Vaughn Brown

Allow cities and other jurisdictions to opt out in wanting Fracking in their backyards.

Many edlerly people will be affected by this cut, including myself and husband. It is already hard enough with the co-pays to now having to pay more for our medical services. Please don't cut medicare we worked hard enough to get this and now to have it taken away is very unfair.

Michigan's legacy as a leader in natural resource management and conservation is being threatened by the "Anti-biodiversity Act", Senate Bill 78 (SB78). SB78 would amend the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act (Act 451 of 1994). Specifically, the bill would amend PART 355 (Biological Diversity Conservation) and Part 525 (Sustainable Forestry on State Forestlands) to do the following: -- Prohibit the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) and the Natural Resources Commission from promulgating or enforcing a rule or an order that designates or classifies an area of land specifically for the purpose of achieving or maintaining biological diversity. -- Delete the conservation of biological diversity from the MDNR's duties regarding forest management, and require the Department to balance its management activities with economic values. -- Eliminate a requirement that the MDNR manage forests in a manner that promotes restoration. -- Provide that a State department or agency would not have to designate or classify an area of land specifically for the purpose of achieving or maintaining biological diversity. -- Revise the definition of "conservation" with regard to biological diversity. -- Delete a legislative finding that most losses of biological diversity are unintended consequences of human activity. Why this Matters: The MDNR has considered biodiversity in its land management decisions for over 100 years, which has successfully restored the health of forests after decades of deforestation and helped to recover wildlife populations enough to remove them from the endangered species list. SB78 would needlessly undercut longstanding and important protections that are helping restore Michigan’s natural resources and safeguard the genetic diversity of plants and animals managed on state lands. The “Anti-Biodiversity Act” prevents the DNR from acting under the Endangered Species Act or a number of other laws to promote and restore biodiversity on public lands. It jeopardizes almost $22 million in federal funding for forest management and puts Michigan’s sustainable forestry certificates that cover 3.9 million acres across the state at risk. This decision is a short-sighted approach that rejects science and sustainability. This stifles our ability to ensure our forests, native plants and wildlife will be here for future generations. As stated by Sen. Rebekah Warren from Ann Arbor, this bill would “make Michigan look like a laughingstock to the scientific community around the country." It is up to us to warn our legislature that SB78 is irresponsible, lacks common-sense, void of basic ecological principles, and will damage our reputation as a leader in natural resource management.

New York's minimum wage has risen only 10 cents since 2007, and today remains decades out of date. If the state's minimum wage had simply kept pace with the rising cost of living since 1970, it would equal more than $10.70 per hour today. Instead, the current minimum wage remains stuck at $7.25 per hour, which translates to just $15,080 per year for a full-time worker. Governor Cuomo called for raising New York's minimum wage during his 2013 State of the State address. Now the legislature must deliver. The Independent Democratic Caucus must use its leadership power in the New York Senate to support legislation that raises New York's minimum wage to at least $9 per hour and indexes the minimum wage to automatically rise with the cost of living each year.

As an infant brought to term by a teenager who dumped me on my grandparents and a father who didn't want to be responsible for me, I grew up resented, rejected, neglected and then humiliated, insulted, demeaned, beaten and emotionally abused by my stepfather and mother. All these poliicians who seem to care so much about my getting here, don't seem to care one whit about me, and others like me, once we get there. I grew up never having once been kissed or hugged by a parent. My entire life was spent feeling worthless and trying to prove I deserved to be here. I have had two failed marriages, attempted suicide and been seen by many psychiatrists and psychologists over the years. Until all orphanges are closed, all foster children are adopted and all babies born with the addictions and diseases of their parents have good homes, a good education, good employment and the love and encouragement of their own caring, personal families who raise them, allow those of us who have no control over being brought to Earth by those who lust but are not prepared to bring children into the world to not endure the lifelong hardships, rejection and feelings of worthlessness that makes of our lives a living Hell.

In order to progress in life we need more than just basic subjects we need to be taught the correct way to cope with life and handle difficult situations that we face on a daily basis. I believe that if we instill these skills into our youth, it will help prevent addictions, criminal behavior and gang Violence. Thank You Ilana Calderon

Our environment is at risk of harm by corporations who practice "fracking" or hydraulic fracturing, the results of which include: - Possible earthquakes - Contamination of drinking water - Potentially hazardous waste water that in turn will cause our ground water to become contaminated.

Only voters can make the difference by huge numbers of people pushing back against money in politics and changing the way elections are funded at every level of government. Join with us to get this resolution passed in the Illinois State Legislature by signing the petition below to show your support. Will you also spread this far and wide to all your members, friends, family and so on? We need to show support around the whole state. Thanks! Kaye Gamble

MEDICATED BEING CUTTING FOR KIDS WITH AUTISM .

The American people should have the right to know if the food they are eatting has been genetically modified. Genetically altered foods cause a myriad of health issues. Labeling foods give consumers the first line in preventative health care by allowing them to make better nutritional choices.

I work full time, yet I am forced to receive help from the government. I work for one of the richest families in the country - The Walton Family - yet the taxpayers are forced to help pay my wages.