Video & Transcript : 'mass layoff' :

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FL

Florida 2026 Regular Session

Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services Feb 4th, 2026

Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services

Transcript Highlights:
  • Right now, there's mass confusion.
Keywords: 999, senate, all
Summary: The Senate Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services heard public testimony on concerns about changes to the AIDS Drug Assistance Program and the iBudget waiver, including warnings that HIV patients could lose access to medications and that direct support providers need a rate increase. Senators discussed possible alternatives such as medically needy coverage and FQHC/340B access, and a witness urged the legislature to delay implementation of the HIV-related changes and restore funding. Another witness asked for support for a modest increase for iBudget direct care providers. The committee then considered and reported favorably several bills. SB 428, by Sen. Yarborough, expands the state swimming voucher program from ages 0-4 to ages 1-7 to align with drowning-prevention guidance; it passed without opposition. CS/SB 68, by Sen. Harrell, requires hospitals with emergency departments to adopt pediatric emergency care policies, training, equipment standards, and readiness assessments; an amendment aligning reporting dates with the House version was adopted, and the bill passed favorably. CS/SB 1718, by Sen. Grall, makes the Step Into Success foster youth pilot permanent, adjusts visitor/background screening rules for out-of-home placements, and modifies stipend provisions; it also passed favorably. The committee also approved CS/SB 606, by Sen. Smith, which adds drowning-prevention and safe-bathing education to postpartum materials and requires hospitals and birthing centers to keep compliance records. CS/CS/SB 96, by Sen. Sharief, expands eligibility for the Veterans Dental Care Grant Program up to 400% of the federal poverty level; an amendment removed the $500,000 appropriation so funding can be handled in the budget process, and the bill passed. CS/SB 340, by Sen. Harrell, requires nursing education to include a human trafficking course before licensure, and CS/SB 1480, by Sen. Burton, creates a grandfathering process for certain health care providers in areas of critical need if federal designations change; both were reported favorably. The committee adjourned at the end of the agenda.
FL

Florida 2026 Regular Session

Governmental Oversight and Accountability Jan 20th, 2026

Governmental Oversight and Accountability

Transcript Highlights:
  • The FSU campus mass shooting, during which 800 calls flooded our center in the first three hours.
Bills: S0774, S7028, S7024, S7026
Summary: The Committee on Governmental Oversight and Accountability met and first heard Senate Bill 774, which would extend workers’ compensation medical benefits for employment-related mental or nervous injuries to 911 public safety telecommunicators, even without a physical injury. The sponsor and several dispatchers, a clinician, and communications directors testified in support, describing repeated exposure to traumatic calls, chronic understaffing, and the need for mental health treatment and retention support. Senator DiCeglie and Chair Mayfield praised dispatchers’ work, and the bill was reported favorably by committee vote, with Senator McClain later recorded as voting yes on the bill. The committee then took up SPB 7028, a retirement bill that sets Florida Retirement System employer contribution rates beginning July 1, 2026, leaves the 3% employee contribution unchanged, allows certain elected officers to receive a DROP payout under specified conditions, and provides a 1.5% alternative cost-of-living adjustment for eligible special risk retirees. Firefighters, police, sheriffs, and chiefs’ groups spoke in support, emphasizing recruitment and retention. The committee voted to submit the proposal as a committee bill and reported it favorably. Finally, the committee considered SPB 7024 and SPB 7026, both open-government-related bills. SPB 7024 would repeal the current public records and public meeting exemption for cybersecurity information and consolidate agency-specific cybersecurity exemptions into one agency-wide exemption. SPB 7026 would repeal the current public records exemption for trade secrets held by an agency and similarly consolidate specific trade secret exemptions into one agency-wide exemption. Neither bill drew testimony or debate, and both were submitted as committee bills and reported favorably. The meeting then adjourned.
KY
Transcript Highlights:
  • Some of the leadership in my local area a few years ago caused a mass exodus of some of these really
  • years ago um in in my local area a few years ago um caused<00:08:20.479><c> a</c><00:08:20.800><c> mass
  • 21.919><c> of</c><00:08:22.160><c> some</c><00:08:22.319><c> of</c><00:08:22.400><c> these</c> caused a mass
  • exodus of some of these caused a mass exodus of some of these really<00:08:23.280><c> valued</c><00:
Summary: The Public Pension Oversight Board met on February 13 and approved the minutes after establishing a quorum. The committee then took up three pension-related bills, beginning with Rep. Callaway’s proposal to allow certain retired police officers with 15 to 19 years of service to be rehired by local law enforcement agencies. Callaway and Brandon Lincoln of the FOP said the bill is intended to help recruitment and retention, especially for departments facing staffing shortages, and emphasized that it would be optional and would not allow double-dipping. Committee members raised concerns that lowering the service threshold from 20 to 15 years could create an unfunded liability and weaken the pension system, and several members said they did not yet fully understand how the pension and insurance provisions would work. The sponsor said she was open to working on the bill, and the chair noted the committee would continue to examine it with help from KPA staff. The second bill, presented by Rep. Lewis with Brandon Lincoln and Jeff Taylor, addressed probationary employees in CS agencies, including firefighters and police officers. The bill would let certain former probationary employees purchase service credit for time spent in probation, and would extend line-of-duty death and disability protections to employees who are injured or killed during probationary service. Testimony said the measure is optional for employers, could be used as a recruitment tool, and would allow employees within six months of the probationary period to buy back the time themselves if they choose. Members generally supported the concept, noted a negligible fiscal note, and discussed whether current employees could buy back older probationary periods; the sponsor said the bill did not appear to allow that, though he was open to further discussion. Throughout both bills, members focused on whether the proposals would create new pension costs or liabilities and how they would interact with existing retirement tiers and contribution rules. Several members asked for clarification on whether rehired workers would contribute to the pension system, whether employers would pay normal cost or any contribution at all, and whether the bills would affect future retirement benefits. The sponsors and witnesses repeatedly said the measures were limited, optional, and intended to address staffing and fairness issues without changing the core retirement system, but the committee did not take final action on the bills during the discussion.
FL

