MoveOn Petitions

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Success Stories
Maine Calls For Citizens United Overturn
	States all across the U.S. are calling for a constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United, the controversial Supreme Court decision that ruled corporations have a First Amendment right to spend unlimited amounts of money for political lobbying. Peter Schurman created a MoveOn Petition asking Maine legislators to support a resolution calling for an overturn of Citizens United. After the petition gathered more than 4,500 signatures, the state Senate and House both voted by overwhelming margins to pass the resolution. Maine is now the 13th state to officially call for a constitutional amendment overturning Citizens United.
Montana Governor Vetoes Guns on Campus Bill
	When a house bill in Montana threatened to allow guns on school campuses and other public places, Andy Pelosi of GunFreeKids.org took action by creating a MoveOn Petition , which gathered more than 1,000 signatures. After sustained advocacy efforts, Governor Steve Bullock vetoed the bill, and kept concealed weapons out of sporting events, dorm rooms, classrooms, and libraries.
Celeste Greig Ousted From California Republican Leadership
	Celeste Greig, head of the California Republican Assembly, told the media that pregnancies by rape are rare “because it's an act of violence, because the body is traumatized.” The Courage Campaign created a MoveOn Petition calling for Greig's resignation from her leadership position over the unscientific, offensive comments. The petition had gathered more than 28,000 signatures when it was delivered to the California Republican Party headquarters. At a CRA convention, Greig was ousted as California Republican Assembly President by an 84-78 vote for her inflammatory comments about rape.
Montana Restores Family Planning Funding
	Montana legislators wanted to block federal family planning money from coming into the state via the Title X federal grant program, which would cut access to critical medical services for low-income Montanans. So Stephanie McDowell created a MoveOn Petition asking members of the Montana Legislature to accept the funding. The petition gathered more than 1,000 signatures, and the Legislature voted to restore Title X funding, extending coverage to more than 25,000 Montanans.
Arkansas Restores Scholarship Funding
	Education cuts threatened funding for the Arkansas Governor's Distinguished Scholars Program, a full scholarship for top high school students who attend in-state colleges. So Jackson Fitzgibbon created a MoveOn Petition to Governor Mike Beebe. Thanks to the show of support from parents and students across the state, Governor Beebe signed into law the appropriations bill for the Arkansas Department of Higher Education, officially funding the scholarship program for 300 deserving recipients.
Maine Rejects Propane Storage Tank Proposal
	DCP Midstream proposed building of a 22 million-gallon liquid propane storage tank in Searsport, Maine, which would mean more than a hundred trucks carrying highly volatile fuel through small coastal towns, causing noise, air, and light pollution. So Nancy-Linn Nellis created a MoveOn Petition to Maine's governor and legislature to stop the proposal. Ultimately DCP Midstream withdrew their application for a storage tank in Searsport.
New York City Passes Paid Sick Days Legislation
	Millions of workers in New York City do not have paid sick days. If they or their children get sick, they must work, forcing them to choose between their job and their family's health. That’s why Cari Jackson from A Better Balance, noted feminist author Gloria Steinem, Ai-jen Poo from the National Domestic Workers Alliance, and Working Families, created MoveOn Petitions asking the New York City Council to pass paid sick day legislation. After a successful campaign with over 18,000 signatures, New York City has become the largest city in the country to provide workers with paid sick days.
Colorado Signs Landmark Gun Bill
	‪After the tragic shootings in Aurora, CO, and Newtown, CT, activists across the country have been working on increasing gun protections. Two bills were introduced in the Colorado Legislature that prohibited large-capacity ammunition magazines and required background checks for gun transfers. MoveOn member Bruce Hoppe created a MoveOn Petition that collected over 4,000 signatures, urging the Legislature to pass the bill. After ongoing campaigning by MoveOn and other allies, Governor John Hickenlooper signed the landmark bills into law.
Driver's Licenses Issued to DREAMers
	Recently, several states’ Departments of Transportation announced that they would not grant driver’s licenses or state ID cards to young immigrants who qualify for work permits under President Obama’s new Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. In response, Matt Hildreth started a MoveOn Petition to the Iowa DOT Director asking him to reverse the decision. In Michigan, Adonis Flores, a student leader at Wayne State, along with the organization Progress Michigan, started a MoveOn Petition targeting the Michigan Secretary of State. And most recently, the organizations America’s Voice and the Latin American Coalition started MoveOn Petitions asking North Carolina not to issue pink versions of licenses to young immigrants in place of the standard version. As a result, driver’s licenses will now be issued to young immigrants in Michigan, Iowa, and North Carolina.
