High-Speed Rail Coming To California
In 2008, voters approved a measure to fund a high-speed rail line capable of traveling from L.A. to the Bay Area in less than three hours. CALPIRG led the charge for the measure, working to keep it on the ballot and running a statewide campaign to ensure its passage.

Keeping Our Families Safe From Dangerous Products
Those who violate product safety laws will face stiff fines and penalties, and hazardous products will be removed from store shelves more quickly, under a landmark law championed by CALPIRG in 2008. Our members and staff helped overcome the last-minute opposition of chemical manufacturers.

Reining In Runaway Health Care Costs
CALPIRG works to cut waste in the health care system in order to bring down the cost of care. In 2008, CALPIRG helped close the “gotcha billing” loophole, under which patients could be tricked into paying an inflated bill even when they were covered by insurance.

Advancing 21st Century Transportation
Clean, efficient public transportation will expand in California and across the country, thanks to a CALPIRG-backed law passed by Congress in 2008. The law authorizes $13 billion for expanding public transportation, including passenger rail and high-speed rail.   

Fueling The Young Voter Surge
In the 2008 presidential election, 3.4 million more 18- to 29-year-olds voted than in 2004, resulting in the largest number of young voters on record. The Student PIRGs’ New Voters Project did its part by deploying 80 organizers to more than 100 campuses, in California and 21 other states, to help turn out the vote.

Holding Elected Officials To Higher Ethical Standards
A new, independent office will police ethical scandals in Congress under a plan endorsed by CALPIRG. Our staff helped make the case for the new Office of Congressional Ethics through a report showing that California and 22 other states have independent panels to enforce ethics.

Reforming Abusive Mortgage Lending
In 2008, CALPIRG stood up to the big banks and other lenders to reform the  lending practices that helped fuel the mortgage meltdown. We pushed for strong measures in the state Legislature, and backed federal action to crack down on abusive lending.  

Closing Contractor Loopholes
When private contractors, including Halliburton spin-off Kellogg Brown and Root (KBR), tried to avoid paying taxes by setting up foreign subsidiaries, CALPIRG fought for a new law to close that loophole and another law requiring contractors to pay back taxes before being awarded new contracts.