Florida 2026 5th Special Session

FL House Floor Session - 2026-01-15 (10:00AM Session)

Florida House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Mass shooters are criminals. This will give them easier access.
  • Very seldom in our school shootings or in mass shootings or anybody using small handguns.
  • And by the way, they're almost always, when we're talking about mass shooters, boys and young men.
  • Communities like mine, Orlando, have also experienced the trauma of mass shootings.
Summary: The House convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a quorum present, then adopted the special order report for the day. The chamber took up House Bill 167 on former phosphate mining lands. Sponsor Rep. McClure said the bill removes strict liability for previously mined phosphate lands if a Department of Health study is completed at the owner’s request and the former mining status is recorded publicly. Opponents, led by Rep. Cross and others, argued the bill relies too heavily on buyer-beware principles and does not adequately notify future buyers or renters. The bill passed 87-24 after debate. Members then considered House Bill 145 on suits against the government. Rep. McFarland said it updates Florida’s sovereign immunity caps, raising them to $500,000 per person and $1 million per incident, with a later automatic increase, while preserving the liability shield and improving access to compensation for people harmed by government negligence. The bill also aligns the statute of limitations with private claims and allows entities to settle above the cap. After brief debate, the House passed the bill 104-7. The House next debated CS/HB 289 on wrongful death for an unborn child, which would expand Florida’s Wrongful Death Act to allow claims involving unborn children and their parents. The bill prompted extensive questioning and debate about damages, definitions, medical care, surrogacy, and whether the measure could affect abortion access or expose doctors, friends, family members, and surrogates to lawsuits. Multiple amendments sought to carve out protections for mothers, health care providers, abortion care, perinatal professionals, surrogates, and victims of rape, incest, or human trafficking, but each was defeated. The final vote on the bill itself was 33-78, so the motion failed and the bill did not advance.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Committee on State and Local Government - 03/13/25

State and Local Government

Transcript Highlights:
  • public to councils to begin with and not more and more government, but we are growing government and mass
  • public to councils to begin with and not more and more government, but we are growing government and mass
  • public to councils to begin with and not more and more government, but we are growing government and mass
  • public to councils to begin with and not more and more government, but we are growing government and mass
Keywords: 1187, senate, all
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Senate Floor Session - 01/14/25