Concealed Carry Bill Dropped in the Georgia Senate
	On March 22, the Georgia House overwhelmingly voted with the gun lobby to approve HB 512—legislation that would, among many things, allow concealed firearms on college campuses and K-12 schools. So Andy Pelosi of GunFreeKids.org started a MoveOn Petition asking the Georgia Senate and Governor Nathan Deal to oppose this legislation. Thanks to a strong showing of public opposition to the bill, it was dropped in the Senate without coming to a vote, and Georgia's campuses will remain free of concealed weapons.
Tennessee Restores Public School Funding
	Funding for public education in Tennessee was threatened when Governor Bill Haslam backed a bill to use taxpayers' dollars to issue vouchers to for-profit private schools. So Jane Curtis and the Rutherford County Retired Teachers Association started a MoveOn Petition to the Tennessee General Assembly and Governor Haslam, demanding that public funds be directed toward public education. The day after petition creators delivered the petition and signatures to legislators, Governor Haslam withdrew his support for the voucher bill.
New York Restores Funding for Recreational Trail
	When budgetary concerns in the state of New York threatened funds for the proposed Catskill Mountain Rail Trail, MoveOn member Eve Fox created two MoveOn Petitions asking New York legislators to restore the funding. The petitions garnered nearly 1,500 signatures. Thanks to the large show of public support, the $2 million in funding for the rail trail was restored in New York's 2013 budget, and plans to construct the trail are moving ahead at the county level.
Anti-Abortion Advocate Kept Off Mississippi Board of Health
	After Governor Phil Bryant nominated anti-choice extremist Terri Herring to the Mississippi Board of Health, Mississippi United Against Personhood started a MoveOn Petition urging the Senate to block the nomination. After the petition gathered more than 300 signatures, Governor Bryant withdrew his nomination of Herring to the board.
Cablevision Reinstates Illegally Fired Workers
	After 6 years on the job, La’kesia Johnson and several other coworkers voted to form a union, but management at Cablevision/Optimum wouldn’t negotiate a contract. Instead they locked out the employees and fired them for speaking out about working conditions. So La’kesia, along with the Communications Workers of America union, created a MoveOn Petition asking that she and her coworkers be reinstated. After gathering over 85,000 signatures, Cablevision/Optimum reinstated all but one of the workers.
Gun-free Zones Upheld in Michigan
	The Michigan Legislature was considering a bill that would change the current law that prohibits people with concealed-weapons permits from carrying guns in churches, bars, schools, sports arenas, and other public places. So Reverend Eric A. Stone created a MoveOn Petition calling on the Michigan Legislature to keep gun-free zones in Michigan. After collecting over 8,000 signatures, the bill failed to reach the floor for a vote in the Legislature, keeping gun-free zones in Michigan.
Maryland Abolishes the Death Penalty
	Maryland had a 375-year history of capital punishment when Governor Martin O’Malley brought repeal legislation forward to the Maryland Legislature. So Brian Evans of Amnesty International created a MoveOn Petition asking the Maryland Legislature to pass the bill abolishing the death penalty. The petition gathered over 3,000 signatures, and after allies campaigned in the state, Maryland became the 18th state in the country to abolish the death penalty.
California Rejects Navy Sonar Training
	The U.S. Navy was set to begin an explosives and sonar training program off the coast of Southern California in 2013. According to estimates, the use of high-frequency underwater sound for testing would deafen more than 15,900 whales and dolphins and kill 1,800 more over the next five years. So MoveOn member Linda Story created a MoveOn Petition asking the Navy to stop the training program. Linda collected more than 500,000 signatures, and worked with the National Resources Defense Council and others to urge the Navy to end the program. The California Coastal Commission rejected the Navy’s training program, citing the potential harm to endangered blue whales and other sea life.
Violence Against Women Act Passes
	When partisan infighting was keeping the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) from being reauthorized, rape survivor Sheila Thomas created a MoveOn Petition calling on Republicans in the House to pass VAWA without further delay. The petition gathered more than 219,000 signatures, which Sheila delivered in person to Speaker John Boehner, and signers generated hundreds of calls to Congress. After continued pressure from MoveOn, UltraViolet, and many other allies, the House passed an expanded version of VAWA, which included added protections for LGBT, Native American, and undocumented victims of violence.
