Then stand with "We Feed The Homeless Philly" and Craig Stroman and fight the proposed ban on feeding the homeless people of Philly who live on the streets!!

We believe Senate Bill 24 in its current form will harm more than help education in Connecticut. Because we all share the same goals for the children of Connecticut, we sign this petition to propose some changes to SB 24 in order to provide Connecticut's students with opportunities for success. What does Senate Bill 24 (S.B. 24) mean for parents and teachers of students in our district? This bill affects every Connecticut public school teacher: • Certification: The bill requires that teachers be ‘rated’ using standards that are not yet defined, and that these ratings be used to determine certification and a teacher’s ability to teach in any district in the state. • Evaluation procedures: The bill establishes four designators for the purposes of teacher evaluation. Because 22.5% of these teacher evaluations must be based on standardized test scores, “effective practice” will be determined by teachers’ ability to get students to improve on standardized tests (some of which have yet to be created). The Mathematics Policy Research study found that even after three years of data, the error rate is 26% (meaning that 1 in 4 teachers would be misidentified). • Salary: Requires new salary schedules aligned with new certification standards to be negotiated effective July 2014. School districts may be able to reduce costs by affecting evaluations to reduce teachers’ salaries. It threatens local control: • Section 11 of S.B. 24 threatens the existence of at least 41 small town school districts (including Bethany and Woodbridge. Starting in July 2015, the State Department of Education would begin reducing a small town’s Education Cost Sharing (ECS) formula if the school district has fewer than 1,000 students and their per-student cost is at least 10% above the statewide average. Because the cost of maintaining the small comprehensive district means a slightly higher per-student cost, the state MUST reduce the amount of education aid going to that town. • The bill also removes the requirement of Superintendents to hold certification, which would allow people from outside education (such as the business community) to become school superintendents without any educational background or experience. (Section 13 allows the commissioner of education to waive the certification requirement for superintendent ANY PERSON whom he or she deems to be “exceptionally qualified,” without regard for educational experience).

Rush Limbaugh's reprehensible attack on Sandra Fluke, the college student who spoke to Congress about women's reproductive rights, calling her a slut and a prostitute and asking her to make a sex video, should be the end of his on-air career. Let's convince KNZZ to kick him off the air in Grand Junction. We have more community respect of our airways and citizens than to have to listen to his vulgar remarks.

The Tennessean, Mar. 19, 2012: "Doctors who perform abortions in Tennessee could see their names listed online, and women who undergo the procedures could be unintentionally identified under a bill pending in the state legislature." The Life Defense Act of 2012, or House Bill 3808, flies in the face of every health privacy law that exists. It has no purpose other than to intimidate and threaten. Doctors and patients could be exposed to serious threats or danger. This bill must be stopped. For more information, read the Tennessean article here: http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120319/NEWS0201/303190022/TN-bill-mandates-publication-of-abortion-data

Glyphosate is a chemical that is used in many herbicides, but scientists are now finding that glyphosate is toxic and tied to a number of serious health-related issues, including birth defects and infertility. The wide-spread use of glyphosate is contaminating our water and our food, affecting both those that consume glyphosate-treated products and those that do not. Learn more: http://www.lucinebiotech.com/chemical-toxins-in-commonly-used-herbicide/

Below is the link to a list of the legislators who have signed a document pledging their loyalty to Grover Norquist and his organization rather than to the people who put them in office. This is one of the main reasons our Government is not governing. Regardless of political views, it is offensive to all voters that these elected officials should sign any pledge that effectively cuts off their ability to put their constituents first. Look to see if your legislator signed away your trust @ www.atr.org under the 'Pledge' tab @ the top of the page.

With Gas Prices reaching a level that could slow the progress of our economy, raising gas tax in MD would only make it worse on families/individuals in MD already struggling. If the legislature and the Governor can wait for the next budget cycle, that would be best.

DemocracyPlusPlus.com is attempting to facilitate a more personal and accessible civil discourse between citizens and candidates for, or holders of elected office. We plan on using a combination of live video streaming with a one-time-use login for individuals to pose questions, then vote for those questions that they feel should be asked. Our hope is that these debates and question-answer sessions will foster a greater interest in politics among citizens and lessen the gap between holders of public servants and those they serve. We create these petitions on behalf and at the request of individuals and concerned voters. To request a petition, visit democracyplusplus.org/petition.html

U.S. Bank, headquartered in Minneapolis is one of the largest lenders / loan servicers for home mortgages in the state of Minnesota. However, U.S. Bank systematically and deliberately stalls the loan modification process for homeowners who are trying to get a mortgage modification, thereby "running-out-the-clock", and forcing these homeowners into foreclosure.

Rush Limbaugh's blatant verbal assault on university student Sandra Fluke, during which he called her a slut and asked her to make a sex video, is not to be tolerated. Radio stations nationwide are canceling Limbaugh's show; let's let KLBM La Grande know that we want him removed from the air immediately.

The solution for the financial problems of the post office lies not in cutting workers pay and benefits nor to decrease the number of postal employees It lies in people in Congress to realize that the economic health of the country depends upon workers being employed at a living wage and fair compensation for injuries acquired at work.. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=09ybkkiH2Ho&context=C4f61fefADvjVQa1PpcFMDznQSUqPR7MPPjY9cWEGLnbut2AhABNU This country doesn't need Bills such as HR2309. It doesn't need more unemployed workers or workers not being paid a "living wage"

Protecting women's rights and civil liberties is very important at this time in our country. Healthcare is of paramount concern. Across the country states are halting funding to organizations that provide critical services to women. It is very alarming that a women's right to birth control is being threatened. If you are concerned that many government officials want to set women's rights back 30 years, please sign this petition.