Congress has wasted 4 years doing nothing, now they are trying to hold the country hostage to please the wealthy few. I say represent all the people or get out of our way. They must be held accountable.

Our legislators were elected to work for us. They are refusing to do so with endless filibustering, or simply refusing to support or even allow votes on important legislation that would benefit the American people. This pledge is designed to send a message to our legislators that if they do not vote for our interests, we will not vote for them.

In order to restore open and democratic principles to the operation of the Senate, the use of holds on bills and other measures must be reformed. Any senator, with the consent of the leader, can hold up consideration of any bill or other measure by openly or secretly placing a hold on that item. Currently, there is no limitation to the time a hold can be in effect. This practice allows any one senator to effectively veto any legislation unless a supermajority of 60 senators overrides the hold. This practice places too much power in the hands of individual senators and is therefore undemocratic and not in the spirit of the Constitution. This petition needs to be presented to the Senate before opening day of the 113th Congress on January 3, 2013 in order to permit the majority to change the rule. Otherwise, a supermajority of 67 senators may be required.

Detecting Autism is dependent upon the parents to do research and fight to get their child help. Getting help involves fighting with school systems, doctors, and insurance companies. 1 in 88 children in America has Autism. We need to do more for our kids and families. My son is improving only because I worked really hard to get him help. What about all the other children with Autism?

Public workers in 15 states who have worked in both the private and public sectors are presently disallowed from receiving Social Security they earned in the private sector when they accept their public pensions. These workers will not receive full public pensions because of their time spent in the private sector and yet they are denied the benefits they paid into all those years.

All tax paying Americans are affected by companies that are not paying their fair share.

Full day kindergarten has become the norm in Early childhood education in the United States. It is a fact, that half day kindergarten deprives our children of the necessary, fundamental education that they deserve and we expect.

A financial transaction tax -- as the US had until 1966, and as at least 10 European countries levy -- could raise billions of dollars to help reduce the deficit, would affect only the highest-income earners, and might help to slow the speculative fever of Wall Street.

Every time I go to the grocery store I see things on "sale" i have to wonder if the sign the product is near or under means that product is actually the one that is on sale. Also shoppers have to wonder if the product size is the same size as it was the week before. What appears to be what was a 5 pound bag of sugar is now only 4 pounds. Toilet paper even has gotten narrower. What was a one pound can of coffee now contains only 10.6 ounces.

A special "Thank You" is due to President Bill Clinton for his help in the campaign to re-elect President Obama. Once the election results were in, he seemed to be forgotten.

Ban to be imposed on smoking in appartments and town houses. Due to evidence that second hand smoking causes cancer. Smoking should be banned in appartments and townhouses. There should be smoking designated areas far from living areas. At least in Nassau County. Do you know that in Nassau county it is forbiden to smoke in the apartment building hallway but legal to smoke in appartment.

why should working people be forced to require food stamps and medicaid at taxpayer expense to survive, while companies are reporting record profits.