Logging Project in Oregon Brought to a Halt
	In 2009, the United States Forest Service (USFS) proposed a logging sale known as the Goose Project, to thin forests surrounding the community of McKenzie Bridge, Oregon. Concerned Bend, Oregon MoveOn member Jerry Gilmour created a MoveOn Petition to the USFS demanding that a non-biased, accurate environmental impact statement be prepared and released to the public before the project could be implemented. U.S. District Court Judge Anne Aiken sided with Jerry and the more than 5,000 petition signers, finding that the USFS broke the law by planning to carry out the project without a detailed environmental impact statement, bringing the Goose Project to a halt.
Bank of Hawaii Stays in Samoa
	The Bank of Hawaii’s proposed closure of its Samoan offices would have been devastating to American Samoa’s economy, leaving them with no bank. So Drew Astolfi, of Faith Action for Community Equity (FACE) created a MoveOn Petition urging the bank not to pull out without a public hearing. The Bank of Hawaii agreed to hold a public hearing, and after doing so, decided that they need more time to make a decision about the future of their presence in Samoa.
Cooper Union Continues Full Tuition Scholarships
	Cooper Union has historically offered its students full tuition scholarships. In the face of the financial crisis, however, the board of trustees was set to vote to discontinue the policy. MoveOn member and Cooper Union alumnus Henry Chapman created a MoveOn Petitionto Cooper Union’s president, urging him to vote to keep the school’s foundational mission of free education. After collecting more than 3,000 signatures, gathering community input, and generating calls, the school’s trustees delayed their decision, guaranteeing full tuition for the incoming class of 2014.
Albuquerque Enforces Minimum Wage for Restaurant Employees
	When Eric Szeman, the owner of the Route 66 Malt Shop in Albuquerque, refused to pay his employees the minimum wage they earned, they complained to the city. When they didn’t get any response, Pat Davis from Progress Now New Mexico created a petition calling on Szeman to follow the law and Mayor Richard Berry to enforce it. After the petition collected more than 1,900 signatures, and there was a successful boycott and protest, the city attorney enforced the minimum wage ordinance.
Arizona Protects Climate Science in Classrooms
	After legislation was introduced that would allow climate denial to be taught in Arizona public schools, Vincent Pawlowski started a petition, along with 350.org and Forecast the Facts, urging committee chairwoman Kimberly Yee to kill the bill. After the petition collected 10,000 signatures, the bill failed to make it to the Senate floor, ensuring that Arizona public school children will be taught the scientific realities of climate change.
Medicaid Expansion Moves Forward
	When states had the opportunity to expand Medicaid benefits by accepting national funds through Obamacare, several tea party governors resisted. So New Mexico MoveOn member Robbyne Jones created a petition calling on Governor Susana Martinez to carry out the Medicaid expansion. Meanwhile, in Michigan and Ohio, Fran Brennan and Dan Heck from Working America started petitions calling on Governors Rick Snyder and John Kasich to accept the funding. After the petitions collected a combined 16,000 signatures, and after grassroots campaigning by advocates, Governors Martinez, Snyder, and Kasich accepted the funds, vastly extending health care coverage in their states.
Virginia Gerrymandering Amendment Rejected
	Early in Virginia’s 2013 legislative session, Senate Republicans proposed an unconstitutional amendment to allow them to gerrymander new Senate district lines mid-decade. Senator Ralph Northam created a petition calling on Governor McDonnell to reject the power grab. After the petition gathered more than 13,000 signatures, the Virginia House speaker killed the proposed amendment.
Olympic Diving Facility to be Rebuilt
	Plans to rebuild the historic Belmont Plaza Olympic Pool in Long Beach, CA, once home to several Olympic divers, did not include an updated diving facility. So Scott Pierson created a petition urging the Long Beach City Council to include diving in its rebuilding plans. The petition gathered more than 1,400 signatures,and after a public hearing with testimony by Greg Louganis and other swimmers and divers,the City Council approved the expanded plans.
Michigan Issues Driver's Licenses to DREAMers
	When Michigan Secretary of State Ruth Johnson announced that young immigrants who have been allowed to stay in Michigan by recent action from the Obama administration would not be allowed to apply for driver’s licenses, Adonis Flores, a student leader at Wayne State, along with the organization Progress Michigan, started a petition asking Johnson to reverse her decision. After a large showing of public support and pressure from the immigrant youth movement and allied organizations, Michigan decided to issue driver’s licenses to DREAMers.
