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Report | PIRGIM Education Fund | Democracy

Auctioning Democracy

This report is a Dēmos and PIRGIM Education Fund analysis of Federal Election Commission data on Super PACs from their advent in 2010 through the end of 2011.

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News Release | PIRGIM | Tax

New Legislation Would Close Corporate Tax Loopholes, Save Taxpayers $155 Billion

“The CUT Loopholes Act, introduced by Senators Carl Levin and Kent Conrad, goes a long way in making sure corporations play by the same rules as ordinary taxpayers."

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News Release | U.S. PIRG | Transportation

House Transportation Bill is a Step Backwards, Lacks a Serious Funding Mechanism

“America needs serious transportation reform. While the recent Senate transportation bill failed to move the ball forward on needed transportation reform, today’s House bill takes big strides in the wrong direction."

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News Release | PIRGIM Education Fund | Safe Energy

Nuclear Power Plants Threaten Drinking Water for 1.5 Million Michiganders

The drinking water for over 1.5 million people in Michigan 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 Public Interest Research Group in Michigan Education Fund and the Environment Michigan Research and Policy Center. 

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Report | PIRGIM Education Fund | Safe Energy

Too Close to Home

The Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster, which took place in March 2011, delivered a reminder to the world that nuclear power comes with inherent risks. Among the risks demonstrated by the Fukushima crisis is the threat of water contamination—including contamination of drinking water supplies by radioactive material.

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News Release | PIRGIM Education Fund | Health Care

Health Care Repeal Would Have Costly Consequences for Michigan Consumers and Small Businesses

 Consumers and small businesses in Michigan will face significantly higher insurance premiums and could see costly coverage denials and price discrimination if efforts to repeal the federal health care law prevail in Congress or in the courts, according to The Cost of Repeal: Examining the Impact on Michigan of Repealing the New Federal Health Care Law, a new report released today by PIRGIM. 

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News Release | PIRGIM Education Fund | Consumer Protection

Parents Beware - Many Toys Still Toxic, Hazardous

Dangerous or toxic toys can still be found on America’s store shelves, the Public Interest Research Group in Michigan (PIRGIM) announced today in its 25th annual Trouble in Toyland report.

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Media Hit | Consumer Protection

Macomb Daily: Trouble in Toyland Persists

Baby’s first train by Haba looks like fun with its colorful wooden boxcars that can be easily latched together by thin pegs. However, the wooden pegs can be easily swallowed, too. The pieces are only one centimeter longer than the choke test cylinder used to determine if a hazard warning should be put on a toy package

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News Release | PIRGIM Education Fund | Health Care

New Rules to Deliver Options for 32,800 Young Adults in Michigan

A provision of the new federal health care law that goes into effect today will allow 32,800 young adults in Michigan to remain on their parent’s health insurance plan until age 26, according to the Public Interest Research Group in Michigan (PIRGIM).

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Media Hit | Financial Reform

C-SPAN: Financial Regulation and Consumers

Ed Mierzwinski, U.S. PIRG Consumer Program Director, talked about the effects of the new financial regulations bill on consumers.

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Report | PIRGIM Education Fund | Transportation

The Right Track

America’s highways and airports are increasingly congested. Our nation’s transportation system remains dependent on oil. And our existing transportation infrastructure is inadequate to the demands of the 21st century. Intercity passenger rail can help America address each of these challenges. 

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Report | PIRGIM Education Fund | Consumer Protection

Trouble in Toyland: The 24th Annual Survey of Toy Safety

The recall of 45 million toys and other children’s products in 2007 and continued recalls in 2008 reminded Americans that no government agency tests toys before they are put on the shelves.

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Report | PIRGIM | Transportation

Greasing the Wheels

In the wake of the Minnesota I-35 bridge collapse there was enormous public outcry and recognition of the need to repair our crumbling infrastructure. Americans expected public officials to respond to the tragedy with a large scale effort to address the nearly 73,000 structurally deficient bridges in this country. The findings in this report suggest that did not happen.

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Report | PIRGIM | Tax

Who Slows the Pace of Tax Reforms?

 U.S. PIRG conducted a simple investigation into some of the major corporations who have signed onto one or more of the PACE coalition's many letters to Congress, and looked at how they benefit from maintaining the status quo.

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Report | PIRGIM | Health Care

Michigan Small Businesses at Risk

America’s small businesses stand at the forefront of innovation.  Our entrepreneurs are the first to adopt new technologies and take new approaches in old industries.  As engines of job creation, small businesses are the leading edge that pushes our economy forward. They are also, unfortunately, on the front lines of the health care crisis.

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Tools & Resources

  • Let’s Update The Bottle Bill
    Every year we needlessly throw away enough bottles and cans to wrap around Lake Michigan 33 times. It’s time to Update the Bottle Bill.
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    Take Action
  • 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
  • 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
  • STOP TAX DODGERS
    Corporate tax avoidance cost Michiganders $2 billion last year. PIRGIM is working to close the loopholes that allow companies to avoid paying the taxes they owe.
    Learn more
    Take Action

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.

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Priority Action

Given public concern about obesity and federal spending, your support can help us finally beat Big Ag and end subsidies for junk food.

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Consumer Alerts

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