Don't let Health and Human Services Secretary deprive you of your legally prescribed medicine.

Denny's franchise owner of over 40 restaurant's, John Metz, is implementing a 5% gratuity on all meals to pay for the cost he will incur by proving healthcare to his employees through Obamacare. He has publicly suggested that if a customer not want to pay the extra 5%, to take it out of the waiter/waitress's usual tip. He also plans to cut most employees hours to offset these costs. Our working class citizens who need jobs do not deserve to have their hours cut and tips reduced.

The soon to be revised Small Windmill Zoning Ordinance should be minimal and simplified to enable the use of privately owned small wind systems without limitation on location or height and to encourage the increase of individual prosperity, independence and self-sufficiency by the suitable use of one's private property. 1. Small windmill systems for private owners have been proven effective to reduce dependence upon commercial electricity. 2. Small windmill systems that have been approved by NYSERDA should be allowed anywhere in Town as long as they can be placed their height away from the public. Therefore the Zoning Ordinance for Privately Owned Small Windmills should be simple, efficient, inclusive and permissive as a right of land-ownership. This Petition is approved by Gregory and Dawn Scott, Harvey and Susan Grimshaw, Marty Burdick and Carol Shattuck, Ron and Ora Ditch, David and Dorothy Worthington, Howard and Dona Barney, Michael Fellows, Kim and Robert Bisig and many other friends of small wind energy.

The 2010 decision by the U.S. Supreme Court in the case of Citizens United v Federal Election Commission gave virtually unlimited power to corporations to influence elections and other civil matters in our country at all levels of government by granting them the same political free speech rights as living human beings. Only a constitutional amendment can overcome this state of affairs. A resolution has been submitted to both houses of the Texas Legislature that, if passed, would direct the U.S. Congress to initiate this amendment process.

How Jeffrey Loria conned the people of Miami-Dade county in paying for a new ball park then trading away all its good players

Marijuana is a naturally occurring substance with proven medicinal use, while for recreational use safer than alcohol and less addictive than tobacco. Yet, legally it is treated like a harmful drug. The needless violence due to its illegal status and waste of resources in prosecuting its users and producers far outweighs the risks potentially associated with its responsible consumption. Legal availability will make Vermont even more attractive to young adults who come here to ski and ride, roughly half of whom are regular users. http://www.drugscience.org/States/VT/VT.pdf

Recently some groups in all 50 states have started petitions to seceed from the United States. All Americans need to immediately put a stop to this pre-Civil War action. This is the same action that happened prior to the Civil War in this country. It is ludicrous and has tones of tratorism in it.

The fossil fuel industry is the source of mercury, ozone and soot pollution and is responsible for acidifying oceans and a warming planet. Leading scientists are seriously concerned that the habitability of our world is at stake. The fossil fuel industy is the only industry that is able to pollute for free. While regulations and targeted subsidies/penalities can somewhat address carbon pollution, these methods are too inefficient to deal with the growing risks. A carbon tax is the most efficient market-based mechanism to reduce fossil fuel pollution by ensuring that the price of carbon pollution is reflected in all goods and services.

Currently there is a cap on how much money people contribute in the Social Security set at some $150.000 People like Mitt Romney or Rush Limbaugh are done contributing on the 15 of January or the first paycheck. Those making less are paying all year long. Since this is insurance against poverty and old age and to make it sustainable and solvent for all contributors at all time and all people plus in the spirit of fairness we all rich and poor need to pay in all the time to the full extent of our income we insure.

Fracturing rock releases hazardous gases such as hydrogen sulfide, sulfur dioxide, and methane, which can cause blood disorders, negative neurological effects, breathing problems, and reproductive challenges. Fracking also uses 4 to 7 million gallons of water, and one well requires multiple fracks. Chemicals used to blast into the rock are highly toxic, and are present in the wastewater produced during fracking, and some of it can leak into the ground and contaminate our aquifers.

After operating for over 30 years in Wrigleyville, last year the Wild Hare Reggae Club closed. They have reopened in a new location. The City of Chicago is fighting their application for a live music venue license. I want to let the City of Chicago know Chicago and the world wants live reggae back home in the Wild Hare now!

To truly honor our veterans, we must ensure the people who care for them are respected and feel safe in their workplace. This is often not the case at Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital in Illinois, where dedicated employees have frequently been victimized by widespread harassment, retaliatory actions against those reporting abuses, bullying, and other forms of intimidation. Upper management at Hines has not been responsive in investigating these offenses, which violate Veterans Administration policies, contractual agreements, and the constitutional rights of those victimized. In many instances, members of management have themselves been guilty of these abuses. In other instances they have ignored complaints, dismissed them outright, and used pressure and threats against some employees making these complaints. Instances of bullying and harassment have increased exponentially, with 650 complaints in the past year as verified by Equal Employment Opportunity Commission office records. Hines management has refused to accept accountability or even conduct an open discussion on these issues, despite detailed complaints brought to their attention by employees and representatives of the American Federation of Government Employees Local 781. Members of the National Nurses Union and the Service Employees International Union have also reported similar instances of harassment. Some of the harassment at Hines has been directed against employees who have exposed waste, fraud, and abuse at the facility. This kind of unacceptable behavior adversely affects more than just the employees who have been victimized. Our concern is for our veterans—the men and women who have sacrificed so much for the protection and security of their fellow Americans. When employees are afraid to speak up for improvements in care and efficiency, it’s our veterans who truly pay the price. When a work environment is hostile, good healthcare workers leave. Our nation’s veterans deserve the very best healthcare available, and that cannot be provided under current conditions at Hines. We ask you to join us in demanding accountability and more responsive action from Hines management in addressing complaints from the workforce, disciplining those who have violated proper conduct standards, and working to create a more peaceful and productive working environment.