$2.5 Million for Atlanta Bike Lane Improvements
	In early February, the Atlanta City Council met to decide on whether to allocate $2.5 million to improving the city’s bike lanes. In order to show widespread support for the bike improvements, local resident Jonathan Bautista started a petition calling on the City Council to approve the funding. The City Council approved the measure, which will create 15 miles of bike lanes in much-needed areas throughout Atlanta.
Mississippi Passes Bill to Regulate Private Colleges
	Over the past decade, enrollment at for-profit colleges has grown exponentially. Mississippi is host to dozens of for-profit colleges. While they are regulated by the state, enforcement is uneven, and standards across schools are inconsistent. To bring attention to this issue, Whitney Barkley started a petition demanding that the Mississippi Legislature tighten regulations on private colleges. The Mississippi Legislature passed a bill that more stringently regulates private schools and addresses the specific concerns about teacher standards that Barkley laid out in her petition.
Iowa DOT Issues Driver's Licenses to Young Immigrants
	When the Iowa Department of Transportation announced that it would not grant driver's licenses or state ID cards to young immigrants who qualify for work permits under President Obama's new Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, Matt Hildreth started a petition. Along with local rights groups, he called for Iowa DOT Director, Paul Trombino to reverse his decision. After consulting the Governor’s office, Iowa DOT began issuing driver's licenses, a decision that will affect nearly 5,000 young Iowans.
Illinois Circuit Court of Appeals to Review Concealed Weapons Challenge
	Illinois' concealed weapons ban was struck down by the U.S. 7th Circuit Court of Appeals citing that gun use outside the home is warranted for self-defense. The "Concealed Carry" allows citizens to carry weapons in public, or anywhere other than in their own homes. Stop Concealed Carry Coalition started a petition urging legislators to reverse their decision gathered more than 7,000 signatures. With gun control advocates' campaign against the pro-gun lobby, Attorney General Lisa Madigan asked the 7th Circuit court of Appeals to rehear the case challenging Illinois' ban on carrying concealed weapons.
NY Appeals Court Orders Election Officials to Open 99 Ballots
	In the race for New York State Senate between Democrat Cecilia Tkaczyk and Republican George Amedore there are still hundreds of ballots left to be counted. The final margin of 37 votes allowed a NY State judge to certify Amedore as the winner. By failing to count the remaining ballots and failing to address technical problems, voters were disenfranchised by the Board of Elections improper guidance. In response, Carole Furman and Barbara Bravo started a petition demanding every vote to be counted. After a panel of appellate justices reviewed the results, they ordered election officials to count 99 absentee and affidavit ballots.
Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder Vetoes Concealed Weapons Bill
	Governor Rick Snyder vetoed a bill that would have allowed concealed firearms to be carried in schools and other "gun-free zones." The bill, passed by the Michigan legislature, also included a sweeping rewrite of Michigan's existing gun law that would have made it easier for people to obtain gun permits. Rev. Eric A. Stone started a petition on that gathered more than 8,000 signatures calling on elected officials to keep gun-free zones in Michigan. "These public venues need clear legal authority to ban firearms on their premises if they fit to do so," said Gov. Snyder.
Mount Tom Casino Development Denied
	Holyoke's Mount Tom is an irreplaceable natural and economic resource for all the Connecticut River Valley. When Paper City Development proposed building a casino at Wyckoff Country Club on the Mount Tom Range, the announcement outraged those in the community who saw a treasured natural resource being squandered by commercial development. Gerrit Stover created a petition which gathered almost 3,000 signatures urging the Massachusetts Gaming Commission to reject the proposal. With his petition as well as a community led campaign against the plan, Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse finally decided against the casino development.
Trapping Ordinance Passes in White Bear Lake
	In recent years, there has been an increasing number of reports from around Minnesota, including White Bear Lake, of pets being killed by body grip traps. These traps often catch non-target wildlife species, even rare and endangered animals. Scott Slocum started a petition urging the White Bear Township Board to protect pets and children from traps after his dog was lured into body grip trap. The voice of the community was heard and the White Bear Lake Council Members voted 4-1 for a new trapping ordinance that will effectively protect pets and children from traps.
