Members of the U.S. Congress receive lifetime benefits that keep them from using the Social Security system as every other U.S. citizen must. I propose the current retirement and medical benefits package that current and former members of the U.S. Congress and U.S. Senators receive be changed so that they must qualify and use Social Security and Medicare as all other U.S. citizens must.

Repeal the Financial Services Modernization Act of 1999 (Gramm–Leach–Bliley), Commodity Futures Modernization Act of 2000, and Dodd–Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 in their entirety, no questions asked. Repealing the first two would have prevented the current recession.

The vast majority of corporations --- banks, drug companies, hospital corporations, etc. -- settle federal and state fraud lawsuits --- by paying fines and penalties. This punishment has proven to be impotent in deterring these crimes. The massive penalties are passed on to consumers and taxpayers. Unless and until executives are threatened with imprisonment, egregious practices of this nature will continue. To these corporations, fines and legal expenses are just another cost of doing business.

Congress should be required to disclose who is financially supporting them. We ought to find out who is contributing to their elections from outside their districts

Cancel ALL corporate Tax incentives to take jobs out of the USA.

In response to President Obama's position that we all need to "share the pain" our government has forgiven the banks with the bailout now it is time to end the foreclosure crisis by forgiving the homeowners. Begin economic recovery where it is needed most – in the homes of working America. Debt forgiveness is moral & just & necessary. A "shared appreciation" agreement will lift homeowners out of unsupportable mortgages and allow banks to recoup a portion of any positive equity of properties sold in the future.

Michigan Senate Bill 693 in the state Senate will create Michigan's health insurance exchange called the "MiHealth” marketplace. As mandated by the Affordable Care Act, all states are required to establish consumer-oriented health insurance marketplaces through which individuals and small businesses can purchase health insurance coverage starting in January 2014.

Because of the new protections in the Affordable Care Act, starting this year insurance companies are suppose to either spend 80% of all premium dollars on actual medical care, or give back to consumers what they don't spend. Michigan's Office of Financial and Insurance Regulation (OFIR) submitted a waiver request so that Michigan insurance companies would NOT have to comply for the nest three years.

Chemtrails are no longer a myth once thought to only be a figment of one's imagination. They are real and toxic chemicals are being sprayed onto us without our consent. These chemtrails are known to contain ethylene dibromide, aluminum, and Barium, which are all toxic to humans. The spraying must stop and those responsible must tell us why they are spraying toxic chemicals in our skies and be held accountable.

Corporations have been given citizenship by the supreme court in two rulings in the past 40 years...the most recent of which was Citizens United which gave corporations an unfettered ability to influence our political system. The other is a little known ruling Buckley v. Valeo (1976) upheld limits on campaign contributions, but held that spending money to influence elections is protected speech as in the first amendment. These two have created the current legislative environment we find ourselves in and its time for the 28th Amendment: Corporations are not citizens and DO NOT have the same rights as someone BORN a Citizen. It is Illegal for any Corporation, trade union, or other registered Organization to donate to candidates or otherwise attempt to influence elections or the legislative process.

My name is Peter Gigliotti and a graduate from Rowan University with a degree in Radio, TV and Film production. I was working at a local TV station by my house (which closes 6/8) as well as a delivery driver at a bakery, but make just enough to cover my loan payments. Although I have applied elsewhere, I have had no success in finding another job. Even going on unemployment, it will leave me having to find around $200 for loans. This leaves me with no money to save for me to get my own apartment, or in emergency cases. Even on my family's health care plan, I haven't been to my doctor in almost 2 years because I literally can't afford the co-pay to go. I would ask for my parents' help in matters like this, but I can't because they have one child in college and another to go in. They have given me so much, and I know if they could help me, they would. Plain and simple, I need help and I have no where else to turn. Thank you very much for your consideration and I hope to be able to thank you personally. If anyone would like to meet with me personally, I would like to sit down and discuss my situation further.

Occupy Wall Street and, locally, Occupy Bloomington have galvanized national attention to growing economic inequality, the erosion of the social safety net, and the political assault on public schools, unions, collective bargaining, and the environment. Join IUB faculty and staff in applauding the Occupy movement for acting as the public conscience and drawing attention to the larger collective good.