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Senate Set to Consider Student Aid Reform 3/12/2010

Student leaders and campus administrators today voiced their support for the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act, (SAFRA) and called for the Senate to take action to pass the student aid legislation promptly. The Bill would cut wasteful subsidies to banks to make college more affordable for hundreds of thousands of students.

March 9, 2010 Marks “Transportation Freedom Day” in Santa Monica 3/09/2010

New findings released by the California Public Interest Research Group (CALPIRG) show that a typical Santa Monica household shells out the equivalent of over two months of a typical annual salary to pay for transportation costs.

Consumer Group Says Leaked Draft Compromise Proposals from Sens. Dodd and Shelby on the Consumer Financial Protection Agency (CFPA) “Won’t Do the Job And Will Let Reckless Big Banks Win” 3/01/2010

Sacramento, CA – CALPIRG today said that several leaked draft proposals to make the proposed Consumer Financial Protection Agency (CFPA) subservient to other bank regulators that would have veto power over its decisions “won’t do the job and will let reckless Wall Street banks continue to run roughshod over consumers.”

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The Right Track: Building a 21st Century High-Speed Rail System for America. 2/09/2010

The new report analyzes the potential of high speed rail in nine different regions, including the California, and presents eleven public-interest recommendations for how to spend high speed rail investments in the future. According to data cited in the report, reduced air and car travel mean large pollution reductions and oil savings for the state. It is estimated that the network will reduce global warming pollution by up to 12 billion pounds of carbon dioxide a year by 2030, the equivalent of taking almost one million cars off the road, and improve air quality in all regions.

Testimony on Interchange Fee Ripoff 1/26/2010

In 2008 banks in the US collected $48 billion in interchange fees. Consumers and retailers are footing this bill, in theory, for some benefit, but the system is rigged to favor the banks.

What We Learned from the Stimulus. And how to use what we learned to speed job creation in the 2010 jobs bill 1/12/2010

Stimulus money invested in public transportation projects created twice as many jobs as highway projects, according to a new report released today. But if the Senate doesn’t make changes to Congress’ latest jobs bill this month, it will miss an opportunity to create more jobs, while reducing oil use and carbon emissions, by funding public transportation.

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Payday lenders may avoid U.S. oversight 3/11/2010

Consumer advocates hoped the lenders would be reined in by a new federal consumer financial protection agency, but a bipartisan proposal would largely exempt them from regulation.

Santa Monicans spend $8,000 each year on transportation 3/10/2010

At a bus stop in front of Santa Monica College, student participants from CALPIRG's local chapter on Tuesday released a nationwide survey that showed the average Santa Monica household dedicates 17 percent of their yearly expenses to transportation, which in 2008 was more than $8,000.

Insurance rate hikes fan political firestorm 3/02/2010

"Regulators need to be taking a hard look at what's behind these increases. Consumers need to know," said Michael Russo, a health care advocate and staff attorney for the California Public Interest Research Group. "When they say, 'Trust us. We're doing everything to keep premiums down,' it's really hard to take them at face value."

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For more information on CALPIRG news releases contact:

Emily Rusch
(415) 622-0039 x307

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