San Diego Worker Comp Fraud Billboards in Spanish Removed
	When the San Diego County District attorney, Bonny Dumais, put up Spanish-language billboards in North Park containing an intimidating message about workers' compensation fraud, many in the neighborhood felt it denigrated Latinos. North Park resident, Steven Shultz, filed a complaint with the DA's Office only to be dismissed. Steven decided to start a petition in response to the fear-mongering billboards targeting Latinos, demanding that the City of San Diego take down the billboards immediately. Finally, on December 4, the last remaining workers' comp fraud billboard in North Park was taken down sometime in the morning.
Papa John's CEO Says He Will Honor Obamacare
	After President Barack Obama's re-election, Papa John's CEO John Schnatter warned that the company's franchisees were likely to reduce employees' hours to avoid offering health insurance through the Affordable Care Act. Schnatter's plan to punish his employees and use Obamacare as an excuse to makes changes at his company was met with loud public outcry from many communities. Richard Quandt's petition urging Schnatter to stop threatening his workers gathered more than 120,000 signatures. In response to widespread criticism and opposition to his plans, Schnatter announced that he will honor Obamacare and offer health insurance to all his employees.
Minnesota Rejects Voter ID Amendment
	When the GOP controlled Minnesota legislature agreed to put a pro-Voter ID constitutional amendment on the November 6 ballot, they thought it would be a sure win. Voting rights groups immediately denounced the ballot measure as a way suppress turnout by elderly people, young people and minorities, who are least likely to have identification showing their current address. With the campaigning efforts of community groups and Minnesota voters like petition creator Liz Loeb, the voter ID constitutional amendment was rejected on Election Day.
Washington State Voters Approve Gay Marriage
	After Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire signed the voter-approved marriage equality legislation into law, opponents immediately worked to block the law. They submitted 200,000 signatures seeking a public vote on the issue. To show that the majority of Washingtonias support marriage equality, Washington United for Marriage's campaign manager Zach Silk started a petition urging voters to approve Referendum 74. With 53% of the vote, Referendum 74 passed, preserving the freedom to marry for all.
SLU Retains Staff Position For Mass Choir Ensemble
	When the Saint Louis University administration announced that the choir’s piano player for the past 5 years will be replaced by a student worker, Gretchen Weber started a petition asking SLU reverse the decision. The petition signers felt that the choir's musical success hinges on a "strong and talented person on the church's primary instrument." Even though the student's voices were initially, an ongoing, part-time staff position was finally allocated to provide lasting continuity and increased support for our worshipping community.
LIPA Held Accountable for Poor Response to Hurricane Sandy
	John Soldo's petition, to hold LIPA accountable for their poor response in handling Hurricane Sandy, gathered more than 10,000 signatures. After widespread citizen complaints, New York Governor Cuomo formed a 10-member investigative panel that will review the utilities’ preparation and recommend ways to overhaul New York’s power delivery system. It will also examine the roles played by the state-run agencies, including the New York Power Authority, LIPA and the Public Service Commission.
Citibank Forgives Student Loans for Grieving Families
	When Keith and Michelle Norris' daughter Brittani was killed in a tragic car accident three days before her twenty-third birthday—just a week before her college graduation—she had student loans she still had to pay off. While her parents grieved, Citibank continued to demand payment. After more than three years of pleading with Citibank, they started an online petition. Within 18 hours of the petition beginning, Citibank reached out to Keith and Michelle. The loans were finally discharged, and Citibank has since changed their policy on loan forgiveness for students who die before graduation.
Voter Intimidation Billboards Taken Down in Ohio
	When Clear Channel-owned billboards stating "Voter Fraud is a Felony" appeared in African-American and Latino neighborhoods in Cleveland, it was clearly designed to intimidate minority voters from casting legal votes. In response, voting rights groups demanded that Clear Channel take them down immediately. Rashad Robinson from Color of Change started a petition, and a widespread outcry from community activists pushed Clear Channel to take down the billboards. Clear Channel donated billboards around Cleveland that read "Voting is Not a Crime."
WA Board of Education Moves Against Native American Mascots
	In Washington State, there are roughly twenty high schools with Native American mascots. Matt Remle, who runs a web-based group called Indigenous Action, circulated a petition to to formally ask the Washington State Board of Education to end the use of Native American mascots in public schools. His petition, along with the resolution, were presented to the WSBE in May. On September 6, the WSBE voted unanimously to pass the resolution to end the use of Native American mascots in Washington State's public schools. In addition, the resolution calls on districts to close the widening gap between Native American and other students.
