As a resident of Rhode Island, it is saddening and frustrating to know we are the only New England state that permits a payday loan at an annual percentage rate above 36 percent. State law currently allows lenders to charge as much as 260 percent interest. When the Rhode Island's House Committee on Corporations began considering legislation to reduce the rate earlier this year, the House bill was co-sponsored by 50 of 75 representatives; the Senate version, by 26 of 38 senators. A broad coalition of community groups sought to cap the interest rates on these so-called "payday loans'' but it did not make it out of committee. Payday loans are deceptively marketed as a short term solution to my neighbors with financial problems. However, a family that couldn't afford to pay living expenses before obtaining a payday loan cannot shoulder the additional burden of triple-digit interest. Once the cycle begins, borrowers typically take out larger loans with larger interest payments. The payday loan becomes a long-term obligation where the interest paid far exceeds the loan obtained. This trap undermines choice and competition in the market and allows millions of dollars to flow out of our economy to large, out-of-state national payday lending chains. Lobbyists sent by the payday lending industry argue that Rhode Islanders could not survive without payday loans. In truth, we survived for decades without them, just as military families and the residents of every other New England state do today. It is time to vote on a bill to reduce payday loan rates.

ALLOWING THE PRIVATE PURCHASE OF ASSAULT WEAPONS INTENDED FOR USE ONLY BY THE ARMED FORCES AND POLICE PRESENTS A MAJOR DANGER TO ALL AMERICANS AND OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL. THE SANDY HOOK MURDERS ARE THE LATEST EXAMPLE OF UNSPEAKABLE HORROR MADE POSSIBLE BY THE AVAILABILITY OF THESE DEADLY WEAPONS. WE NEED YOU TO ACT NOW!

I live in New Jersey, if you wish to purchase a hypodermic needle here; you need a doctor’s prescription. That would include hypodermics for insulin, hypodermics to inject glue under carpets and linoleum; and hypodermics to inject flavoring into beef, turkey, chicken, or ham.

We cannot allow the slaughter of innocent lives any longer. There Must be tighter gun control at the federal level. We not need to have assault weapons and arsenals of ammunition so easily available.

Let’s attack this epidemic of gun violence from the back end using medical professionals to evaluate possible homicidal maniacs. I know the Gun Lobby is too strong; and the Second Amendment to engrained into our culture to defeat. Let’s attack this issue from the back end

Cerebrus has gobbled up leading gun and weapons manufacturing in the US, supports run rights organizations, made many of the weapons involved in mass shooting, including bushmaster used Friday in Newtown CT.

I believe if government officials depended on Social Security, like the common citizen, they would have more mercy on those who receive it. As citizens of the United States, they should only receive a pension if they have been an elected official for twenty years (as the common citizen).

Let’s attack this epidemic of gum violence from the back end using medical professionals to evaluate possible homicidal maniacs. I know the Gun Lobby is too strong; and the Second Amendment to engrained into our culture to defeat. Let’s attack this issue from the back end

State Senator Jeff Klein has always been a Democrat. But now, he's forged a coalition that will just keep the Republicans in power in Albany. He says he wants to pass progressive legislation by partnering with Republican leader Dean Skelos. But Republican leader Skelos says he isn't budging on his conservative positions, and he won't even commit to letting Democratic legislation come up for a vote. That's not a partnership worth joining! We need Democrats to act like Democrats and fight for our values. We want to hike the minimum wage and tie it to inflation. We want to get big money out of politics with public funding of elections. We need to protect women's basic health. But we can't do it by teaming up with Republicans who are opposed to every one of those issues. Jeff Klein, walk away from the bad partnership and stand with the Democrats.

More than a month after Hurricane Sandy, thousands of families in New York neighborhoods are still without heat, light or hot water. The delays in getting repairs to hardest-hit neighborhoods have resulted in a mounting mold problem. (Current mold issues are compounded for public housing residents who have dealt with city neglect on this issue more broadly for years.) Despite promises by officials, the re-building effort is too small and too slow. As of last week, more than 10,000 homes were still without electricity, and more than 8,500 families were still waiting for home assessments to be completed so they could start repairs. Thousands of families need action. They need electricity, heat and help with mold clean-up – and they need it now. Please join our petition to ask Mayor Bloomberg to expand the Rapid Repairs Program to include getting the electricity and heat turned on for all families currently on the waiting list by December 31 and to expanding the program to cover mold remediation. Alliance for a Greater New York (ALIGN) Center for Popular Democracy Community Voices Heard The Episcopal Diocese of Long Island Make the Road New York New York Communities for Change Occupy Faith Occupy Sandy PICO National Network Queens Congregations United for Action SEIU 1199

Lock the Schools back doors, and place armed security at the entrance of every school in Oregon

Make the violence against Newtown children our last wake-up call. If we continue to allow access to assault weapons, future mass murders are on all of us. Our country needs to adopt immediate legislation that works to control firearm violence.