please help us beat this thing down!

Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security are extremely vital parts of our social safety net. The majority of Americans are NOT willing to cut BENEFITS to these very popular programs in order to deal with the deficit. In fact, Social Security should not even be part of this equation. We oppose any and every cut to Medicare, Medicaid, or Social Security benefits -- including raising the retirement age or cutting the cost of living adjustment. There are other ways to solve our nation's fiscal problems. Our Washington representatives should NOT dismantle the safety net which our country's seniors, the poor, the orphaned, and the disabled rely upon for their very survival

After hearing Alaska Representative Don Young speak in such cavalier terms about the migrant workers employed on his family's ranch--"We used to hire 50 to 60 wetbacks to pick tomatoes”--we call upon you, Speaker Boehner, to remove him from his assignment as chair of the Subcommittee on Indian and Alaska Native Affairs. He clearly lacks both the professionalism and diplomacy required for any leadership position, particularly one which requires empathy for the dignity of others.

The State Department has released its draft report on the environmental impacts of the Keystone XL tar sands oil pipeline. This report -- written in part by firms with close ties to Big Oil -- glosses over the climate impact of the Canadian tar sands. The official public comment period ends April 22nd. So time is running out to speak up and show President Obama and Secretary of State Kerry that there is a national movement demanding they keep their climate promises. With stakes this high, there is no excuse for the White House to approve the pipeline. It's up to you and me to make sure the president and Secretary Kerry get the message: It's impossible to fight climate change while simultaneously investing in one of the dirtiest, most carbon-intensive fossil fuels on the planet. And then there’s the increased risk of spills posed by tar sands oil pipelines. Last week a horrific spill in Mayflower, AR sent tar sands oil gushing down neighborhood streets. This is just a small taste of what we can expect if Keystone is approved. Submit an official comment -- this is your chance to tell the State Department and the president to get it right.

What if you were driving past your local shopping center with your young child and happened upon a 20-ft. photo banner with a scantily clad woman on it? It's a common marketing practice for Tilted Kilt, and for the sake of kids everywhere, let's tell them to change their policy nationwide. Tell the Tilted Kilt that our young girls have enough nasty messaging coming their way telling them they are nothing more than objects for men to look at. Our young boys have enough lurid messaging interfering with their abilities to see women as people and have successful relationships. Tilted Kilt has a right to operate their business, but we have a right to enjoy public space without telling our kids to close their eyes. Please sign now!

The Pentagon estimates that more than 1 in 4 women who join the military will be sexually assaulted during their careers, while 14% of assaults will go unreported. Many assaults are not reported because of the widely known lax attitude towards rape and women are afraid they will be forced out of service, while their rapists are protected and move up in rank. As a woman, I am appalled and disgusted by what is known as the military's "rape culture."