California Gov. Brown Signs the Fair Sentencing for Youth Act
	Juveniles in California can be sentenced to life in prison with no possibility of parole. Human Rights Watch found nationally that 59 percent of juveniles sentenced to life without parole were first-time offenders. California’s use of this sentence for youth is among the most unjust in the nation. Kevan Insko from Friends Committee on Legislation of California gathered nearly 3,000 signatures in support of Senate Bill 9. If enacted, the bill gives hundreds of juveniles a chance to earn parole after serving a minimum of 25 years. Eventually, Governor Jerry Brown signed Senate Bill 9, the Fair Sentencing for Youth Act, giving California youth sentenced to die in prison a second chance at life.
Federal District Court Orders Ohio to Restore Early Voting
	In an attempt to limit voter access to the polls, Secretary of State Jon Husted ordered all early voting to stop on Friday afternoon before Election Day. Following unprecedented African-American voter turnout in Ohio during the 2008 presidential election, Republicans there have been looking for ways to diminish the community’s electoral power. Color of Change, one of many organizations working to stop voter suppression, created a petition calling for the restoration of early voting rights in Ohio. Shortly after, the Federal District Court restored in-person early voting in Ohio, stating that it "places all Ohio voters on equal standing."
University of Missouri Press Saved
	When UM President Tim Wolfe announced that the press would be phased out starting in July to save a $400,000 yearly subsidy, thousands of people protested by writing letters to Wolfe and signing Ned Stuckey-French's petition. His petition to save the University of Missouri Press gathered more than 5,000 signatures. Widespread protest prompted university officials to scrap the plans, and in August they announced the press would remain open at its current location with the remaining staff.
Judge Partially Blocks PA Voter ID Law
	When the Pennsylvania State House passed House Bill 934, the legislation guaranteed many eligible voters would be turned away at the polls. A Pittsburgh teacher, Steven Signer, started a petition opposing the law. Steven's petition was signed by 21,000 people and helped put pressure on federal courts to act. Responding to a lawsuit filed by the ACLU of Pennsylvania, Advancement Project, and others, Commonwealth Court Judge Robert Simpson issued an injunction allowing 750,000 voters to cast a ballot in the 2012 election.
Industry Executive Blocked from Utah Nuclear Regulatory Board
	When Gov. Gary Herbert and the Utah Senate appointed EnergySolutions executive David Shrum to the Radiation Control Board, an advisory panel that helps set policy for the state’s radioactive materials regulation program, it jeopardized the board's effectiveness and created a conflict of interest. But Ty Markham started a petition urging opposing Shrum's appointment to the board. After public pressure, the Office of Legislative Auditor General launched audit on the appointment that prompted senators to rescind Shrum’s nomination.
Fargo Forum Ends Ban on Same-Sex Marriage Announcements
	After the largest paper in North Dakota refused to print a marriage announcement from a local same-sex couple, Patricia Holly from Rhame, North Dakota, joined a large online backlash by starting a petition calling the Forum to reverse their policy. Within days, Matthew Von Pinnon, editor of The Forum, announced that his paper would end the ban and begin publishing notices for all marriages.
Firefighters Get Health Insurance
	When he learned that brave firefighters battling wildfires in Colorado weren't getting health insurance, Chris Bowers from Daily Kos started a petition to Speaker John Boehner and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. The petition said, "It is outrageous that firefighters battling the blazes in Colorado and around the country are not eligible for federal health insurance." Chris gathered close to 8,000 signatures, and thousands more were gathered by others, all of which helped to convince Congress to join with President Obama and end this injustice.
Election Reform Package Passes in the Massachusetts State House
	It has been 20 years since Massachusetts updated its voter registration system. That's why Avi Green, Co-Director of MassVote, launched a petition calling on the MA State House to pass Election Reform H.4022. The bill allows citizens to download and print voter registration forms as well as let teens pre-register to vote. In late May 2012, the Massachusetts State House passed the reform bill that will protect the integrity of the vote and strengthen the vote counting process.
Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund Saved
	Governor Corbett and the Pennsylvania state legislature agreed to fully fund the Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund. Adam Garber and his organization Penn Environment started a petition that received more than 10,000 signatures in support of the Keystone Fund. "For years, the Keystone Fund saved the places that made Pennsylvania great. So it was crucial that we work save the Keystone Fund," said David Masur of PennEnvironment.
