Petition Congress to have their benefits converted to the Social Security/Medicare system. By their participation, all legislation regarding Social Security and Medicare would effect them directly. By merging their benefits, additional revenue would be gained into the much needed Social Security Fund. As a senior on a fixed income, I have paid into the system my whole life. I fear now that the money I invested is at risk and at the mercy of those who are not directly effected by their decisions. Cuts in benefits will greatly hurt the elderly and handicapped, the most vulnerable people in our society. Make Congress accountable.

Ohioans are disgusted to learn that a lobbyist and former employee of Josh Mandel is running the dark group that has raised over $1 million to viciously attack his opponent, Senator Sherrod Brown. Allowing and encouraging these kinds of attack ads behind the scenes is unfair and misleading. I have followed Senator Brown's career and know him to be an honest, caring Congressman who does not deserve to be slandered in this manner.

Governor Bentley is challenging the recent decision by a federal court that labeled controversial elements of the new state immigration law unconstitutional. The law is basically detrimental to the state of Alabama as well as to those who are adversely effected by it.

At first pageants were just cute kids in frilly outfits, but now it has turned into kids pretending to smoke, dressing as strippers, even padded breasts are now the norm. Kids are often seen kicking,screaming,and BEGGING for there moms to stop with the make up and spray on tans! We need to change this.

State and local governments frequently give massive tax breaks and financial incentives to attract corporations to locate in their region. The loss of tax revenue is made up by citizens. Corporations have all the bargaining power by making different locales a competitive market for incentive tax relief. This Act would not allow any local or state tax breaks or incentives to be paid to corporations.

MS attacks the most productive members of society, including my 44 year old son. It slowly debilitates them physically, mentally and emotionally until they become invalids. Funding and research is fragmented. Until a global consortium that shares research and funding is created, a cause and cure will never be found. Pharmaceutical companies will only fund medicines that will make profit. A cause and cure is needed now. You never know when MS will decimate your family. Vote for cooperation.

National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is poised to authorize “Incidental Harassment Permits” to ION Geophysical to trawl huge arrays of seismic airguns through the Chukchi and Beaufort Arctic Seas. ION’s survey would result in harassment takes of a large number of marine mammals, in violation of the “small numbers” requirement of the Marine Mammal Protection Act. NMFS proposes to authorize the disruption of the behavior of over 250 bowhead whales, almost 5,000 beluga whales, and over 60,000 seals. NMFS admits that animals will suffer permanent hearing loss (also termed permanent threshold shift “PTS”), but justifies the activities with a series of unsubstantiated assumptions about the duration of exposure, and animals ability to escape injury. ION proposes using two towed arrays consisting of 26 active airguns with a total discharge volume of 4,450 cubic inches. They propose subjecting 80,970 mi2 (209,752 km2) of pristine Arctic habitat to airgun noise in excess of 160dB (re: 1µPa). We know that foraging and migration disruptions occur at much lower levels, and that stress in the extreme Arctic environment compromises the health and reproductive success of all marine life. These surveys are the preamble to a fossil fuel Klondike in the Arctic and must be halted. Please join us in our petition to the National Marine Fisheries Service deny authorization of this reckless proposal. Signatures must be in by the close of business on Monday September 17!

National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is poised to authorize “Incidental Harassment Permits” to ION Geophysical to trawl huge arrays of seismic airguns through the Chukchi and Beaufort Arctic Seas. ION’s survey would result in harassment takes of a large number of marine mammals, in violation of the “small numbers” requirement of the Marine Mammal Protection Act. NMFS proposes to authorize the disruption of the behavior of over 250 bowhead whales, almost 5,000 beluga whales, and over 60,000 seals. NMFS admits that animals will suffer permanent hearing loss (also termed permanent threshold shift “PTS”), but justifies the activities with a series of unsubstantiated assumptions about the duration of exposure, and animals ability to escape injury. ION proposes using two towed arrays consisting of 26 active airguns with a total discharge volume of 4,450 cubic inches. They propose subjecting 80,970 mi2 (209,752 km2) of pristine Arctic habitat to airgun noise in excess of 160dB (re: 1µPa). We know that foraging and migration disruptions occur at much lower levels, and that stress in the extreme Arctic environment compromises the health and reproductive success of all marine life. These surveys are the preamble to a fossil fuel Klondike in the Arctic and must be halted. Please join us in our petition to the National Marine Fisheries Service deny authorization of this reckless proposal. Signatures must be in by the close of business on Monday September 17!

This petition is to show Jefferson Parish leaders how important a small, professionally run, free concert series is to the well being and mindset of the local residents who graciously supported the Live @ Lafreniere Sunset Concert Series. Not only was it presented to give residents of Jefferson Parish a fun, family friendly event to share with their neighbors...it supported the local musicians, who have been a part of the region's culture and heritage for many years, as well as financially benefiting Lafreniere Park, the namesake of the event.

Anyone in his or her 40s, 50s, and 60s who has been forced out into the job market again by a layoff in this economy, knows how hard it is to find a new job and how prevalent the practice is of circumventing equal employment opportunity laws by 'prescreening' applicants by asking for their birthdate. It's time this blatantly discriminatory practice came to an end.

Several provisions of Alabama's disgraceful anti-immigration law were found unconstitutional in a series of rulings by the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals. They include invalidating any contracts with undocumented immigrants (making it virtually impossible to get a lease), harboring illegal aliens and the requirement that parents and students disclose their legal status to enroll in school. Days ago, Governor Bentley announced his decision to appeal the ruling to the full Court "based on principle"–claiming that Alabama must defend its rights against federal intrusion. The call for states rights' is a time-honored tradition for laws that oppress and disenfranchise people of all types in the southern United States. It is time for Alabama to accept the widely-held and fully constitutional "principles" that all children have a right to education and all people a right to shelter free of discrimination, harassment or fear. And it is time for Alabama to quit wasting money it doesn't have defending the indefensible on a fool's errand in court.

I've had a student loan since 1989. Due to school bankruptcy the schooling was interrupted: finished at another school, but without any benefit of placement. I have never worked in this field as a result and never netted a thin dime. Due to overwhelming circumstances I been able to pay very little, and the interest has grown exponentially. Now I'm retired on Social Security and DOE has taken a federal offset from my benefits to pay the loan. This works a real hardship with less than 900 to live on.