Minnesota Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • The shores are crowding for you; they call, the swaying mass, their eager faces turning.
  • they call the shores of crowding for you they call the<00:56:18.400><c> swaying</c><00:56:18.920><c> Mass
  • </c><00:56:19.720><c> their</c><00:56:19.920><c> eager</c><00:56:20.520><c> faces</c> the swaying Mass
  • their eager faces the swaying Mass their eager faces turning<00:56:23.359><c> my</c><00:56:23.599><c
Keywords: 1187, senate, all
US

US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session

US House Floor Proceedings (Tuesday, June 10, 2025)

US Federal House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • the investigation, law enforcement discovered the suspect had shared heinous, detailed plans for a mass
  • </c> heinous, detailed plans for a mass heinous, detailed plans for a mass shooting<00:06:46.960><c>
  • The Chinese Communist Party aids Putin with mass murder in Ukraine.
  • What he did was deploy ICE to make mass arrests and terrorize families in Los Angeles.
  • </c><04:46:17.600><c> arrests</c><04:46:18.320><c> and</c> deploy ICE to make mass arrests and deploy
NH

New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session

House Judiciary (04/16/2025)

Transcript Highlights:
  • For example, being male tends to give one more immediate muscle mass. Yes.
  • , for example, like with testosterone, estrogen tends to give a person more endurance-based muscle mass
  • 58:32.000><c> more</c><01:58:32.159><c> immediate</c><01:58:32.639><c> muscle</c><01:58:32.880><c> mass
  • </c> one more immediate muscle mass. Yes. one more immediate muscle mass. Yes.
  • Um and there have been muscle mass.
Keywords: 928, house, all
Summary: The House Judiciary Committee opened a hearing on Senate Bill 141, which would create a narrow exception to New Hampshire’s three-year deadline for motions for a new trial when a petitioner has newly discovered evidence, new forensic testing, or new scientific understanding. The prime sponsor’s representative and advocates from the Innocence Project and New England Innocence Project argued the bill is needed to help wrongfully convicted people access the courts, noting that exonerations often take many years and that outdated forensic science has contributed to wrongful convictions. The chair also said he had drafted a proposed amendment for committee review, but it had not yet been formally submitted. Witnesses supporting the bill emphasized that the measure would not guarantee relief, only allow a petition to be filed and reviewed under existing standards. They discussed examples such as arson science, explaining that some convictions were based on forensic methods later shown to be unreliable. Committee members asked about the scope of habeas corpus, whether the bill would create a new cause of action, and whether additional screening or pleading requirements should be added. The supporters said they would be open to requiring a petitioner to plead innocence, but opposed adding more burdensome preliminary procedures or counsel requirements at the filing stage. Thomas Farardi, from the Attorney General’s Office, testified in opposition or with caution, saying the bill was a “solution looking for a problem” because existing habeas corpus and coram nobis procedures already provide avenues for relief, and prosecutors can act when credible new evidence arises. He argued the current draft could invite additional litigation and create a new cause of action, and said he favored more screening before cases proceed. The discussion also touched on whether the statute applies in criminal cases, the current three-year limitation in RSA 526:4, and questions about posthumous petitions and petitions by deported individuals. No vote or executive action was taken during the hearing.
TX

Texas 89th 2nd C.S.

Public Education Jun 1st, 2026

Public Education

Transcript Highlights:
  • cuts, district after district across the state will continue to announce school closures, employee layoffs
  • Districts across the state will continue to announce school closures, employee layoffs, and other cost-saving
Keywords: 1184, house, all
AZ