Fighting Student Loan Debt
	Robert Applebaum, an attorney in New York, started a petition calling for student loan forgiveness and it spread quickly, gathering more than half a million signatures. Then, something amazing happened. President Obama responded—not with a form letter, but with an actual change in policy that will lower student loan payments for over 1.6 million people. Robert has now launched an organization called Student Debt Crisis and is working with progressive champions in Congress to provide student loan forgiveness for all students in need.
Justice for Kenneth Chamberlain
	When 68-year-old veteran Kenneth Chamberlain Sr. was shot and killed in his apartment by police responding to a call from his medical alert service, his son assumed there would be an investigation. After months of waiting, Kenneth Chamberlain Jr. started a petition to ask for one. In the wake of the Trayvon Martin shooting, the petition received over 200,000 signatures and national media coverage. The White Plains mayor finally issued condolences to the family, and Kenneth Jr. continues to fight for justice for his own father as well as the reforms necessary to prevent future injustices.
Justice for Jasmine Thar
	Jasmine Thar was a 16-year-old African American girl who was shot and killed while preparing for a routine shopping trip with her family. The 23-year-old Caucasian male who fired the fatal shot was not charged with a crime of any kind because he claims it was an accident—despite the fact that police found a Confederate flag and Nazi literature in his home. Jasmine's family started a petition demanding justice, and a case that was about to be swept under the rug has now received tremendous media attention in North Carolina and become the subject of a federal civil rights investigation.
Utah Governor Vetoes Ban on Sex Education
	When extreme religious conservatives in Utah tried to pass a bill banning sex education in public schools, preventing young people from getting critical information about STDs, pregnancy, and contraception, over 40,000 MoveOn members spoke out and successfully helped convince the state's governor to veto the bill. The petition was started by Paul Krueger, a school bus driver and retired firefighter, who said, "I’ve never done anything like this, and it’s kind of amazing how fast this took off."
Florida Prison Privatization Bill Stopped
	Florida's Republican Governor Rick Scott tried to fast-track legislation to privatize 29 prisons without public input. But corrections officer Christina Bullins knew first-hand that prison privatization would undermine public safety and waste tax dollars, so she started a petition that garnered over 27,000 petition signatures. In the face of widespread public opposition, Republicans had to admit that they didn't have the votes to pass the bill and never even brought it up for a vote.
Idaho Drops Ultrasound Bill
	As part of their infamous "War on Women" Republicans have passed laws in state after state forcing women to submit to an invasive ultrasound procedure before getting an abortion. When a similar bill came up in the very conservative state of Idaho, it seemed sure to pass. Susan Philley was one of hundreds of Idahoans who refused to back down. She started a petition that was signed by over 5,000 people—a stunning number in this small state. Republicans withdrew the bill, and Idaho Rep. Vito Barbieri, a co-sponsor of the bill explained, “I think that the proponents just weren’t ready for the firestorm that it lit.”
AG Holder Blocks Texas and South Carolina Voter Suppression Laws
	In state after state, Republicans have passed laws to make voting more difficult for poor people, African-Americans, Latinos, and other groups who tend to vote Democratic. Judith Browne Dianis, Co-Director of Advancement Project, launched a petition as part of a major nationwide campaign calling on Attorney General Eric Holder to halt implementation of these laws in states with a history of racist voter suppression. So far the Justice Department has blocked both the South Carolina and Texas voter suppression laws, and Judith and her organization are using MoveOn's petition website to fight similar laws in dozens of states around the country.
Protections for Maine's North Woods
	The Maine North Woods are the largest undeveloped forest east of the Rockies, but Governor Paul LePage led an effort to throw open the North Woods to development. Alexandra Fields of Environment Maine started a petition opposing these efforts, and after a public outcry Gov. LePage's worst proposals were killed, including an especially awful provision to allow entire counties to drop out of the protections of a key state oversight commission.
Collective Bargaining Rights Protected in South Dakota
	South Dakota Republicans tried to strip firefighters, teachers, police officers, and other public workers of their collective bargaining rights, following the lead of right-wing governors in other states, like Scott Walker. But Mark Anderson of the South Dakota State Federation of Labor started a petition urging state legislators to vote no on the bill. One legislator was heard saying that he's never received so many emails on any issue ever. By the time the bill finally came for a vote in committee it was so unpopular that it was defeated unanimously 13-0.
