My name is Vincent Pawlowski. I’m a a graduate student at the University of Arizona and father of two successful graduates of the public school system in Tucson, Arizona. I’m deeply concerned about the political attacks on quality, science-based teaching in Arizona public schools. Senate Bill (SB) 1213 is a direct assault on teaching the reality of climate science. The bill was introduced by climate denier Sen. Judy Burges. SB 1213 “encourages pupils to explore scientific questions, learn about scientific evidence, develop critical thinking skills and respond appropriately and respectfully to differences of opinion about controversial issues” including “biological evolution” and “global warming.” In other words, teachers would be allowed to present personal political or ideological belief, instead of the well-documented scientific truth. They try to make it sound innocuous, when in actuality the bill allows teachers to present personal political or ideological belief, instead of the well-documented scientific truth. The sponsor of the bill , Sen. Judy Buges, even admits to it saying she introduced SB 1213 to attack the teaching of the scientific fact of global warming. “It actually says in the textbooks that if you don’t believe in global change that you’re very misinformed,” Sen. Burges told the Arizona Daily Star. “There should be an opportunity for teachers to step up to the plate and give their opinion, if they have scientific proof, that it isn’t happening, that it’s a natural phenomena, without retribution.” Every major scientific institution in the world, including our own National Academy of Sciences, accepts the reality of human-caused global warming. It’s hitting the state of Arizona hard with 38% of the state facing severe droughts. Our children need to know about climate change because it literally puts them in danger and they will be the ones inheriting a world in which it is a stark reality. I appeal to my fellow parents, students, teachers, and concerned Arizonans: sign the petition to kill this climate denial bill in the Senate Education and Rules Committee and protect Arizona’s future. Thanks for your hard work, —Vince Pawlowski

Times Square's Marriott Marquis hotel sits on prime real estate in the heart of the city. But New Yorkers are on the hook for an unprecedented sweetheart deal worth more than $300 million. And that's the last thing hard working families in the city need, especially in these difficult times. Our city is supposed to work for all New Yorkers, not just the wealthy and well connected. We've seen one too many handouts for the rich. Let's get our priorities straight and focus our resources on getting New Yorkers back to work and rebuilding from the devastation of Hurricane Sandy.

"Fracking," defined empirically. The method of extracting natural gas from underground and the source of earthquakes, well and ground water contamination, open toxic waste pits, massive water consumption in a drought prone state, falling home values, vented airborne toxins and ozone depletion.

against assault weapons

This petition is meant to correct the basic flaw in our Income tax system. First we must understand that the purpose of the Income Tax is to fund the Government, so that it can provide the services that our society needs. The following also must be clearly understood: 1.The Government is not a business, it is a service. 2.The government should operate in paralell with business, by delivering essential services along side the private sector, until an oversupply is attained and at that point it should lease its service production to the private sector, to be operated under contract in the open market. My proposal is introduce the progressive income tax, based on muliples of the minimum wage, and graduated upward for each dollar of income earned above the specified multiple. . I propose that the bottom level be set at five times the minimum (minimum wage * 5) pay 10% wages earned, graduated upward by 5% increments of each multiple of 5 In other words it would increment by 5% everytime an interval of 5 times above the minimum wage in broached. This would be inflation proof, and would encourage congress to automatically increase the minimum wage, as high as possible, in order to lower the incremenatl tax rates on the wealthy.

The Law in Utah says that the spending of money by corporations is protected by the US Constitution as free speech. People of Utah are having their rights stolen invisibly from them by corporations that influence and control our elections and decision-makers through unrestricted, unchecked and untraceable cash contributions. This is not free speech but the destruction of the difference between real people and corporations whose existence depends on state law, not divine creation.

The eastern part of the United Sates is suffering drastically from floods and droughts.as well as other part of the country.

Assault weapons and large quantity ammo clips are for the military.

This week, my 66-year-old mother was jailed. She attended a Senate hearing on immigration reform where not a single Latino undocumented worker was given an opportunity to testify. As Director of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano took the microphone, my mother stood up and called for an end to the deportations that tear apart our families. I am so proud of her bravery. But for this, my mother was detained for more than eight hours. Is this really what it takes for the voices of those most impacted by immigration reform to be heard? Sen. Schumer is responsible for pushing immigration reform through a Democrat-controlled Senate that is supposed to be on our side. He cares a lot about his image right now. Tell Sen. Schumer you want a Latino undocumented worker to testify at the next immigration hearing.

Please pass Illinois House bill “HB-5383 - PUBLIC WATER SUPPLY-FLUORIDE” which repeals a provision requiring the Department of Public Health to provide for the addition of fluoride to public water supplies.

President Obama's State of the Union highlighted fracking for gas and oil as a way to tackle climate change and deal with our energy problems. But, nothing could be further from the truth. In Pennsylvania, Texas and many other states, communities' drinking water has been poisoned by toxic chemicals used in the fracking process. Communities in Wyoming have severe smog problems, leading to more asthma and respiratory problems. And, now there is talk of fracking in the midst of our National Parks and Forests—some of the most beautiful and treasured parts of the US. If we allow fracking to continue to expand, we will imperil the future generations that President Obama so passionately invoked. And the same generations we are trying to protect from climate change, will be left with poisoned aquifers, devastated parks and forests, and more air pollution. That's why we urge President Obama to reverse course on fracking, focus on the significant environmental and health problems, and make sure our health and environment comes first.

The manufacture of the iPad is catastrophically bad for the world. From the manufacture of batteries that destroy our environment (and the burning of fossil fuels to supply them with power) to the Chinese slave labor that has to build them to the oceans that are destroyed by container ships, there is not one thing about this product that we consider to be environmentally or humanitarianly friendly. As a result, we are burying our iPads underground to give them back to the earth from whence they came and planting flowers over top of them. This will continue until congress forbids the import of this awful piece of "technology".