You may know that hydraulic fracturing for natural gas, or “fracking,” is polluting drinking water and impacting air quality in communities from Pennsylvania to Colorado. But fracking has had another, less publicized consequence that hits closer to home: demand for silica sand, or "frac sand," which is used in the hydraulic fracturing process, has gone through the roof. As a result, large-scale frac sand mining operations have descended on central and southern Minnesota—and our waterways, landscapes and public health could suffer the consequences. Major concerns associated with frac sand mining include: -Polluted wastewater leaks from frac sand mines, which endangers waterways such as the Mississippi, St. Croix and Minnesota River basins; -Groundwater depletion as a result of excessive use by the frac sand industry; -Air pollution and environmental degradation as a result of transporting industrial machinery, equipment and millions of tons of sands; -The destruction of rural lands important for wildlife, agriculture, and tourism; -Respiratory disorders from breathing silica sand dust. Now is the time to address the potential dangers of frac sand mining and ensure that Minnesota is properly protected.

The war on drugs has been going since the sixties and the only thing it has accomplished is violence and corruption. I believe we should focus on addiction. Treatment is far cheaper than incarceration.

Current campaign finance law is the injection point Wall St uses to poison OUR democracy. In 2000 85% of the US electorate favored major campaign $ reform. Today that could be 95%. It's one crucial issue that could coalesce over 200 million Americans. If 120 million were to sign-on AND donate an average of $50, we'd have $6 billion to defeat the 10 worstof our reps. Campaign law like that in this petition would mean each of us would be equal to the Koch bros. More importantly, it would mean each of us would be equal to Exxon/Mobil etc, for if we could limit ourselves, we would thereby limit our "corporate selves". Certainly corporate personhood should be revisited, but this would eliminate 99% of the advantage it gives. Poll after poll show that what we have now is not the will of the people; It's Wall St. Most Americans are kind and still believe in freedom, democracy, justice and the possibility of a good life for all. This would be reflected in the policies WE choose after gaining control of our government through this simple demand.

Grover Norquist's infamous "Americans for Tax Reform" Pledge is a cynical diversion of elected officials from their responsiblities to ALL their constituents, and has contributed to the most polarized, ineffective Congress in living memory. Aside from the fact that it's probably unconstitutional, the Pledge and others like it, constitute an undue interference in the completion of the People's business.

The nation has been impacted by partial judges ruling in favor of their party platforms: i.e., abortion, voting laws, Citizens United.

In response to a civil Grand Jury report entitled “A Failure of Oversight”—and more than a year after the mess left behind by the collapse of the Lompoc Housing and Community Development Corporation (LHCDC) came to light—our City Council has promised to come up with a policy to keep such failures from happening in the future. It’s good to see the city finally take, at least partial, responsibility for the demise of LHCDC. But, this wasn’t just a financial disaster; it had human consequences. The city should go beyond crafting a policy for accountability and take active steps to reach out and assist those most affected by the mess LHCDC made of low-income housing in our community. At the very least, the city should: 1. Reach out, identify those affected, and listen to their needs. Their voices have been missing from this conversation. One such resident came forward at a City Council meeting, but was offered little support. 2. Prepare and disseminate information about resources and assistance opportunities with regard to low-income housing. If the city is partially responsible for what happened, then they are also, at least partially, responsible for making sure our commitment to those in need is kept and that those affected have a fighting chance to land on their feet. 3. Consider forming a Rental Housing Mediation Task Force Program—similar to the successful program in Santa Barbara—to help all Lompoc residents stay in their homes, especially in light of the spate of foreclosures in our community that often leave renters with little to no recourse.

Many children are finding themselves in homes without the bare necessities due to the unfortunate situation of living in single parent homes where the absent parent is not providing any support to the child -- even when there are support orders in place. The states are inconsistent in granting and enforcing child support orders, as a result the children suffer, the custodial parent has to work multiple jobs or long hours and the absent parent escapes financial responsibility without any penalty. Women are disporportionately impacted since they typically are the primary care givers/custodial parent. The laws must be enacted empowering the federal government to take control of the child support enforcement so that we are all subject to the same criteria irrespective of the state in which the children or parents live.

I would like to have a federal law regarding term limits for Congress. There are term limits for president and there should be the same for Congress so that new, progressive thinking could keep up with the times and the people.

I live on a busy avenue in Manhattan filled with all the predictable street noises you can imagine--and then some.The worst is the car alarms that go off 24/7, sometimes set off simply by a passing truck or motorcycle--with absolutely NO ONE to attend to them or pay attention, except me. Please add your vote to mine to force auto makers to discontinue these noxious devices as standard equpment on autos.

Republican Governors have threatened to block Medicaid coverage for qualified people in their states thru the ACA ("ObamaCare") plan when offered in 2014. Our petition seeks to hold those Governors AND Legislatures civilly and criminally responsible for all disabilities and/or deaths which could have been prevented by Medicaid coverage after 2014 in those states.

Control when high explosive fireworks can be used as celebration of July 4th. Since Michigan passed a law permitting these devices, the public abuse begins in late June for several months, often late at night. Unhealthy for seniors, small children and even animals. 911 is overwhelmed with calls about this problem.

Warren Buffett, in a recent interview with CNBC, offers one of the best quotes about the debt ceiling: "I could end the deficit in 5 minutes," he told CNBC. "You just pass a law that says that anytime there is a deficit of more than 3% of GDP, all sitting members of Congress are ineligible for re-election. Congressional Reform Act of 2011 1. No Tenure / No Pension. A Congressman/woman collects a salary while in office and receives no pay when they're out of office. 2. Congress (past, present & future) participates in Social Security. All funds in the Congressional retirement fund move to the Social Security system immediately. All future funds flow into the Social Security system, and Congress participates with the American people. It may not be used for any other purpose. 3. Congress can purchase their own retirement plan, just as all Americans do. 4. Congress will no longer vote themselves a pay raise. Congressional pay will rise by the lower of CPI or 3%. 5. Congress loses their current health care system and participates in the same health care system as the American people. 6. Congress must equally abide by all laws they impose on the American people. 7. All contracts with past and present Congressmen/women are void effective 1/1/12. The American people did not make this contract with Congressmen/women. Congressmen/women made all these contracts for themselves. Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The founding fathers envisioned citizen legislators, so ours should serve their term(s), then go home and back to work.