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Media Hit | Transportation

The New York Times: Dollars for Roads or Dollars for Rail

Although the price tag for high-speed rail is daunting, it is important to consider the budgetary and societal costs of highway and airport expansions that California would need without it. 

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News Release | CALPIRG | Democracy

Legislation to Require Disclosure of Corporate Political Donations Introduced

Sacramento, CA—Legislation introduced today will require corporations with shareholders in California, that spend money on political issues, to disclose that spending to those shareholders. SB 982, is authored by Senator Noreen Evans (Santa Rosa) and sponsored by the California Public Interest Research Group (CALPIRG).

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Blog Post | Democracy

Citizens United Anniversary | Pedro Morillas

This is the statement I delivered at a Sacramento rally on the second anniversary of the Supreme Court's Citizens United decision.

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News Release | Safe Energy

Nuclear Power Plants Threaten Drinking Water for 2.3 Million Californians

The drinking water for 2.3 million people in California could be at risk of radioactive contamination from a leak or accident at a local nuclear power plant, says a new study released today by the California Public Interest Research Group Education Fund and Environment California Research and Policy Center. 

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Report | CALPIRG Education Fund | Safe Energy

Too Close to Home

In the United States, 49 million Americans, including 2.3 million Californians, receive their drinking water from surface sources located within 50 miles of an active nuclear power plant —inside the boundary the Nuclear Regulatory Commission uses to assess risk to food and water supplies.

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Media Hit | Transportation

The New York Times: Dollars for Roads or Dollars for Rail

Although the price tag for high-speed rail is daunting, it is important to consider the budgetary and societal costs of highway and airport expansions that California would need without it. 

> Keep Reading
News Release | CALPIRG | Democracy

Legislation to Require Disclosure of Corporate Political Donations Introduced

Sacramento, CA—Legislation introduced today will require corporations with shareholders in California, that spend money on political issues, to disclose that spending to those shareholders. SB 982, is authored by Senator Noreen Evans (Santa Rosa) and sponsored by the California Public Interest Research Group (CALPIRG).

> Keep Reading
News Release | Safe Energy

Nuclear Power Plants Threaten Drinking Water for 2.3 Million Californians

The drinking water for 2.3 million people in California could be at risk of radioactive contamination from a leak or accident at a local nuclear power plant, says a new study released today by the California Public Interest Research Group Education Fund and Environment California Research and Policy Center. 

> Keep Reading
News Release | CALPIRG Education Fund | Tax

Thirty Companies Spent More on Lobbying Than on Federal Income Taxes

With the second anniversary approaching of the Supreme Court’s decision in the Citizens United case – which opened the floodgates to corporate spending on elections – CALPIRG Education Fund and Citizens for Tax Justice reveal 30 corporations that spent more to lobby Congress than they did in taxes.

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News Release | CALPIRG | Consumer Protection, Financial Reform

President Appoints Richard Cordray To Head Consumer Agency

“For months Wall St. has been using every trick in the book to try and derail this nomination and ultimately undermine the entire consumer bureau,” said Pedro Morillas, CALPIRG Legislative Director. “Today’s appointment is a bold and important step by the President that will allow the CFPB to get to the important work of protecting consumers.”

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Result | Health Care

Pro-consumer Health Care Reform

CALPIRG’s advocacy helped ensure the health care law will bring down costs by setting up a competitive health insurance marketplace. In 2010, California became the first state in the country to begin setting up our state health insurance exchange.

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Result | Health Care

Fighting To Make Health Care Affordable

Thanks to a new CALPIRG-backed law, insurance companies actually have to justify rate hikes to the public, bringing some much-needed accountability. Thanks in part to the new law — and public pressure, including 1,200 public comments from CALPIRG supporters — Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield of California both backed off of double-digit rate hikes.

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Result | Budget

Keeping Public Libraries Public

To plug budget gaps, it seems that local governments will consider selling anything; some have even sold their public libraries. CALPIRG has stood up to and blocked a number of wrong-headed schemes to sell public assets to private companies — deals that all too often actually raise costs — including public libraries, state buildings and the privatization of red light camera enforcement.

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Result | Consumer Protection

KIDS’ SCHOOL LUNCHES NOW SAFER

For years, America’s schoolchildren have been eating beef, chicken and other foods that would have been rejected as substandard even by fast food chains. Thanks in part to our advocacy, the USDA has stopped buying such low-quality meat for school lunches.

