Tag Archives: democrats

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Key teacher job protections violate California’s constitution, judge rules


 

An L.A. County Superior Court judge ruled today that key job protections for California teachers violate the state’s constitution.

The ruling came in a lawsuit challenging laws governing the process for laying off, granting tenure and dismissing teachers.

A Silicon Valley-based group called Students Matter brought the lawsuit on behalf of nine students, contending the targeted laws hinder the removal of ineffective teachers and disproportionately hurt low-income and minority students.

For the latest information go to www.latimes.com.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Reduce Jacob’s charges to misdemeanor possession instead of life


Jana Duty: You promised to “restore integrity to the Williamson County District Attorney’s office” & use alternative sentencing. Reduce Jacob’s charges to misdemeanor possession.
By Robert Butler
Round Rock, Texas

Jacob Lavoro is a teenager facing life in prison for baking marijuana brownies in Round Rock, Texas. He’s a young man who has never been in trouble with the law before, and has always been a great kid who we love very much. I started the petition because I live in the same city as Jacob Lavoro and I felt a responsibility to help stand up for him. Our county has a history of excessively punishing minor crimes or even innocent people to “send a message” that has little do with justice or the best interests of the community.

In this case, the sentencing rules are being abused and stretched to increase a punishment that does not fit the allegations.  The police apparently included the full weight of the brownies: flour, sugar, water, etc and the plastic containers that held them to determine the weight of the illegal hash oil used to bake the brownies.

If our petition can convince Jana Duty, the District Attorney in Williamson County, to follow through on her campaign promises to clean up Williamson County’s justice system and offer alternative sentencing options then we hope that there will be justice for Jacob Lavoro and that county residents can breathe easier under a less oppressive atmosphere.

If Jacob Lavoro receives a harsh sentence, it will destroy this young man’s life and leave a permanent mark of injustice in Williamson County, Texas. Please join us today to stand up against unfair sentencing and ruining a young man’s life. Sign and share the petition today!
~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Have you heard about Moral Monday?


 

I support the Moral Monday protesters.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

President Obama announced TWO pieces of GREAT news


Sign on to support President Obama’s call to action:

Moments ago, President Obama endorsed the Elizabeth Warren-John Tierney plan to effectively lower student loan debt by allowing people to refinance their loans. Add your name to support the plan:

President Obama just announced TWO pieces of GREAT news:

1. President Obama is taking executive action to expand his “Pay As You Earn” student loan program to up to five million more Americans. That means millions of college graduates won’t be forced to pay more than 10% of their monthly income on student loan bills.

2. President Obama went one step further — he called on Congress to pass the Elizabeth Warren-John Tierney bill allowing graduates to refinance their student loans, and get cheaper rates. The measure is paid for by making millionaires and billionaires pay their fair share of taxes.

You can bet Republicans in Congress aren’t eager to support raising taxes on their billionaire backers — even if it helps college graduates struggling under crushing student loan debt.

That’s why we need to put the pressure on today — a vote could come as soon as this week.

Join President Obama: Help us reach 50,000 strong calling on Congress to pass the Elizabeth Warren-John Tierney Student Loan Reform Bill.

Carmen, click here to add your name >>

Thanks,

DCCC Breaking News

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

CONGRESS: Pass Restoring Veterans’ Trust Act


VoteVets.org

Like many veterans, when I returned home from Iraq, I sought care at a VA facility near my home.

So you can imagine why the politicization of the disclosures at the VA facility in Phoenix has gotten me down. The truth is, we’ve all known for some time that the veterans’ health system needs real reform.

And while President Obama and Secretary Shinseki have done admirable work to reduce the backlog, we’ve long needed solutions that get to the root of the problems.

This week, the U.S. Senate has a chance to take meaningful action to improve veterans’ health care, and I hope they take it this time.

Join VoteVets and Campaign for Americans Future and tell your Senators to vote for Bernie Sanders’ Restoring Veterans’ Trust Act of 2014.

Here’s what the bill does:

1. Authorizes the VA to hire new doctors and nurses, closing the gap between a growing number of veterans returning home to seek care and the number of health care professionals able to deliver it.

2. Allows the Department of Veterans Affairs to increase the number of locations delivering care by leasing twenty-seven new health facilities in eighteen states.

3. To address long-term needs, the legislation awards scholarships and forgives student debt for health care professionals willing to accept positions at the VA.

These are important steps Congress should take right now in order to improve short and long-term care for our nation’s veterans.

Tell the Senate to support the Restoring Veterans’ Trust Act of 2014.

http://action.votevets.org/va-reform

In late February, right-wing Senators led a filibuster against similar legislation that would have struck at the root of problems within the VA system.

It’s time to end the talk and take some action.

Jon Soltz
 Iraq War Veteran and Chairman
 VoteVets.org