The Enemy Expatriation Act (HR3166 and S1698) is currently winding its way through Congress. This bill is very dangerous. It adds "engaging in or supporting hostilities against the United States" to the list of acts for which United States nationals would lose their nationality (without trial). This would mean that you could be picked up and indefinitely detained simply by disagreeing with the government. Our freedom of speech will be totally be gone. We must stop this bill in its tracks.

On January 31, Obama signed the National Defense Authorization Act into law. Sections 1031 and 1032 of the NDAA is very dangerous to our freedoms. It allows for the indefinite detention (without trial) of American citizens. It also allows for the military to turn turn America into its battleground. Who can be detained? According to the NDAA, anyone who has"committed a belligerent act [against the United States] or has directly supported such hostilities in aid of such enemy forces.” This language is so vague that it can include those American who are just exercising their constitutional rights of free speech and right of lawful assembly. This is a blatant violation of our Bill of Rights. But we can stop it. We must urge Congress to repeal sections 1031 and 1032 of the NDAA. But we must hurry. The law goes into effect on March 3.

This municipal Petition supplements the statewide Petition "Safe Public Lands" (http://signon.org/sign/safe-public-lands). The practical and scientific literature describes how to effectively trap target species (e.g. raccoons) without endangering people or domestic animals (e.g. without killing people's dogs). This Petition simply asks for trapping regulations that are based on those proven methods--already in use by professionals and other responsible trappers. Although this petition is formally addressed to White Bear Township, it is also appropriate for other suburban communities. Please feel free to add your signature, even if you're a resident of another community; and please feel free to publicize it in your community. This Petition has been honored by the City of White Bear Lake, MN, which in January 2013 followed the lead of Shoreview, MN and other model communities by providing the protection that's requested here, while still allowing for necessary, responsible wildlife management. Unfortunately, this Petition has been rejected by the Board of White Bear Township, MN. On 9/5/2012, the Board adopted an Ordinance that had not even been checked for errors or omissions. It condoned trapping by any legal method anywhere in the Township, regardless of its inappropriateness for certain locations. For example, it allowed lethal trapping even in a residential yard adjacent to an area where people walk their dogs, or where children play. On 5/3/2013, the Board continued to express its satisfaction with the 9/5/2012 Ordinance, even rejecting a proposal by staff to fix its errors and omissions (although staff had taken care to avoid all of the issues that the Board had already rejected: no regulations on private property, and no limitations on recreational trapping). More information at http://www.ss-slocum.info.

Facebook decided not to "friend" any women or people of color to sit on the new governing board as a publicly traded company. As a global company that profits off the data collected from women and people color, it is critical that the board of Facebook reflect the users. Further, Facebook's “social mission” is “to make the world more open and connected” and “give everyone a voice and to help transform society for the future.” (http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-02-02/no-women-on-facebook-board-shows-white-male-influence.html) We demand that Facebook bring the board to 50% women and at least 30% people of color.

Ohio is about to put many reputable dog breeders out of business with Bill 131 and the burdens it puts on us. The passing of this bill in the House will affect everyone wishing to buy or sell a well bred puppy in the future. Many of us will be put out of business at a time when the economy is very bad and jobs are non-existent. Please sign and stop this bill before it does more harm than good.

CNN Commentator Erick Erickson said "Watching a Hippie Protester Get Tased Just Makes my Day" after seeing a video of an innocent protester with his hands in the air saying "I didn't do anything wrong, I'm not doing anything wrong" get tased repeatedly to the ground and handcuffed. Erickson referred to the video as "hilarious" obviously taking pleasure in the protestor's pain. This kind of speech is hateful, supportive of violence and does not belong on our airwaves.

PG&E will now charge any customer who opts out of a smart meter a $75 opt-out fee. In addition to the $75 you will be charged an additional $10 a month. PG&E has admitted that tens of thousands of its meters are not working properly, are not giving proper readings, and there are bills that they have to estimate and this is a really big problem, Smart meters have been shown to have a toxic effect from exposure to microwave and radio wave radiation the meters emit.

In attempts to slash spending, Congress is ready to change the eligibility of families for the child tax credit, and block immigrant families from continuing to take part. Nearly half of all families who take part in this credit earn less than $25,000 a year, and the average annual credit for each family is about $1,800 — the difference between rent and eviction, healthcare and bankruptcy, and food and starvation for millions of families. For many it means the difference of living in poverty or not. Mr. Kyl and Mr. Camp, please, do not balance the budget on the back of 5 million immigrant children.

Please save our pets from being euthanized! Help stop Governor Jerry Brown from repealing the California's animal control and shelter legislation known as the Hayden Law in the California 2012-13 Budget. Governor Brown has asked the state legislature to repeal animal protections championed by Senator Tom Hayden in 1998 that include the increase of California's holding period from 72 hours to four days; the requirement that other species, such as rabbits and guinea pigs, be given the same protections as cats and dogs; the posting of lost-and-found lists so that animals can be reunited with their families; and the directive to provide veterinary care for sick and injured animals. Please read this cogent argument to the repeal by the Animal Law Coalition: http://www.animallawcoalition.com/public-shelters/article/1922 Groups opposed to repeal of the Hayden Law urge like-minded state residents to telephone Gov. Brown at 916-445-2841 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; or fax a letter of opposition to 916-558-3177. Opposition may also be voiced via email to Brown at http://gov.ca.gov/m_contact.php; by post to Brown's Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/ jerry.brown; or by tweet to his Twitter page at @JerryBrownGov

As Feministing recently pointed out, the Susan G. Komen foundation has lent its name to a pink M&P9 JG Smith and Wesson gun. For a group that is trying to keep people alive, selling a handgun sends the wrong message. http://feministing.com/2012/02/01/three-reasons-i-wish-i-could-quit-you-susan-g-komen/ http://www.ammoland.com/2009/05/26/smith-wesson-donates-a-portion-of-mp9-jg-pistol-sales/

CONTINUE TO PROVIDE CARE TO THE MENTAL ILL IN THE SOUTHEAST AREA.

I strongly support Mr. Phillip H. Kwon's nomination to the New Jersey Supreme Court.