The 2012 legislative session has begun, and it is time to ask your legislators: "What are you planning to do this session to address citizen concern about the influence of money and connections in policy-making?" The time is now. Let's urge our legislators to take action this session to address these critical issues for our democracy. We know that so much more can be done to reduce the undue influence of money in politics, ensure stronger disclosure of campaign spending, strengthen our ethics laws, and promote transparency and citizen participation.

Coach Ayo Hart has been a vital member and developer of the Fox Lane girl's basketball community/program for the last 11 years, not only as the coach of a much-improved and competitive varsity program that has jumped up in the state rankings, but as the organizer of clinics and programs (voluntarily) to develop younger players in our district that aspire to be basketball players. Her commitment to her Fox Lane team and this program was questioned by some, and is at the root of her immediate dismissal on 1/17/12. Many of her players and their parents, as well as those who have engaged with Coach Hart personally and professionally, do not agree with this assessment, but were not asked how we felt before the Board voted on 1/25.

Trader Joe's uses a large amount of plastic in packaging its products. CEO Dan Bane has a chance to expand the Trader Joe's reputation as a progressive company by reducing its carbon imprint.

Gov. Rick Scott and some Florida legislators are rushing full steam ahead to enact legislation, specifically SB 2036 and SB 2038, that would privatize governmental services and agencies without public input. They are trying to pass these bills as early as THIS WEEK. These bills will compromise public safety, cause unemployment, and hurt communities and small businesses across Florida. This scheme starts with immediate plans to privatize 29 prisons in 18 counties in south and central Florida with NO EXIT STRATEGY should things go wrong. No other state in our nation has given contracts to private prisons at even close to this level. As a correctional officer, I know firsthand that if this bill passes, many of my fellow officers will be out of a job. Families and children of my fellow officers will be uprooted. In some communities, this will significantly alter public school funding. There are literally thousands of public servants whose families will be impacted if this bill becomes law! These bills are physically and economically dangerous, and the effects irreversible. Here’s just some of what they’d do: • Squander taxpayer money to reward political donors. Florida is already riddled with past and present issues of corruption, over-billing, mismanagement and failure to maintain our public facilities by privately-run correctional corporations. Enough is enough! • Hurt small businesses across Florida. Unemployment will rise. The officers that will be hired will be paid less. This means less money spent in our communities. • Put your family’s safety on the line. Did you know that private prisons do not chase escaped inmates past the perimeter like the public prisons do, which means more escaped prisoners in our communities? And private prison corporations have often failed to live up to legal requirements in the past. This bill will just make the problem worse.

This isn't exactly a petition -- more of a campaign. There are lots of villains on the right in the wake of the Citizens United decision, but the biggest pigs in the puddle are the Koch brothers. I don't know all their products -- Georgia Pacific is one that makes a lot of paper products. Move On members should very publicly state that they will not buy any product associated with the Koch brothers. We need Move On's research department to ID them all. If we can have an impact with Koch other businesses, who dread having their products dragged into public controversy, will get the message. This is how to deal with Citizens United -- at least in the short run.

The sections 154 - 157 of the Tanzania penal code criminalize homosexuality with a maximum penalty of life imprisonment , which is against human rights.

The revolving door in politics is the movement of personnel in the public sector to the private sector, or vice versa. This creates a dangerous opportunity for politicians to exploit their public (government) platforms in exchange for lucrative private sector jobs once they leave Congress or a similar position of power. Lobbyists- often former public servants themselves -take advantage of this revolving door every day to court our elected officials. The American public cannot afford to allow this corruption to continue. We are faced with a broken system, one where our elected leaders no longer speak for us, but for the corporations who have bought them. Eliminating the revolving door is the first step to fixing this problem.

I think the President should Pardon Bradley Manning because his duty was to protect the USA and he did, I would guess he tried to talk to superiors about that event, or others that bothered him. ALL military take an oath to protect the Constitution, I believe he did.

The HOPE scholarship is based on academic excellence, not financial need. Scholarships are meant for scholars. If the state is running out of money they should make the scholarship more difficult to receive, not penalize students for having parents that earn over $140,000. Georgia needs a educated work force for the future!

This bill would expand the rent control exemption for manufactured homes that are not the principal residence of homeowners. It would mean steep price increases for those who can least afford it and one more step towards removing rent control for all manufactured and mobile home residents. For more info, go to www.gsmol.org

Energy deregulation is occurring all over the united states. People in deregulated states have the right to choose their energy service provider and are saving money on their gas and electric bills. The State of Tennessee Legislature must first pass legislation to enact this federal mandate.

Tennessee State Senator Stacey Campfield is misinforming and misleading his constituents by making false claims about HIV. He claims that it's "virtually impossible" for "regular" people to be infected. His ignorance could confuse many people who see him as a community leader. Please help stop the spread of this bigotry and ignorance!