The St. Mark's Bookstore: Saved!
	St. Mark's Bookstore, a legendary progressive bookstore and community institution in Lower Manhattan, was at risk of going out of business when their lease was up and they couldn't afford their rent, which was set before the downturn. Their allies in the community started a petition that went viral, attracting the attention of local media and The New York Times. Even filmmaker Michael Moore took notice, retweeting the petition and scheduling a special "Save St. Mark's" book signing. After weeks of campaigning and tens of thousands of signatures, the landlord agreed to a compromise and St. Mark's was saved.
Paul LePage vs. Maine Public Broadcasting
	When Maine tea party Governor Paul LePage tried to eliminate all state support for the state's public TV and radio stations, MoveOn member Tom Foreman started a petition to restore the funding. Over 17,000 people in the state signed the petition—more than 1% of Maine's entire population. Ultimately Gov. LePage backed down, and Maine State Legislator Diane Russell said about the petition, "I can tell you, inside the capitol it really made a difference."
No Fracking in the Delaware River Valley
	Delaware Governor Jack Markell was the deciding vote on the Delaware River Basin Commission on proposed weak fracking regulations that would have threatened the drinking water of more than 15 million people. Unsure how the governor would vote on this terrible proposal, progressive Delaware state legislator John Kowalko started a petition urging the governor to vote no. After more than 1,000 signatures and a wave of media coverage, Gov. Markell announced he would oppose the weak regulations, protecting the region's drinking water.
Attacks on Workers' Rights Stopped in San Jose
	When three of his fellow San Jose Council Members and the mayor proposed a bill to strip city workers of their benefits and take away their collective bargaining rights, progressive Councilmember Ash Kalra refused to let his city become the next Wisconsin. More than 4,000 people, most in San Jose, signed Ash's petition, and under intense pressure the mayor and council leader delayed the vote on the bill twice before dropping the attacks on collective bargaining for the rest of the session—a huge win for workers' rights.
Voter IDs for University of Wisconsin Students
	After Governor Scott Walker passed legislation to make it harder to vote for college students, poor people, seniors, and African Americans, Madison residents Gene and Sandy Lundergan started a petition urging the university chancellor to issue ID cards to students that would comply with the new law and help students vote. Teaming up with campus groups like the Young Progressives, they convinced the university to issue a new student voter ID that Wisconsin students are already using to vote in this year's crucially important recall and presidential elections.
Fighting Florida's War on Women
	In 2011 alone, Florida Republicans introduced 18 separate bills to restrict a woman's right to choose. But progressive champion Rep. Scott Randolph fought back. When Dean Cannon, the Republican Speaker of the House, tried to silence debate on the issue, Scott launched a petition demanding Speaker Cannon allow full debate and end the war on choice. Scott's battle with the speaker got national media attention and helped spark a grassroots backlash and almost every one of their anti-choice proposals was stopped.
No Tilted Kilt in Evanston
	When owners of the rabidly sexist restaurant chain "Tilted Kilt" tried to open a new franchise in Evanston, Illinois, Kathleen Flaherty and Cynthia Farenga said "no way." After collecting more than 1,000 signatures, they delivered their petition at a public liquor commission hearing and were joined by dozens of petition-signers with signs. In the face of clear community opposition, the Tilted Kilt was denied a liquor license by the city and kept out of Kathleen and Cynthia's neighborhood.
Ending Childhood Obesity—One School Lunch at a Time
	Ivana Kadija was worried about the amount of sugar in the meals at her daughters' school and decided to do something about it. She started a petition to reduce the sugar limit in school meals, originally set at 35% of total calories. The local media picked up on her petition, which garnered over 1000 signatures from the Charlottesville area, and the school board ultimately adopted her recommendations.
Solar Power for Washington, D.C.
	Solar power has tremendous potential to create jobs, grow local businesses, and protect the environment in Washington, D.C., where air pollution ranks among the worst in the country. Anya Schoolman and her organization the Mt. Pleasant Solar Cooperative started a petition supporting legislation to require PEPCO, the city's main utility company, to use homegrown renewable power and help put more solar on the rooftops of our nation's capital. The bill was bottled up for months, but after more than 2,000 D.C. residents signed Anya's petition, the bill was finally brought to a vote and passed unanimously.