To the dismay of parents, the Florida PTA, other parents groups and their supporters, the Parent Empowerment in Education Bill, a.k.a Florida’s “Parent Trigger” bill, has once again been introduced into the Florida House of Representatives and Senate. After failing last year due to the concerted efforts of parents and parent groups, legislators saw fit to reintroduce the bill once again to see if Florida parents and their supporters had changed their minds regarding this issue. Such insistence on a “parent trigger” bill in Florida can only be described in the manner that Diane Ravitch, the former Secretary of Education, describes “parent trigger” policy in general:“ It is the quintessence of a corporate power grab.” As stocks for corporations managing charter schools rise, the passing of a bill that would streamline the creation of more charter schools from these “triggered” public schools amounts to a systematic attack on public education in favor of for-profit businesses that aim to privatize the education system. The variety of points in opposition to Parent Empowerment in Education bill has been concisely summarized by the Florida PTA: 1) Why would legislators reintroduce a bill that was vehemently opposed by a significant number of parent groups? 2) Uses the rhetoric of parent love and empowerment to hand a neighborhood school over to a private entity with no guarantees for a better alternative. 3) Promotes for-profit charter takeover thus robbing Florida taxpayers of a capital investment as for-profit charters do not answer to any elected official. Furthermore, the corporation managing the charter school profits from public, taxpayer dollars. 4) Pits parents against themselves during the petition process and pits parents against teachers by raising suspicion on the ability of every teacher. 5) Allows for multiple opportunities for virtual vendors to market and lobby to parents. 6) Strips away local School Board control as the Board of Education ultimately makes the decision on the turnaround option. 7) Ignores pre-existing laws that allows School Advisory Councils consisting of parents, teachers, and community partners to determine the direction of an underperforming school.

Stop stockpiling petroleum coke on the banks of the Detroit River!

Stop the influence of big money against your rights.

Get Corbett out of Harrisburg now before he sinks the whole state in bankruptcy.

A horse slaughter plant is poised to open in New Mexico, despite the fact that 80% of all Americans strongly oppose the slaughter of horses. Horse slaughter plants have a history of polluting local water supplies, lowering property values and are a drain on local economies. In addition horses, not raised for food are given a wide variety of drugs and veterinary treatments that make their meat unfit for human consumption. Horses slaughter is the most barbaric form of slaughter as horses are flight animals. The Horse Slaughter industry poses threats to the health, environmental and economic welfare of New Mexico and thereby warrants the issue of an Executive Order that will Ban Horse Slaughter in the state of New Mexico.

I have been out of work for over a year now due to the fact that the company that I was working for closed down. I have two degrees and have applied for close to four hundred jobs. I also lost my home of thirteen years to foreclosure. I am also in the process of trying to clean up my credit. And in doing so; I am finding that employers are running credit checks to see if you are a good candidate for a job. My circumstances should not be the factor of whether or not I can do a job. It also brings down your beacon score every time someone pull up your credit. What I am trying to correct; they are adding to the problem and it should not be allowed. Finally, I know that I am a great employee!

Exempting the poor and elderly from sales tax when and if the proposed State income tax is abolished. No one should pay sales taxes on benefits or retirement income.

The far reaching intrusions of the Fedral Government should be repealed and returned to what the constitution intended.

I am a Mortgagor, not getting credit on my mortgage for funds I paid to an Assignee(s), Servicer(s).

Yes. I live in a condo and the person below me smokes constantly and leaves old cigarettes in the ashtray. I have tried to sell, but the HOA has been mismanaged and only cash sales can happen here. If I go outside, I cough and am very uncomfortable. My only window is my patio, so I cannot open my door for fresh air.

***This is the official petition of the Florida Arcade Association*** Amusement Arcades pay all necessary state and local taxes! They employ thousands throughout the state of Florida and generate a significant amount of tax revenue. The industry is blooming, but it could come to an abrupt halt if these bills pass as-is!

Political adds on television can be misleading or totally untrue. This can result in the electorate voting against their own interests. One obvious example of this was when John Kerry, a true Vietnam War hero, was portrayed in smear campaign on TV, as a coward by the so called "Swift boat veterans for truth". The American people ultimately reelected the draft dodger and military deserter, George Bush. Television adds are very costly. Fund-raising to pay for these adds, is the leading cause of corruption, allowing politicians to be bought, like a commodity on the market. In Europe, political adds are not allowed on television, to prevent this type of manipulation by the powers that be.