Honorable Members of the PA State House Judiciary Committee PA House Bill 683 was referred to your committee Feb. 12, 2013 PA House Bill 683 (HB683: Haluska, Metzgar, Barrar, M. K. Keller, Hess, Moul, Fleck, C. Harris And Murt, February 12, 2013), like similar legislation in other US states, is not well-thought out. It will limit whistle-blowing, and keep the public unaware of food safety problems, animal abuse and poor/dangerous working conditions on factory farms. It's benefit to our food safety and farm workers is unclear. Remember the 2008 investigation of a dairy cow slaughter plant in Chino, California? It prompted the largest meat recall in U.S. history, identified fraud on the federal government’s school lunch program, and resulted in criminal convictions. HB683 would criminalize only the workers who expose such crimes. HB683 would do nothing to protect We The People from the cruelty, contaminants, and fraud. Further, with the increase in gas drilling in PA, HB683 is doubly troubling: Line 9 on page 1 defines the proposed second and third degree felonies as those "Interfering with agricultural operations." But Lines 9-11 on page 3 too broadly define "Agricultural operations" as "Any public or private property where an agricultural activity or farming is conducted or takes place." This includes the sites of much of PA's gas drilling, storage and transfer activities. Citizen activism is an increasingly important tool for We The People to find out about gas-related crimes and pollution. HB683 would seemingly outlaw reporting on these threats to our air, water and dirt. Please voted NO on HB683. Thank you for your time.

Worked very hard to establish a beautiful home for my family and lived here for over 70 years. Want peace and quiet in my remaining years. NO EAST/WEST HIGHWAY ANYWHERE! M.A.Clukey

Take away Congress' benefits to balance the budget if they don't do it by March 1st. Both sides are working on plans that they know will fail so they can blame the other side! That is not what we elected them to do!

Most people know that jobs are our first priority. But most don't understand that means good jobs, because only good jobs pay enough to create real consumers and strong tax revenue. And only strong unions will fight to make weak jobs into good jobs. Only strong unions have the will and independence to revive the middle class. They are the voice of the workforce. Revival of the unions is the indispensable key to revival of the middle class and the restoration of prosperity in the United States

Redistricting in North Carolina was a scam in 2012. People in North Carolina we need to wake up and look at our state legislaters and look at what being done. No jobs creations, but Power grabs that will polarize our State for years to come. A governor that is a follower of the Legislaters instead of governing the State of North Carolina.

Redistricting in North Carolina was a scam in 2012. People in North Carolina we need to wake up and look at our state legislaters and look at what being done. No jobs creations, but Power grabs that will polarize our State for years to come. A governor that is a follower of the Legislaters instead of governing the State of North Carolina.

Congress has been Irresponsible and Uncooperative for too long while enjoying a great salary. The last Congress, which was the 112th , was the least productive Congress since 1947. Congress is NOT as productive as it should be. The fiscal cliff approaches, and Congress is still not prepared to resolve it. If appropriate legislation is not enacted, our Country and the average citizen will suffer.

We are students creating advocacy for a student-run bike hub on campus to promote education, health, leadership, transportation efficiency and bicycle safety. Building a bike center would support and empower current Vandal cyclists and encourage others to ride their bikes!

My sister have been rejected when she applies for a job due to a MISDEMEANOR that she committed SEVEN YEARS AGO!!. She has not committed any crimes since. She has been unemployed for almost two due to this form of discrimination. We should not allow corporations to prevent able-bodied citizens who have the ability and desire to work: therefore this process should end.

I am on a one-woman campaign (with many others!) to get our environment picked up and clean. On my daily bicycling rides (appr. 10 mi.), I pick up aluminum cans along the road. This makes my riding time twice as long and sometimes I am exhausted by the 25 to 100 times I get off and on my bicycle. It hurts my eyes and heart to see how careless people throw anything by the side of the road. If we could charge a deposit on beverage containers, people would be less likely to throw them out of the car; people could supplement their income by getting cash for what they picked up and children would be inspired to check and clean up as they too could cash in what they retrieve. This is a win-win solution to a terribly ugly situation.

Cardinal Law scandalized the people of the Boston Archdiocese by his coverup of priests who sexually abused children. Instead of being censured, he was given a post in Rome. He should not be allowed to vote for the next Pope as a representative of the Catholic Church.

Rep. Al Green of Texas has introduced a bill to raise the minimum wage to 15% above the Federal Poverty level for a family of two (one adult and one child) and that figure would be adjusted every four years. The current minimum wage cannot support a family or a single person in many areas of our country. Raising the minimum wage would help eliminate poverty and homelessness in our nation. Congress must move Rep. Green's bill, H.R. 229, from committee to the floor of the House for a vote.