Digital Democracy - Government ExecutiveTrending Petitions *Thirty petitions were listed in more than one category, ... • Take aviation user fees off the table. ... job creation

On Sept. 22, the White House launched We The People, an online platform that allows citizens to file petitions requesting action on issues important to them. As of Nov. 14, the following 119 petitions, as described by the petitioners themselves and organized by Nextgov, were in the queue. The list doesn’t include petitions already answered or those lacking enough signatures within 30 days to garner a response. By Joseph Marks

Digital Democracy

Trending Petitions

*Thirty petitions were listed in more than one category, so figures don’t add up to 100 percent.

13%*

ANIMAL CRUELTY AND ANIMAL RIGHTS

10%CIVIL RIGHTS, CIVIC REFORM AND ACTIVISM

8%ECONOMIC REFORM, TAX REFORM AND HOUSING

7%EDUCATION

4%ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT

5%FOREIGN AFFAIRS

8%GENERAL

11%HEALTH, MEDICINE AND WELLNESS

13%ILLEGAL DRUGS

8%IMMIGRATION

7%PARDONS AND INVESTIGATIONS

5%RELIGIOUS TOLERANCE AND CHURCH/STATE SEPARATION

3%SNARK

3%TECHNOLOGY

7%NATIONAL SECURITY AND DEFENSE

http://www.nextgov.com

ANIMAL CRUELT Y AND ANIMAL RIGHTS

• Crackdownonpuppymills.

• Stopanimalhomelessnessatitsroots.

• Bantheuseofgaschambersforkillingsheltercompanionanimals.Theyareinhu-mane,expensiveanddangeroustohumans.

• Supportabanonhorseslaughter.

• ImmediatelyhaltthecruelandunnecessaryuseofmonkeysinArmychemicalcasualtymanagementtrainingcourses.

• ProtecttheDunessagebrushlizardundertheEndangeredSpeciesAct.

• SavetheDunessagebrushlizardbyprotect-ingitundertheEndangeredSpeciesAct.

• Protectwildhorsesandburros;reforminhumaneInteriorDepartmentmanagementprogramthatwastestaxdollars.

• Banthesale,tradeandpossessionofsharkandsharkproducts,includingsharkfin.

• Restorehumanehorseslaughtertoimprovehorsewelfare,stopneedlessandwastefulsufferingandcreatejobs.

• ACE’slaw—AnimalWelfareandRightsAct.

• FundthefightagainstWhiteNoseSyndrome(amajorkillerofbats)inthepresident’sFiscalYear2013budget.

• Endtheneedtoeuthanizemillionsofhome-lesspetsinlocalanimalcontrolcostingbillionstotaxpayers.

• WebelievetheObamaAdministrationshouldrequiretheFDAtoenforcetheFoodDrugandCosmeticActwithpetfood.

• HelpfightforParrot.ParrotwasaninnocentdogwhogotkilledbyapoliceofficerinWashingtonDC.

13%

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CIVIL RIGHTS, CIVIC REFORM AND AC TIVISM

• GrantvoterstheabilitytovoteforthepresidentoftheUnitedStatesbydissolvingtheElectoralCollege.

• Restoredemocracybyendingcorporatepersonhood.

• Proposelegislationthatwouldmakeallfederalelectiondaysnationalholidaystoincreasevoterturnout.

• ChangethemottooftheUnitedStatesto“EPluribusUnum.”

• StrengthenourdemocracybypubliclyfinancingallelectionssothatmoneycannotbuyanyoneamemberofCongress.

• Proposeanamendmenttotheconstitutionclarifyingitsprotectionsascoveringnaturalpersons(notcorporations)unlessspecified.

• Fullylegalizesamesexmarriageacrossthenation.

• Enddiscriminationbasedonsexualorienta-tionandgenderidentity/expression.

• RecognizethemenandwomenwhoareoccupyingWallStreet.

• Endorsewww.the99declaration.orgwhichisapetitionforaredressofgrievances.

