Even by Washington standards, $26 billion is a lot of money. That’s the amount spent by taxpayers annually to provide housing for needy Americans. But there’s significant evidence that some of the monies have been poorly spent for years." - The Center for Public Integrity (2011).

Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett should be indicted for his years of inaction in his role as Attorney General during the Penn State scandal. His intentional ignorance for personal political interests directly resulted in the abuse of countless innocent children at the hands of predator Jerry Sandusky.

The proposed law, Leahy substitute to HR 2471, scheduled for a vote next week originally increased Americans' e-mail privacy. Then law enforcement complained. Now it increases government access to e-mail and other digital files. Read - http://news.cnet.com/8301-13578_3-57552225-38/senate-bill-rewrite-lets-feds-read-your-e-mail-without-warrants/?part=rss&subj=news&tag=title for more information. And - http://thehill.com/blogs/hillicon-valley/technology/249461-overnight-tech-senate-bill-would-require-warrant-for-email-snooping

Student loan debt is out of control. Individuals are unable to pay back the government for a variety of reasons. One way to help both students and the government is to cap the interest rate at low and reasonable percent.

Remember 1996 when things were going good and we had a balanced budget and paying down the national debt for the first time in many, many years? Let's go back to those days. This will bring some hardship on many people, but I think Americans are strong will back this if it will get our country on the right track again. It will improve everyone's lives in the long run.

We need governmental leaders and businesses to value a triple bottom line of People, Planet, and Profit. Profit maximization at the expense of People and Planet does not work for the economy of the 21st century and affects our society and environment. There is no longer a debate on climate change, it is real, it is here, and it is caused by human activity. If we continue to burn coal and oil to provide our energy and fuel our economy, and continue to use and dispose of our resources irresponsibly, there will be dire consequences to our ecosystem, our health, and inevitably our economy. Global temperature is rising from carbon dioxide pollution in the atmosphere and the world’s access to healthy food and water is diminishing. Warmer air holds more moisture than cold air which increases evaporation, resulting in more drought, flooding, storms, and more frequent and powerful “extreme weather events.” This pattern of global warming and climate change can still be reversed, but we need to act now by supporting policy and businesses that favor a triple bottom line. Will you support a petition, a business, a politician, or a country that leads its people, businesses, and policy to be more sustainable? Will you learn, share, and talk to others about sustainability? Will you create, support, and grow businesses that are humane, creative, and environmentally responsible? Will you govern in a way that you’re supposed to; by supporting and sustaining the conditions of human life - in an environmental and fiscally responsible way? Our goal is to reach 1,000,000 signatures by January 17th so that the President will address it in his Inauguration Day Speech on January 20th. Be bold and STAND UP FOR SUSTAINABILITY.

Stand strong President Obama. We got your back. Let the Bush era tax cuts for the rich expire.

We are senior citizens, family caregivers and case management agencies fighting Hawaii Health Systems Corporation (HHSC) to get them to reverse their decision and renew Dr. K. Albert Yazawa’s contract. There are virtually no doctors willing to accept new patients, let alone patients insured with Medicare or Medicaid, and yet, this State funded organization wants to eliminate their Board Certified Family Physician who specializes in Geriatric Services, which will negatively impact over 300 frail senior citizens. We must stop them!

Illinois is the only state in the USA where law abiding citizens are denied the right to self defense. Illinois citizens deserve their rights restored.

Same-sex couples can legally marry in nine states: Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Vermont, Maine, Maryland, and Washington. California has long been at the forefront of LGBT rights, it is time for action, for marriage equality. Let's honor Harvey Milk and those who have fought with us in this civil rights struggle. Please join us in sending this letter to the California state legislature to remind them that we remain second class citizens and that it is time to change that. Let's show the governor it is time he joins us in this fight for equality. We need change, and we demand it. Lets make sure President Obama has the votes necessary to repeal DOMA.

It IS NOT TOO MUCH to ask that people have Thanksgiving and Christmas off. Obviously, some people will have to work--emergency personnel, law enforcement and hospital personnel mainly--but we have PLENTY of time to shop for the holidays without asking retail salespeople to give up their holiday.

My group of friends that recently graduated from college last year are currently unemployed. This results in them unable to pay off their student loans. It is required for students to start paying back their loans six months after graduation. If a student cannot pay back their loan it hurts their credit score. A bad credit score then can have a negative effect on finding a job in this already horrible economy. Six months is not enough time with the economic situation. Students should be given a grace period of 24 months to get on their feet.