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Result | Democracy

Defeating Big Oil’s Ballot Proposition

CALPIRG helped run a campaign that identified 160,000 young voters who pledged to vote No on Prop. 23, the oil industry-funded attack on California’s landmark global warming law. To combat the millions of dollars Texas oil companies Valero and Tesoro poured into electioneering, our organizers mobilized young voters — the segment of the electorate most likely to vote against Prop. 23, but most are in need of a reminder to get to the polls.

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Report | CALPIRG Education Fund | Safe Energy

Too Close to Home

In the United States, 49 million Americans, including 2.3 million Californians, receive their drinking water from surface sources located within 50 miles of an active nuclear power plant —inside the boundary the Nuclear Regulatory Commission uses to assess risk to food and water supplies.

> Keep Reading
Report | CALPIRG | Budget, Democracy, Tax

Representation Without Taxation

Marking the second anniversary of the Supreme Court’s decision in the Citizens United vs. Federal Election Commission case—which opened the floodgates to corporate spending on elections—this report takes a hard look at the lobbying activities of profitable Fortune 500 companies that exploit loopholes and distort the tax code to avoid billions
of dollars in taxes.

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Report | Consumer Protection

Trouble in Toyland

The 2011 Trouble in Toyland report is our 26th annual survey of toy safety. In this report, we provide safety guidelines for consumers when purchasing toys for young children and provide examples of toys currently on store shelves that may pose potential safety hazards.

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Report | CALPIRG | Budget, Food, Tax

Toward Common Ground

Our nation faces unprecedented fiscal challenges, as the commitments we’ve made now and into the future far outpace our fiscal capacity. Congress, the President’s National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform, and citizens across the country must grapple with very difficult decisions about how we can put our fiscal house in order. It will be critical to reach out across party lines and across ideological persuasions to achieve common-sense reforms that can bring us closer to balance.

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Report | CALPIRG | Budget

Caution: Red Light Cameras Ahead; The Risks of Privatizing Traffic Law Enforcement and How to Protect the Public

Local contracting for automated traffic enforcement systems may sometimes be a useful tool for keeping drivers and pedestrians safe. But when private firms and municipalities consider revenues first, and safety second, the public interest is threatened.

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Blog Post | Democracy

Citizens United Anniversary | Pedro Morillas

This is the statement I delivered at a Sacramento rally on the second anniversary of the Supreme Court's Citizens United decision.

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Blog Post | Consumer Protection, Financial Reform

CFPB Director Cordray speaks on payday loans | Jon Fox

CFPB Director Cordray speaks on payday loans during field hearing in Birmingham, AL, 20 Jan. 2012.

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Blog Post | Safe Energy

Earthquake Near Virginia Nuclear Reactors Is a Reminder of the Risks in California | Emily Rusch

Today’s earthquake in Virginia, less than ten miles from two nuclear reactors, is a jolting reminder of exactly the type of unpredictable risk that threaten the safety and security of nuclear power plants here in California and across the country.

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Blog Post | Consumer Protection

Testimony On Bank Interchange Fee Ripoff | Pedro Morillas

Read my testimony to the California State Legislature on the bank Interchange Fee ripoff below.

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Tools & Resources

  • YOUR TAX DOLLARS BECOME TWINKIES
    Billions of taxpayer dollars have subsidized the ingredients in junk food. We're calling on Congress to end agribusinesses handouts.
    Learn more
    Take Action
  • STOP TAX DODGERS
    Corporate tax avoidance cost taxpayers $100 billion last year. We're working to close the loopholes that allow companies to avoid paying the taxes they owe.
    Learn more
    Take Action
  • BEAT HIGH BANK FEES
    Consumers don't have to settle for bank fees. See our tips on how to find low fee and low cost options.
    Learn more
    Get Tips
  • DANGEROUS TOYS ON STORE SHELVES?
    Find out what to watch out for — from toxic chemicals to choking hazards — in our “Trouble In Toyland” report.
    Learn more
    Get report

PRIORITY ACTION

Every year, our tax dollars pay for enough corn syrup and other junk food additives to buy 2.8 million Twinkies. It's time to stop subsidizing obesity.

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