• RepealthePatriotAct.

• EndthePatriotAct.

10%

Cross-listed with National Security and Defense


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ECONOMIC REFORM, TA X REFORM AND HOUSING

• Re-establishandmaintaintheseparationbetweeninvestmentbanksandcommercialbanks.

• Reinstatethetaxexemptstatusofgraduatestudentstipends.

• Removetaxexemptionfromchurchesandallowthemtoapplylikeanon-profitorganization.

• Protectconsumers,createjobsandgeneraterevenuebylicensingandregulatingonlinepoker.

• Takeaviationuserfeesoffthetable.

• Repealthegovernmentpensionoffsetandthewindfalleliminationprovisionandrestore[socialsecurity]fairnessforpublicservants.

• SupportSen.BernieSanders’billtofixsocialsecuritybyremovingthecaponincomesub-jecttotheSStax.

• AnnounceandimplementtheNationalEconomicSecurityandReformationAct—NESARA.

• Stopallforeclosuresandevictions;recon-structmortgageloanswithhomeownersatcurrentmarketvalueat2percentfor30years.

• Restoresubsidiesforgraduatestudentloans.

8%

Cross-listed with Education

Cross-listed with Religious Tolerance and Church/State Separation


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EDUCATION

• Ensureallschoollibrariesareproperlystaffed,openandavailableforchildreneveryday.

• Abolishabstinence-onlyeducationfromU.S.publicschools.

• Promote/enforcetheteachingofevolutionovercreationism.

• RepairandmodernizeAmerica’scrumblingpublicschools.

• ExtendthevalidityofF-1studentvisastobecommensuratewiththeacademicprogramorallowrenewalwithintheU.S.

• ForeigngraduateswithadvancedU.S.degrees(MSandPh.D.)shouldgetgreencards.Theypromoteinnovationandjobcreation.

• Reinstatethetaxexemptstatusofgraduatestudentstipends.

• Restoresubsidiesforgraduatestudentloans.

7%

Cross-listed with Immigration



Cross-listed with Economic Reform, Tax Reform and Housing


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ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT

• Protectchildrenfromdangerousairpollution.

• RejecttheKeystoneXLPipeline.

• CurbFERCregulations,whichoverreachandoverregulatetheshorelinesofitshydroelectricprojects.

• Protectcoalashrecyclingbypromptlyenactingdisposalregulationsthatdonotdesignatecoalashas“hazardouswaste.”

• Constructandenactrobust,transformativeenergyreformnow.

4%

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FOREIGN AFFAIRS

• RecognizetheSyrianNationalCouncil.

• NotvetoPalestine’sapplicationtobeamemberoftheUnitedNations.

• SupportaninternationalinvestigationintowarcrimesandotherhumanrightsabusescommittedinSriLanka.

• ListtheSyrianNationalCouncilasaterroristgroup.

• StopsendingtaxmoneytothegovernmentofMauritaniauntilitendsslaveryandpersecutionofitsblackpopulation.

• PutmorepressureonthegovernmentofChinafortheendofthebordercontrolDr.ZhichengHusohemaycomehome.

5%

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GENER AL

• RevisititsdecisionontheretiredSpaceShuttleEnterpriseandawardittoNationalMuseumoftheUSAFinOH.

• Reformthecoinagesystem.

• FederallyrecognizetheUnitedHouma[AmericanIndian]Nation.

• StopusinghomelandsecurityfundstoseizeimportedvehiclesandchangetheDOT/EPAexemptionto15years.

• Bantheuseofteargasoncitizens.

• SupportHR822,thenationalRighttoCarryReciprocityActof2011.

• LegalizemixedmartialartsinNewYork.

• KeeptheAirNationalGuardbandsthatarescheduledtobecutonOct1,2013.

• Createinternationalchildabductionpreventionprogramsincludingadeparturescreeninglistforpotentialabductors.

• RecognizethecontributionofFlemishAmericanstotheestablishmentandsettlementofAmerica.

