President Obama is about to receive a set of military options for Afghanistan from his advisers. We believe that the best strategy to serve the interests of the American people and our brave troops on the ground is an accelerated withdrawal to bring to an end the decade-long war as soon as can safely and responsibly be accomplished. Please stand with me and the more than 45 representatives who've stood up so far. Sign your name to the letter below.

Taxes on the working class are to high without elected officials sharing in the hardship.

Congress is going to make important decisions about Social Security and Medicare. If they had to live with those decisions, I believe they would make better policies.

Citizens should be concerned about the tactics being employed by foreclosing banks and the judicial preference shown to them at the expense of the middle class and lower income homeowners. I am in this position and there are almost no attorneys who will assist the financially challenged citizens and the state, local and federal governments offer no solutions or aid.

The Santa Monica Parks and Recreation Committee has voted to ban all group exercise classes (i.e. Stroller Strides, etc.) in Palisades Park (The Bluff) and restrict such business throughout the city. They are bringing the issue to Santa Monica City Hall in January 2013 in order to enforce their recommendation. The majority of these group fitness camps DO carry liability insurance and they DO pay city taxes and business license fees, as well as create revenue for the small business surrounding the area (coffee shops, restaurants, apparel, farmer's market, etc.). More importantly, they are promoting a healthy lifestyle (some camps even offer free fitness days to give back to the community). If you DO NOT support the ban on group fitness in Palisades Park & other ares of Santa Monica, please let the City Council know by signing this petition. Thank You!

no tax increase on middle class taxpayers-increase taxes on people who earn more than $250,000 per year because not only is it fair but the income is desperately needed to help the economy

Over the last decade, enrollment at for-profit colleges has grown exponentially, with up to 10% of post-secondary students enrolled in a for-profit school. While some of these schools provide quality education to their students, many leave graduates with a high amount of debt and no job prospects. Last year, taxpayers spent $32 billion dollars on for-profit universities, but it’s an investment that doesn’t always pay off. According to the findings of a two-year investigation by U.S. Senator Tom Harkin’s commission on Health, Employment, Labor and Pensions (HELP) into the practices of for-profit colleges, the majority of students who enroll in these schools leave without a degree – most within four months. Said Harkin “In this report, you will find overwhelming documentation of exorbitant tuition, aggressive recruiting practices, abysmal student outcomes, taxpayer dollars spent on marketing and pocketed as profit, and regulatory evasion and manipulation. These practices are not the exception — they are the norm. They are systemic throughout the industry, with very few individual exceptions.” Mississippi is host to dozens of for-profit schools, and even boasts a Commission on Proprietary Schools and College Registration, housed within the Mississippi Community College Board. The commission works hard to ensure that for-profit colleges are playing by the rules, but the rules aren’t good enough. This winter, we are asking that you join with us to fix three major gaps in the regulation of for-profit colleges. FIRST, THE LEGISLATURE MUST DEFINE THE TERM "IN THE FIELD." While state law requires that proprietary schools report the number of students who are employed “in the field”, that term is not defined in the regulations. That means that there is no standard for the types of jobs for-profit graduates are being placed in. Further, it leaves the employment percentages posted on school websites open to manipulation. We’re calling on the Mississippi Legislature to create a common sense definition for “in the field”, so consumers have employment information they can rely on. SECONDLY, THE LEGISLATURE MUST INCREASE THE STANDARDS FOR TEACHERS EMPLOYED BY FOR-PROFIT SCHOOLS. Currently, teachers need only possess a high school diploma or GED and three years of relevant experience to teach in a for-profit school. Teaching at the college level should require at least a two-year Associates Degree, and, once again “relevant experience” must be defined. FINALLY, THE REGULATIONS MUST REQUIRE THAT FOR-PROFIT SCHOOLS HAVE OPEN AND ACCESSIBLE COMPLAINT PROCEDURES. While every school has a complaint procedure, the process is often too cumbersome, dissuading students from pursuing their grievances. The Mississippi Legislature must create a streamlined process for complaints that does not discourage students from advocating on their own behalf. If you have a story of your own, please put it in the comments. We’ll deliver the petition (and the attached stories) to the legislature this session.

President Obama: •RESTORE HOPE •END “Race to the Top” •END testing's tyranny •REMOVE Duncan

Employees are being taken advantage by corporations and their greed. Employees are fired who have the courage to try to organize a union. It is so bad now that almost all employees are afraid to exercise their rights for self protection. THIS IS WRONG.

Many middle class families depend on the mortgage deduction (and property tax deduction) in order to afford the home they own. The healthcare deduction above a percentage of income saves many famlies from bankruptcy. The purpose of the The Alternative Minimum Tax was to prevent millionaires from having enough deductions to avoid paying income taxes. It should not be applied to struggling middle class families. Further, the unexpected consequence might be a collapse of the Real Estate Market.

In 2004, HB 278 gave Oil & Gas Companies an unfair advantage over other businesses. This legislation appoints The Ohio Department of Natural Resources as the sole authority to regulate the permitting, spacing, and location of oil and gas wells within the state. The problem with HB 278 is that every community has unique needs that the state is not familiar with. Take Stow, Ohio for example. This beautiful suburban community has a long history of preserving residential neighborhoods while also promoting business activity. The city is set up in a way where residents can enjoy quiet streets where their kids can play and businesses are able to conduct their daily operations. Thanks to HB 278, when the Church of New Hope leased their mineral rights to PEP Drilling Co. in front of a residential allotment, no special zoning approvals were needed. Once the well was drilled, it was determined the current depth would not be productive. The company drilled deeper than they were supposed to and were cited with multiple violations. PEP needed to get additional acreage in order to drill deeper. It is still not clear if the company has enough acreage, but they are operating anyway. Some of that acreage was under a city road and it was believed the mineral rights were owned by the city. The residents of Stow did not want this in their community-- Especially since there is a daycare at the church. Residents urged their council not to lease its mineral rights because they were concerned for the health, well-being, and integrity of their community. The city did not lease the mineral rights and the company has since provided the state with information that indicates someone else owns the mineral rights. The well should not be allowed to go forward until mineral rights and proper acreage have been determined. Furthermore, the city should be able to control what type of business activity takes place in their city. Stow is in an area of Ohio, rich in hydrogen sulfide (H2S). H2S is highly corrosive to steel and a serious health risk. It can cause well casings to fail and corrode equipment and tubing. H2S killed an Ohioan at a gas well in 2009 and is widely known to pose other serious health risks. This is wrong! Stow City Council and residents should have the right to say what goes on in their community. Other communities have the right to determine what is best for them. "Governor, please immediately stop drilling in the communities that don't want it! Grant local governments the ability to control what happens in their neighborhoods!"

Immediate detainment of perpetrator when evidence is brought to the attention of military authorities; guaranteed prosecution, imprisonment and dishonorable discharge of the perpetrator if found guilty.