Nobody who works hard at a full time job should have to struggle to survive. But that’s what minimum wage workers in Illinois have to do every day. At our minimum wage of just $8.25 an hour, a full time worker earns just $17,000 a year. That’s not nearly enough to survive anywhere in Illinois. President Obama has called on Congress to raise the country's minimum wage. It's a worthy goal, but John Boehner and House Republicans are standing in the way. Here in Illinois, we can't afford to wait for Republicans to change their minds. Illinois Democrats shouldn’t stand in the way of a much-needed minimum wage increase. House Speaker Michael Madigan should raise the state minimum wage – and tie that rate to inflation so that we don’t continue to leave our brothers and sisters behind as prices rise.

In the 2011 budget Connecticut nursing home residents took a 13% reduction in their monthly benefit and we would like that restored, with a cost of living increase,

Living in South Texas, I see dozens of store front payday loan and auto title loan operations taking advantage of the most vulnerable members of the community around me. The borrowers often lose their paychecks, which are their only source of income, or their automobiles, which are needed to get to their employment.

This bill will benefit farmers and small businesses in Rhode Island, revitalizing the state's dairy industry. Pasteurization laws favor large, industrialized dairy operations and squeeze out small farmers. When farmers have the right to sell unprocessed milk to consumers, they can make a decent living, even with small herds. This bill will also provide consumers the option to purchase raw milk in Rhode Island. This is a fight for food freedom, the right to choose the food we consume. *CURRENT SITUATION FOR RAW MILK SALES* Retail sales are legal in 10 states On-farm sales are legal in 15 states Herdshares are legal in 4 states There is no law on herdshares in 6 states Pet food sales are legal in 4 states, implying that human consumption is feasible Raw milk sales are illegal in 11 states and the District of Columbia Please, personally, contact your representatives and tell them you want raw milk legalized in Rhode Island! For a list of the Senate members in the committee and their email addresses visit: http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/ComMembers/ComMemS.asp?ComChoiceS=SEAA

since ann richards left the 13 billion surplus, the republicans have turned in negative numbers. i have teacher's retirement. there is no personal income tax in texas. gw bush gave the surplus back to the corporations saying that this is not our money, it is yours. then along came gov perry, a man concerned with expanding his personal wearlth. there has been at least two attempts to raid teacher retirement. no more!

Helping organizations find the nescessary funding in art, education and jobs.

TO NOT CUT THE WEEKS OF UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS.

Stop the destruction of our state by the gas/oil industry. They have destroyed pristine areas, polluted the air and water, and people have numerous health problems living near drilling sites. GO CLEAN power - GEOTHERMAL - The Rocky Mt. Region is a prime area to create geothermal power plants - no air pollution, water contamination, and is renewable.

Gov. Jindal has made devastating cuts to our state mental health care safety net. The closing of Southeast Louisiana Hospital has severely devastated the access to indigent health services for the mentally ill in the greater New Orleans area. The governor seems determined to continue these cuts statewide, so this will eventually affect the entire state.

iv ive in harlem for 53 years and as a child we always had a play street in 115 street between manhattan and morningside ave summer youth programs free lunch and its just gone and the elderly we wont that back in our block .

My son is 43 yrs old with autistic behavior and mental illness that needs continuous support and programs to assist him in living a safe and productive life.

Education funding should never be considered necessary to cut