8%

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HE ALTH, MEDICINE AND WELLNES S

• Requireallgeneticallymodifiedfoodstobelabeledassuch.

• Fundaclinicaltrialtodeterminetheeffectivenessofhigh-dosecannabisextractsforthetreatmentofcancers.

• AllowUnitedStatesdisabledmilitaryveteransaccesstomedicalmarijuanatotreattheirPTSD.

• Antineoplastons,cancerdrugsinFDAtrialssince1995,resultspubliclyauditedbyCongress,togainfinalFDAapproval.

• Prohibitallfederalagenciesfrompromot-ing,endorsingorfundingfluoridationofthepublicdrinkingwater.

• Legalizerawmilksalesonafederallevel.

• Recognizeelectroniccigarettesasaneffectivealternativetosmokingandsupportjobcreationinthisnewindustry.

• Keepkidsalive.Allocatemorefundstochildhoodcancerresearch.

• EnsurethatbraininjurysurvivorshaveaccesstothesamequalityofrehabilitativecarethatGabbyGiffordsreceived.

• InmemoryofMCD,youthsuicidepreventionasintrainingshouldbemandatoryinallschoolsystems.

• Reformthecaresystemofpeoplewithdevelopmentaldisabilitiestopreventadditionaltragedies.

• ClassifyAutismasanepidemicandallocateproportionalfederalresearchfundstoearlyidentificationandtreatment.

• ProvidemorefundingtoresearchacureforScleroderma.

11%

Cross-listed with Illegal Drugs


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ILLEG AL DRUGS

• AllowindustrialhemptobegrownonceagainintheU.S.

• Endthedestructive,wastefulandcounter-productivewarondrugs.

• Regulatealcoholandtobaccointhesamemannerasmarijuana.

• AllowUnitedStatesdisabledmilitaryveteransaccesstomedicalmarijuanatotreattheirPTSD.

• Fundaclinicaltrialtodeterminetheeffectivenessofhigh-dosecannabisextractsforthetreatmentofcancers.

• Respondtothemarijuanalegalizationpetitionwithanargumentthatdoesn’talsoapplytoalcohol.

• Openfordebatethefulllegalization,taxation,andregulationofmarijuanaandnotsimplydenythepeoplethatdebate.

• Offeraresponsetomarijuanalegalizationpetitionsthatisn’twrittenbysomeonelegallyrequiredtoopposethem.

• Respondtoeachofthe7marijuanarelatedpetitionsindividuallyinsteadofonecannedresponse.

• Regulatecigarettesandalcoholinasimilarmannertoalcoholsincetheyaremoredangeroustoyourhealth.

• PubliclyrequesttheresignationofGilKerlikowske(directoroftheOfficeofNationalDrugControlPolicy,whowrotetheadministration’sresponsetoseveralpetitionsdealingwithlegalizingmarijuana).

• Regulatealcoholandtobaccoinamannersimilartomarijuana.

• Regulatealcoholandtobaccoinamannersimilartomarijuanaandothercurrentlyillegalsubstances.

• ReplaceGilKerlikowske.

• PardonJasonSpyres,anIllinoisinmateservinga30year(nowon9thyear)sentenceonamarijuanacharge.

• Releaseallnon-violentdrugoffenders.Releaseallinmateswhoareincarceratedforcannabis-relatedcrimes.

13%

Cross-listed with Health, Medicine and Wellness

Cross-listed with Pardons and Investigations

Cross-listed with Health, Medicine and Wellness


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IMMIGR ATION

• Holdersofvalid,legalvisasshouldbeabletorenewtheirvisawithouthavingtoexitthecountry.

• Switchingtoafreeonlinevisaappointmentsystem.

• AllowseriouslybackloggedEB2/EB3beneficiarieswiththeirI-140approvedtofileI-485andapplyforEADandAP.

• ExtendthevalidityofF-1studentvisastobecommensuratewiththeacademicpro-gramorallowrenewalwithintheU.S.

