Rep. Steny Hoyer and Rep. Barbara Lee

From infants to seniors, the sequester affects at-risk Americans in every age bracket, and its cuts will harm families trying to put food on the table. Simply put, the sequester will erect road blocks along the pathways out of poverty.

Trita Parsi

President, National Iranian American Council

While a very slight glimmer of hope existed after the fraudulent elections in 2009 that the negative trajectory could be reversed through the ballot box, even that small probability may now have been eliminated.

Jared Bernstein

Fmr. Obama administration economist; CNBC and MSNBC contributor

Because they can indefinitely shield their foreign profits from U.S. taxes, meanwhile engaging in endless (legal) schemes to avoid taxes in countries where they book those earnings, the link between the profitability of American companies and the well-being of America is broken.

Amitai Etzioni

Professor of international relations, George Washington University

The president is either moping or muttering defensively about the abuses by the IRS and the tragedy of Benghazi. As I see it, if he wakes up tomorrow and is willing to speak up, there are a few things he could fairly state. First, any suggestion that "the IRS" went after the Tea Party are bogus.

Daniel N. Nelson

CEO, Global Concepts & Communications, LLC

Carnage and suffering in Oklahoma, for thousands of Americans who have suffered through nature's terrors -- tornadoes, hurricanes, fires, floods, and earthquakes -- is all too common.

Elliott Negin

Director of News & Commentary, Union of Concerned Scientists

Given the Heartland Institute's penchant for misrepresenting science, you would think reporters would be curious about who finances its work. You would be wrong.

Michael R. Bloomberg

108th Mayor of the City of New York

Our federal immigration system is broken, and until we fix it, our economy will continue to suffer and other countries will continue to gain jobs at our expense.

Peter Dreier and Richard Appelbaum

If journalism's role is to not only report the facts but also to expose wrongdoing, then the Times deserves kudos, and a Pulitzer Prize, for documenting and explaining the emergence of Bangladesh's new sweatshop economy as a major source of the clothing that American and European consumers buy every day.

Doug Cox M.D.

Republican in the Oklahoma House of Representatives

I can't be silent when -- at a time of need for care, empathy, and community -- my colleagues in the Oklahoma state legislature are using the last days of session to further restrict Oklahoma women's access to health care.

Louise Melling

Deputy Legal Director of the ACLU and the Director of its Center for Liberty

Nearly 60 lawsuits have been filed across the country challenging the federal rule that employers include contraception in the insurance they provide employees.

Ramzi Kassem

Professor, City University of New York School of Law

In his years in office, Obama has retreated from the moral argument against Guantánamo. If he is serious about closing the prison and not repeating the errors of the past, then he should reclaim that moral high ground.

Bob Aiken

President and CEO, Feeding America

As individuals, charities, businesses and government, we all have a role to play in getting more food to people in need. Together, we can solve hunger and ensure our parents and grandparents have enough to eat.

Joseph Blady, M.D.

Former program officer for the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy and senior analyst for the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence

No amount of money can prevent tornadoes, but the lack of a storm shelter can be seen as a cautionary tale, not different from a collapsed bridge that has not been properly maintained, or a derailed train running on used-up tracks.

Madeleine M. Kunin

First Female Governor of Vermont; Marsh Scholar, University of Vermont

Vermont, once again, is leading the country. A similar bill, called the Paycheck Fairness Act, is languishing in the Congress. How did we do it in Vermont? We worked together.

Rep. Adam Smith

Congressman Representing Washington's 9th District

The detention facility at Guantanamo Bay was never a good idea. It is an even worse idea now. Let's start the process to close GTMO now.

Dustin Lance Black

Founding board member, American Foundation for Equal Rights (AFER); Academy Award-winning screenwriter, 'Milk'

It seems that the message we too often miss from Milk's work is that all Americans have an interest in equality because soon we will all be minorities in some way or another. Harvey called this his "coalition of the us's" -- not only gays but blacks, Asians, seniors, the disabled.

Michael Green

Executive Director, Center for Environmental Health

How successful are EPA rules? The report found that for every dollar we spend on environmental and health protections, we get back ten dollars in health, environmental, and economic benefits that add up to make all of our lives richer.