Home

What's New

Report | CALPIRG | Budget

Picking Up the Tab 2013

Academic studies conclude tax haven abuse costs the United States approximately $150 billion in tax revenues every year. Multinational corporations account for $90 billion and individuals the rest.  Even when tax haven abusers act perfectly legally, they force other Americans to shoulder their tax burden. Every dollar in taxes they avoid by using tax havens must be balanced by other Americans paying higher taxes, coping with cuts to government programs, or increasing the federal debt. 

 

> Keep Reading
News Release | CALPIRG | Democracy

Rally Outside City Hall Calls for Constitutional Amendment

Los Angeles, CA- Angelinos gathered outside City Hall today in support of Proposition C, a ballot measure that would instruct Congress to overturn the Supreme Court’s 2010 Citizens United decision. 

> Keep Reading
News Release | CALPIRG Education Fund | Budget

New Report: California Receives an “F” in Annual Report on Transparency of Government Spending

California received an “F” when it comes to government spending transparency, according to “Following the Money 2013: How the States Rank on Providing Online Access to Government Spending Data,” the fourth annual report of its kind by the CALPIRG Education Fund.  

> Keep Reading
Report | CALPIRG Education Fund | Budget

Following the Money 2013

Every year, state governments spend tens of billions of dollars through contracts with private entities for goods and services, subsidies to encourage economic development, grants, and other forms of spending. Accountability and public scrutiny are necessary to ensure that state funds are well spent. In comparison to the other 49 states, California is failing to provide taxpayers with transparency in government spending. 

> Keep Reading
Blog Post | Public Health, Health Care

Supreme Court hears arguments on ‘Pay for Delay’ Case | Wesley Samms

Big Pharma’s anti-competitive practice costs consumers $3.5 billion a year. The 1984 Hatch-Waxman Act was originally intended to increase the availability of generic drugs by allowing generic manufacturers to challenge the patents of name-brand drugs. What emerged in the aftermath was a practice where patent-holding pharmaceutical companies simply paid generic manufacturers not to challenge their patents, thus delaying the release of generic drugs for years. 

> Keep Reading

Pages

News Release | CALPIRG Education Fund | Consumer Protection

New FTC Report Highlights Top 10 Consumer Complaints for 2012.

California sees big increase in fraud and identity theft complaints.

> Keep Reading
Media Hit | Budget

The Conversation: Tax havens let billions vanish into thin air

Pulitzer Prize wining author David Cay Johnston uses our report for the theme in his op-ed, explaining how ordinary taxpayers bear the cost of tax havens and loopholes "through higher state taxes, fewer services or the state taking on more debt to fund current operations".
Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2013/02/17/5194645/tax-havens-let-billions-vanish....

> Keep Reading
News Release | CALPIRG Education Fund | Health Care

Anthem hikes rates 22%

Anthem Blue Cross is moving forward with a new rate hike on California consumers which will leave hundreds of thousands of individuals paying an average 22 percent more for insurance this year. Anthem had proposed raising rates 26 percent, but trimmed the rate to 22 percent after the California Department of Insurance (CDI) found the original increase unreasonable.

> Keep Reading
Media Hit | Health Care

Letter to the Editor: Why healthcare costs so much

Wesley Samms' letter to the editor regarding the recent LA Times article: "Small surgery, huge markup," Business, Jan. 31

> Keep Reading
News Release | CALPIRG | Democracy

Los Angeles City Votes to Allow Citizens to Weigh-In on Citizens United

The Los Angeles City Council took the final step today with a 10-1 vote to put the Common Cause and CALPIRG supported measure on the ballot.

> Keep Reading

Pages

Report | CALPIRG | Financial Reform

No More Excuses from the Banks:

Too often homeowners—even those who pay their mortgage on time every month —encounter unnecessary obstacles such as paperwork, high fees and restrictive requirements when they try to refinance into today’s lower interest rates. This results in a needless drain on family income and a continuing drag on the housing market.

> Keep Reading
Report | CALPIRG Education Fund | Health Care

At Stake: What’s on the Line for Health Care Consumers in the Pending Supreme Court Case

The outcome of the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling on the Affordable Care Act (ACA) will have far reaching impacts on consumers. The law is already working to improve the quality of care and reduce costs, with millions of Americans experiencing concrete improvements in their coverage.

> Keep Reading
Report | CALPIRG Education Fund | Consumer Protection, Higher Ed

The Campus Debit Card Trap

Banks and other financial firms take advantage of partnerships with colleges and universities, harming students.

> Keep Reading
Report | CALPIRG Education Fund | Tax

Picking up the tab

Some U.S.-based multinational firms or individuals avoid paying U.S. taxes by transferring their earnings to tax haven countries with minimal or no taxes. These tax haven users benefit from their access to America’s markets, workforce, infrastructure and security; but they pay little or nothing for it—violating the basic fairness of the tax system and forcing other taxpayers to pick up the tab.

> Keep Reading
Report | CalPIRG Education Fund & Frontier Group | Budget, Transportation

Transportation and the New Generation

A new report released today by the CalPIRG Education Fund with Frontier Group demonstrates that Americans have been driving less since the middle of last decade.

> Keep Reading

Pages

Blog Post | Consumer Protection

These Are 10 of Many Reasons We Need the CFPB! | Jon Fox

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), turns one year old on July 21, 2012. Here is their Top 10.

> Keep Reading
Blog Post | Consumer Protection

FTC Offers Consumers Tips on Unwanted Robocalls | Jon Fox

FTC Offers Consumers Tips on How to Respond to Unwanted Robocalls + Helpful Video.

> Keep Reading
Blog Post | Health Care

We're not done yet: Next steps for CA health care | Pedro Morillas

The Supreme Court has upheld the national health care law, and this is really good news for consumers.

> Keep Reading
Blog Post | Consumer Protection

On the Internet, Everyone Knows If You're A Big Dog, Or Just A Dog | Ed Mierzwinski

A Wall Street Journal story today has everyone talking about how Internet sites use profiles and cookies to offer different customers different offers, or the same product for different prices. On the Internet today, everybody knows whether you're a big dog, or just a dog.

> Keep Reading
Blog Post | Financial Reform

What meaningful California foreclosure reform should look like | Pedro Morillas

The foreclosure reform conference committee is expected to come out with their report next week, likely after the budget votes are wrapped up. Here is what CALPIRGis hoping ends up in the policy. If the legislation contains these elements it will help struggling borrowers stay in their homes and help California's economy right itself. 

> Keep Reading

Pages

Tools & Resources

  • YOUR TAX DOLLARS BECOME CORN SYRUP
    At a time when one-in-three kids is overweight or obese, over a billion taxpayer dollars go to high-fructose corn syrup and junk food ingredients.
    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
  • FIGHTING UNJUSTIFIED PREMIUM HIKES
    It’s time for health insurers to get serious about lowering the cost of care instead of raising deductibles and hiking premiums.
    Learn More
  • Reclaim Democracy
    The Supreme Court's Citizens United decision ushered in an era of unprecedented spending by big money in our elections, but we're working to return our democracy back to the principle of "one person, one vote."
    Learn more
    ADD YOUR VOICE

You Can Help

We have a chance to cut billions in junk food subsidies this year. Your support will help us do the research, advocacy and grassroots organizing to convince our elected officials to act.

Donate Today

PRIORITY ACTION

Each year, our tax dollars pay for enough junk food additives to buy 8.5 two-liter bottles of soda for each person under 18. Help stop the subsidies for junk food.

Take Action

Consumer Alerts

Join our network and stay up to date on our campaigns, get important consumer updates and take action on critical issues.