Only 3 more states are needed to make the Equal Rights Amendment part of the U.S. Constitution, and HJR 47, recently introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives, will clarify that the 1982 deadline is eliminated. Let's urge Congress to cosponsor HJR 47. To start over on ERA would require 38 states to ratify and take another lifetime.

The Illinois Legislature is currently considering SB512 - a measure that would break the promise of a secure retirement to workers who have paid into the pension system and have worked for years on the front lines to improve our communities. We stand with workers across Illinois in calling on our legislators in Springfield to honor their commitments to public employees and vote "No" on SB 512.

Obama is trying to meet the Republicans halfway in their proposal to cut federal programs to trim the deficit. This gives him little room to negotiate to save federal programs affecting the poor and the elderly. What's really needed are higher taxes on the rich and elimination of tax breaks for large corporations.

At this moment, Republican Majority Leader Eric Cantor has said that there will be no Federal relieve to the people of Joplin MO unless the GOP gets the budget cuts they want. This is extortion. He is literally holding the lives of people in need over the heads of Congress and the President. In my eyes, it is an act of terrorism. And, we do not negotiate with terrorists. We, The People, need to remind Mr. Cantor that the office he holds is not his, but ours and since we put him there, we demand that he uphold that office for the sake of the People, and not the oil companies or big business. Let's send him a strong message.

Deep program cuts will halt our economic recovery and escalate already high unemployment rates in the state, especially in the CA Central Valley where unemployment rates already exceed 16%. CSU and UC systems have already been hit with $1 billion dollars in cuts earlier this year, and without a sensible budget they could face $15 billion more in cuts. We have a revenue problem. Tax extensions must be passed and taxes increased on the top 3%. The CA State Assembly and Gov. Brown can stop these cuts, allow the tax extensions and allow tax increases that will solve our budget deficit. We're calling on our elected officials, to stand up for CA working families, stop the program cuts, protect our state education system and solve the budget deficit.

The City of Deerfield Beach is trampling on the Constitutional rights of it's minority residents by imposing a utility tax, while over 8,000 Americans in the minority district, District 2, are without an elected representative to speak for them. Due to state legislation and "home rule" these 8,000 Americans are seen not heard relating to items discussed and voted on at the Commission meetings and are therefore being effectively shut out of the political process a violation of the 14th Amendment. We ask that you help us tell the City's government that it is not okay to tread on our Constitutional rights for the sake of progress. We humbly ask that the City Commission and City Manager postpone all unnecessary legislative actions until all of the City’s residents are represented equally under the law.

Democrats lost seats in the last election because they didn't stand up for issues that have long been Democratic values. We want them to be very clear from now on so that voters realize there really is a difference between the two parties.

Medicare and Social Security should not be part of the Government's budget cuts if there are no revenue increases being addressed.

Legalize marijuana for medicinal use. It helps over 200 diseases and sicknesses such as cancer, aids, glaucoma, anxiety, depression, bi-polar, nausea, and many more. Help cut down crime and bring some money into our economy by taxing it.

we should keep corporations out of our elections before they take over and start running this country. it is pretty scary.

Illinois waters are filled with fish that have elevated levels of chlordane, methylmercury and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). These things are very bad for you, especially if you are under the age of 15 or are a woman of childbearing age, are pregnant or nursing. For the rest of us, the Illinois Dept. of Public Health suggests that we can eat a little fish here and there, but seriously, would you? THE METHYLMERCURY ADVISORY APPLIES TO PREDATORY FISH IN ALL ILLINOIS WATERS. Predator fish include all species of black bass (largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, and spotted bass), striped bass, hybrid striped bass, white bass, walleye, sauger, saugeye, flathead catfish, muskellunge, and northern pike. It's time to clean up our lakes and rivers. Learn more at http://www.idph.state.il.us/envhealth/fishadvisory/index.htm

African Americans are decendents from the most dreaded time in America's history, slavery. Banks, corporations and America can trace it's wealth back to the enslavement of African Americans. After never receiving the 40 acres and a mule, (a means of compensation for the free labor that built the wealth of America), African Americans are in a state of poverty, poor education, poor health and permanent underclass status. It is time to give justice, reciprocity, and moral repair to our collective consciousness by granting reparations to our African American citizens.