Arizona 2026 Regular Session

06/11/2026 - Senate Floor Session

Arizona Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • This is about mass detention and family separation.
  • No state dollars will be used to support Donald Trump's mass deportation agenda.
  • Arizonans out there who want a budget that prioritizes people, not corporations, billionaires, or a mass
Summary: The meeting began with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, attendance, and a guest introduction for Deputy Frank Sloop. The Senate then moved through multiple Committee of the Whole calendars, with most measures receiving do-pass recommendations after brief explanations and, in several cases, floor amendments. Topics included public records, capital outlay review, local government, taxation, state budget implementation, higher education appropriations, utility regulation, towing regulation, homeowners association disclosures, nursing board regulation, veteran services, criminal justice, human services, K-12 education, state property management, and the continuation of the Arizona State Board of Nursing. Several bills were amended on the floor before receiving favorable recommendations. House Bill 2114 on motorcycle-related provisions was amended to require that at least one registered owner be legally licensed to operate a motorcycle in Arizona. House Bill 2397 on HOA/condominium disclosures was amended to change disclosure timing and fee rules and make other conforming changes. House Bill 2408 on nursing board regulatory action was amended to remove a clear-and-convincing-evidence burden in disciplinary matters and clarify complaint-sharing procedures. House Bill 2957 on driver’s license/handheld provisions, House Bill 2305 on towing regulation, and House Bill 2321 on DCS-related reporting also received amendments before do-pass recommendations. The largest item was Senate Bill 1847, the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act. Senators offered extensive floor amendments affecting agriculture, corrections, criminal justice, school safety, law enforcement equipment, vehicle theft task force funding, liquor licensing, and other budget items. During third reading and debate on the budget, Democratic senators praised negotiated gains such as funding for aging services, food assistance, civil legal aid, school meals, heat relief, and a three-year moratorium on new data center tax incentives, while criticizing border-related funding, ESA/voucher policy, and cuts to higher education and adult education. One member’s remarks were ruled dilatory after repeated off-topic comments, and the ruling of the chair was sustained by a 16-12 vote. The transcript ends with additional budget-related explanation of votes continuing after the budget’s third reading.
LA

Louisiana 2026 Regular Session

House of Representatives May 27th, 2026

Louisiana House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Mass, so we are so happy that in his first trip he is here with us.
  • They involve extensive records and complex legal issues such as maritime, asbestos, mass tort, multidistrict
  • They involve extensive records and complex legal issues such as maritime, asbestos, mass tort, multi-district
CA
Transcript Highlights:
  • We want them to go to streets, highways, and certain mass transit activities.
  • Courtney Massing Gale, Department of Finance, so this will be coming from Tier 1.
  • Courtney Massing Gale, Department of Finance, so this will be coming from Tier 1.
Keywords: 987, senate, all
MO
Transcript Highlights:
  • Sometimes we'll have a mass of information that we don't have a... ...we do with information, sometimes
  • we can, we'll have a mass of information that we don't have a real functioning reason to do.
  • and bigger issue, especially now that artificial intelligence can make sense and sift out data, this mass
Keywords: 959, house, all
Summary: The House first established a quorum after a quorum call and welcomed special guests, including the Freedom of the Road motorcycle riders and students from Warsaw High School. It then took up House Committee Substitute for House Bill 1855, a reporting bill on Alpha-Gal syndrome. The bill sponsor described the condition as a serious tick-borne allergy that has affected his family and many Missourians, arguing that Missouri needs mandatory reporting and surveillance data to identify hotspots, guide public health outreach, and support research and funding. Supporters from both parties said the bill would improve awareness and data collection, while one member raised concerns about the fiscal note and whether the state would get useful information for the cost. The chamber adopted Amendment 1 to HB 1855, changing the follow-up language from “may” to “shall,” but rejected Amendment 2, which would have required patient consent before lab results were reported into the surveillance system. Opponents of the consent amendment said it would undermine disease surveillance and set a bad precedent for other reportable conditions; supporters argued for privacy and individual choice. After debate, the House adopted the committee substitute as amended and ordered it perfected and printed. The House then considered House Committee Substitute for House Bills 2230 and 2978, a K-5 education measure addressing screen time, cursive, and handwriting. The sponsor said the bill responds to research and parent/teacher concerns about excessive screen use, poor literacy outcomes, and mental health effects, and would create a state focus group to review evidence and make recommendations while leaving districts flexibility. Members discussed carve-outs for special education, English language learners, and virtual school, and adopted an amendment excluding the virtual school program. The House then adopted the substitute as amended and ordered it perfected and printed. Finally, the House took up House Bill 2355, the “Food is Medicine” initiative, which would allow Missouri to use federal funds through 1115 waivers for pilot programs such as medically tailored meals, produce prescriptions, nutrition education, and related supports. Supporters said the program could improve health outcomes, reduce Medicaid spending, and help address food deserts. An amendment adding vitamin therapies and updating a date drew discussion over supplement safety and regulation, but the transcript cuts off before a final vote on that amendment or the bill itself.
HI

