The rate hike that has been approved by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio will affect small businesses and tax payers who in times of hardship will suffer another rate hike for an inefficient energy giant. They have already had a rate hike to which they were supposed to use the cash to bury the power lines and modernize, but the last power outage caused by severe thunderstorms obviously showed how ill prepared they were for an incident of this nature. http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505245_162-57489873/aep-ohio-customers-may-see-7-percent-hike-in-bills/

The time has come for teachers and other school employees to stop the use of food rewards in the classroom. At my daughter's school it is very common for the teachers to hand out candy as rewards in the classroom. When the whole country is struggling to keep children healthy and avoid childhood obesity, I find it surprising that teachers and the school as a whole are doing this. While it may provide short term behavior or performance changes, this practice has real long term consequences. As parents, it’s our job to look out for our children’s long term health and learning experience. Some may point out that my daughter’s food allergies make it easy for me to disapprove of this, but this goes beyond children with food allergies. This practice is hurting everyone, including the teachers and the school. I know many parents who really don’t like the practice as well, but are just not sure how to change it. The teachers and school openly support and rely on these rewards, but I guess no one has challenged it or pointed out how inappropriate it is. Here it goes, here’s my case against food rewards in the classroom: *The first and obvious reason – these foods are unhealthy. Candy and junk food contribute to poor health. Candy and sugary rewards increase the risk of cavities and hyperactivity and can lead to problems like diabetes and obesity. Pizza, ice cream and cookies are not healthy foods and should be eaten in moderation. When given throughout the day, they can take the place of or interfere with healthy choices. Eating when your not hungry teaches poor eating habits and interferes with the child’s ability to understand when they are hungry. *Parents should decide what their children should eat and the school should respect that choice. Children are given food in the classroom all the time and parents have no idea what and how much. *Eating sweets increases a preference for sweets. We’ve all seen it. I gave my 3 year old a fruit juice lollipop and for a week afterwards, he he insisted on lollipops for breakfast, lunch and dinner instead of a real meal. It was a tough battle that I hadn’t anticipated. *It’s manipulation. A child promised a treat for learning has been given every reason to stop doing so as soon as the reward goes away. Children will very quickly realize that the rewards can work both ways -” if you don’t give me the reward, I won’t cooperate”. *It teaches children inappropriate associations with food. Food rewards create the understanding that food and sustenance are things one has to earn. *Food rewards are confusing and compromise learning. The children are taught about nutrition to promote healthy habits, but by giving out candy in class they are completely contradicting that message. A recent field trip to the skating rink was touted as being part of the children’s health curriculum, but pizza was included as part of the field trip. My daughter was quick to point this out and I have to agree with her–this isn’t the best way to end a “health” fieldtrip. Developing a child’s inner sense of accomplishment is a beautiful thing. An internal sense of success is powerful, and creates a sense of accomplishment that pales in comparison to any external praise, or tangible reward, for a job well done. This, in my opinion is the real juice that keeps kids excited about learning. This is what we need to aim for as a goal for our children and support our schools and teachers in that goal. So what can we do? We want what’s best for our children and we want them to have the best education experience possible. If we want change, we have to ask for it. This is me asking for change. This is me asking teachers and schools to stop using food rewards in the classroom. Join me in asking our schools for change. Let's see how far we can go for our kids!

I think congress should be on an hourly rate. I don't like that my tax dollar is being spent on people that are not earning it. This has been the worse "do nothing congress" in history. Have them punch a time clock, no work, no pay. We will save a lot of money or we will have a congress doing the work that we sent them there to do.

The laws favor the department of corrections being able to take an inmate's bail and use it for whatever they deem appropriate. Most of the time the bail is not posted by the inmate, but by someone outside. This should be against the law. If someone posts bail, they should receive their money back once the inmate shows up for the hearing or sentencing as the bail insures.

If we have a law that mandates a minimum wage that is not even livable, then we should at least have a maximum wage to limit the greed and corruption that occurs in our society due to all our leaders being owned by the corporations. Enough is enough already. CEO's, hedge fund managers, investment bankers, etc... do not need millions or even billions of dollars at the expense of others.

Since graduation, I have been unable to secure full time permanent employment, which makes it a hardship to repay the student loan. The schools promise to assist in employment positions after graduation was not productive. I am close to retirement age and foresee great difficulty in repaying a loan for education that could not be used to produce sufficient funds to warrant receiving the loan.

My friend Meagan Sunde has battled cancer 3 times starting when she was 18 yrs old~ Hodgkin's Lymphoma; 2 times with breast cancer. She is a wife, mother, and friend to many in our close-knit neighborhood. United Healthcare, is denying her coverage for the proton radiation treatment she recieved. Proton radiation treatment was recommended by her doctors and was the only option avialable to Meagan to treat the cancer. And it worked, she is cancer-free today! Meagan pays her premiums every month, and United Healthcare is refusing to hold up their end of the agreement. Meagan has been appealing with United Healthcare since April 2012 to cover the treatments. Should Meagan really have to fight United Healthcare for cancer treatments that worked? Should her family face financial hardships if UnitedHealthcare doesn't pay? Meagan is cancer-free today because of the proton radiation treament she received that United Healthcare doesn't want to pay for. Would you want your insurance to deny paying for the only treatment available to save your life? We would like her to be armed with this petition to show our support, so please pass it on!

It is too easy for Congress and Presidents to fight wars with other peoples' children. This law would ensure that, when Members and/or Presidents, decide to go to war that their own children or grandchildren must fight it.

Sex Education is so vital in our Country and is a free right. We cannot allow a legistlator, polititian or Minister toy with thelives of our youth and of the unborn. I worked for HealthWorks Theatre Company in Chicago and saw the difference it made to be able to answer questions by our young people about their bodies, HIV and AIDS, pregnancy and how to protect themselves and how to make the right decisions for themselves. We as Americans have an advantage that many people across the world don't. We can share our knowledge and help others openly and graciously. Let us keep our country real and full of positive pride.

Conservatism has been masquerading under the label of a political ideology, but it is in reality a vast criminal organization that has caused irreparable harm to America and the world. Besides Conservatism's legislative history that has caused untold deaths and misery to the poor and middle class, its underlying agenda, to return our democratic republic to a feudalistic culture, with the wealthy at its head and the 99 percent majority at the bottom, can no longer stand. As noted on http://www.crimnalizeconservatism.com, freedom of speech issues and the institution of our two-party system do not apply to Conservative criminality, and Conservative leaders in front groups such as the Republican Party should be marginalized as soon as possible before they completely take over our government.

Why should we lost our heard earned Social Security just because we get married. Married Couples that get married after they get on disability, lose some of their benifits. Each party has worked heard of any benifits they have. Why take that away, just because they get married. No one wants to be alone. Some couples are separating, just to keep their benifits.

I went to a local grocery store a few days ago and asked them if any of their produce was non- GMO ( Genetically Modified produce). The man said no, but added that in their specialty section I may be able to find some. I read that the big agri-businesses are all GMO. None of the seeds from these plants will allow you to grow anything but flowers. When the bees pollinate these plants it makes other plants sterile also. The implications are shocking. It seems obvious that these careless / demonic farming solutions should not be allowed. I personally want non - GMO food. Please help. Please sign this petition if you agree. Congress needs to act immediatelyh