• ForeigngraduateswithadvancedU.S.degrees(MSandPh.D.)shouldgetgreencards.Theypromoteinnovationandjobcreation.

• AllowH-4visamemberstoworklegally.

• Legal,employment-basedimmigrationpetitionershelpU.S.companiesandshouldnotbeheavilybackloggedforyears.

• Stopdeportations.Keepfamiliestogether.

• ProhibitICEand/orCCAfrombuildinganysortofprisonfacilityinsouthwestranches.

• ReopenMAVNI[anexpeditednaturalizationprocessforforeignnationalsperformingvitalrolesintheU.S.military]—aprogramthatenablesDODtocloseacriticalskillsgapinsecuringtheUnitedStates.

8%




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NATIONAL SECURIT Y AND DEFENSE

• AbolishtheTSAanduseitsmonstrousbudgettofundmoresophisticated,lessintrusivecounterterrorismintelligence.

• RepealthePatriotAct.

• ReallocatedefensefundstoNASA.

• EndthePatriotAct.

• GivetheNationalGuardaseatontheJointChiefsofStaff.

• StoprequiringArmymedevachelicoptersinAfghanistantopaintredcrossesontheirsidesandgounarmedintocombat.

• ReopenMAVNI[anexpeditednaturalizationprocessforforeignnationalsperformingvitalrolesintheU.S.military]—aprogramthatenablesDODtocloseacriticalskillsgapinsecuringtheUnitedStates.

• Endthemilitary’sdiscriminationagainstnon-religiousservicemembers.

7%

Cross-listed with Civil Rights, Civic Reform and Activism

Cross-listed with Civil Rights, Civic Reform and Activism



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PARDONS AND INVES TIG ATIONS

• PardonMarcEmery.

• FreePFCBradleyManning,theaccusedWikileaksWhistleblower.

• PardonJasonSpyres,anIllinoisinmateservinga30year(nowon9thyear)sentenceonamarijuanacharge.

• Releaseallnon-violentdrugoffenders.Releaseallinmateswhoareincarceratedforcannabis-relatedcrimes.

• GrantclemencytoNativeAmericanactivistLeonardPeltierwithoutdelay.

• CallaninvestigationintoallegationsofFBImisconductandcivilrightsviolationsintheguardshackstingoperation.

• PardonCarmenHammaker,alovingmotherofthree.Hastonsoffriendsandfamily,butissofarawayfromallofthem.

• Investigatethegovernment’sfailuretoinvestigateandprosecuteChurchofScientologycrime,fraudandabuse.

7%




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RELIGIOUS TOLER ANCE AND CHURCH/S TATE SEPAR ATION

• Promote/enforcetheteachingofevolutionovercreationism.

• Endthemilitary’sdiscriminationagainstnon-religiousservicemembers.

• Barcourtsandlawmakersfromcreatinga“secondclass”religionstatusforminorityreligionslikeWiccaandNeoPaganism.

• DirecttheU.S.ForestServicetomovethedevotionalJesusshrinefromfederalpropertyatopBigMountain(Montana).

• Removetaxexemptionfromchurchesandallowthemtoapplylikeanon-profitorganization.

• Investigatethegovernment’sfailuretoinvestigateandprosecuteChurchofScientologycrime,fraudandabuse.

5%





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SNARK

• Actuallytakethesepetitionsseriouslyinsteadofjustusingthemasanexcusetopretendyou’relistening.

• Wedemandavapid,condescending,meaningless,politicallysaferesponsetothispetition.

• Takepetitionsseriously.

• Stoplying.

3%

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TECHNOLOGY

• Pursuesoftwarepatentabolition.

• Supportaccesstogeographicinformationsystemstechnologyandtraininginlocalgovernments.

• Reformoutdatedbroadcasttelevisionlawsandregulations.

• Stopthee-parasiteact.

3%

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Documents

Digital Democracy - Government ExecutiveTrending Petitions *Thirty petitions were listed in more than one category, ... • Take aviation user fees off the table. ... job creation