Hawaii 2025 Regular Session

HHS Public Hearing 02-19-2025

Health and Human Services

Transcript Highlights:
  • I volunteered to be deployed to a mass shooting incident in Las Vegas.
  • helping survivors of the California wildfires, or consoling people in the aftermath of that Las Vegas mass
  • helping survivors of the California wildfires, or consoling people in the aftermath of that Las Vegas mass
Keywords: 912, senate, all
Summary: The Health and Human Services committee heard several gubernatorial nominations and appointments, beginning with Sunshine Cho and Barbara Tom for the Language Access Advisory Council. Both nominees said they stood on their written testimony and expressed interest in continuing to serve, and multiple organizations testified in strong support. No opposition or questions were raised on either nomination, and the committee moved on after hearing the testimony. The bulk of the meeting focused on GM 642, the nomination of Ryan Yamane to be Director of the Department of Human Services. Yamane gave an extensive opening statement describing his social work background, long public service career, and philosophy of compassionate, balanced leadership. He emphasized DHS’s role in helping people from keiki to kūpuna with dignity and support, and shared personal stories from disaster response and family-service work to illustrate his approach. Support testimony came from a wide range of state officials, agency directors, community organizations, health systems, advocacy groups, and former colleagues, who praised his leadership, problem-solving, communication skills, and empathy. One witness, Moani Kiala Katherine Tu Alun, testified in opposition, raising concerns about retaliation and safety issues affecting foster youth and alleging harmful treatment within Child Welfare Services. Another witness, Angela Melody Young, supported the nomination and said Yamane could help overcome barriers for vulnerable communities and improve DHS programs such as financial assistance, SNAP, and disability services. The committee also heard from DHS staff and related officials about the uncertainty surrounding possible federal funding and staffing cuts; Yamane said the department is gathering information, coordinating with Budget and Finance and federal partners, and preparing to prioritize services and adjust if federal changes affect programs. No votes were taken in the portion of the meeting provided.
KY
Transcript Highlights:
  • 04:32.400><c> that</c><00:04:32.560><c> or</c> believe that or believe that or not<00:04:35.560><c> mass
  • ><c> more</c><00:04:36.800><c> please</c><00:04:37.479><c> chair</c><00:04:37.800><c> sure</c> not mass
  • some more please chair sure not mass some more please chair sure thank you<00:04:43.680><c> do</c><00
Summary: The committee first considered Senate Bill 2, sponsored by Senator Mike Wilson, which would prohibit incarcerated people from receiving cross-sex hormones or gender-affirming surgeries, while allowing a tapering period if stopping an existing treatment would cause physical harm. Wilson said the bill was needed to prevent the Department of Corrections from providing such care by memo or policy rather than statute, and he argued the care was elective and not medically necessary. Senators Thomas, Neal, Nemes, Styers, and others questioned whether any gender-affirming surgeries had actually occurred in Kentucky, whether the hormone treatments were physician-prescribed, and whether the bill would override medical judgment; Wilson said the department reported no surgeries, that 67 incarcerated people were receiving cross-sex hormone therapy, and that he would only support treatment if it fit the bill’s narrow medical-harm exception. Public testimony on SB 2 was strongly opposed. Chris Hartman of the Fairness Campaign said the bill would deny medically necessary care, violate the Eighth Amendment, and target a very small and vulnerable incarcerated population. Dr. Jack Skilles testified that gender-affirming care is medically necessary and supported by major medical organizations, warning that denying it could worsen mental health and lead to suicidality. Hannah Callahan, a transgender woman, described being denied hormone therapy while incarcerated and said the interruption caused severe physical and mental harm, including suicidal thoughts. Emma Curtis, Lexington’s Fourth District councilwoman, also urged a no vote, framing the issue as a matter of compassion and religious duty. The committee then voted on SB 2. Senator Neal explained his no vote by saying he was not medically trained and deferred to doctors; Senator Nemes said he wanted clarification that the bill would not stop ongoing treatment; and Senator Styers argued the bill was a poor priority and noted there was no fiscal note and that only 67 people were affected. Senator Wheeler moved the bill, Senator Reed seconded, and the committee reported Senate Bill 2 favorably. Afterward, the committee began hearing Senate Bill 84, sponsored by Senator Steve Rawlings, which would limit judicial deference to state agency interpretations and require courts, not agencies, to interpret ambiguous laws, citing the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2024 Loper Bright decision overturning Chevron deference.
MA
Transcript Highlights:
  • Senator Becker-Rouche, Norfolk, Worcester, and Middlesex, and Senate Chair, Mass Center for Agriculture
Keywords: 995, all
Summary: The meeting was the final session of the Special Commission on Agriculture in the 21st Century, convened to adopt its final report. The chairs described the report as the product of extensive public engagement, research, and collaboration, focused on challenges and opportunities for Massachusetts agriculture, including climate resilience, farmland access, workforce development, food security, and farm viability. Several members and stakeholders thanked the chairs and staff for the multi-year process and emphasized the value of hearing directly from farmers and industry participants. Senator Barrett offered a detailed set of draft corrections and concerns for the record, including the report title, outdated references, repeated definitions of MDAR, the need to better reflect suburban communities, and a possible tension between recommendations supporting anaerobic digestion and a governor’s proposal affecting the alternative portfolio standard. The chairs noted that comments had been circulated for written review and said substantive feedback would be considered, while also indicating the document was nearing finalization. The commission then held a roll call vote and unanimously voted to adopt the final report, with all members present voting yes. The chairs said the final report would be formatted, published online, and distributed to stakeholders and the public, with a public rollout and media briefing planned for the fall. They also noted that the report was intended to support related legislation already filed or expected to be filed in the Legislature.
MA

Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Joint Committee on Financial Services Jun 21st, 2026 at 10:30 am

Joint Committee on Financial Services

Transcript Highlights:
  • And during that same time, the Massachusetts merged market has experienced a mass exodus of small group
Keywords: 995, all
Summary: The Joint Committee on Financial Services held a hearing with Chair Jamie Murphy and Senate co-chair Senator Feeney presiding. Members asked witnesses to keep testimony to three minutes and noted that written testimony could still be submitted. The committee heard testimony on several health insurance and pharmacy-related bills, including a proposal to allow controlled prescriptions to be transferred between pharmacies within the same chain, legislation affecting health savings account (HSA)-compatible plans and future insurance mandates, a bill on small business health insurance incentives, and H. 1212 on emergency insulin access. Several parents and patients testified in support of emergency insulin access, describing severe diabetes emergencies, diabetic ketoacidosis, prescription delays, and the need for pharmacists to dispense insulin in urgent situations when doctors or insurers are unavailable. A parent also described the burden of repeatedly obtaining new prescriptions for ADHD medication when pharmacies are out of stock. Witnesses supporting the HSA bill argued that state coverage mandates can unintentionally disqualify HSA-qualified plans and that the bill would preserve tax advantages for enrollees while avoiding repeated legislative fixes. A representative of the Retailers Association supported the small business health insurance incentives bill, saying it could help retain small employers in the merged market by allowing carriers to offer financial incentives tied to cooperative purchasing and utilization efforts. One witness, Kathleen Demarest, testified against a co-pay assistance restriction, saying a state rule had unexpectedly cut off her drug assistance before a generic was actually available, leaving her with very high out-of-pocket costs. Committee members asked a few clarifying questions about HSAs, insulin dispensing, and school support for diabetes care. After all scheduled witnesses had testified and no additional testimony was offered, the committee voted to close the hearing.
LA

Louisiana 2026 Regular Session

Civil Law and Procedure Mar 10th, 2026

Civil Law and Procedure

Transcript Highlights:
  • It's an algorithm that's massing material, that's curating material, that's sending the material.
WA

Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session

Senate Business, Trade & Economic Development Feb 19th, 2026 at 08:00 am

Business, Trade & Economic Development

Transcript Highlights:
  • This places a focus on the bad actors who have been using mass email tools to send thousands of commercial
Keywords: 904, all