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News Release | OSPIRG | Democracy, Tax

Companies Paid More to Lobby Congress than they did in 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 – OSPIRG and Citizens for Tax Justice reveal 30 corporations that spent more to lobby Congress than they did in taxes.

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Report | OSPIRG Foundation | Democracy, Tax

Representation without Taxation

Two years ago, the Supreme Court’s Citizens United vs. Federal Election Commission decision opened the floodgates to corporate influence in our political system by allowing corporations to pour money from their treasuries into the campaign coffers of political candidates. This report examines one area of policymaking where corporate money already had an enormous impact even before that decision: tax law. 

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Blog Post | Transportation

Something's Happening Here; What it Is Is Increasingly Clear | David Rosenfeld

Another incisive post from Tony Dutzik of the Frontier Group on why declining driving numbers are real, despite what some transit opponents claim.

 

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Blog Post | Health Care

Oregon Healthcare Exchange Holds Promise for Consumers | Matt Orchant

Consumers and small businesses may get better healthcare for lower costs if the Oregon Healthcare Exchange meets its potential.

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Blog Post | Consumer Protection

Consumer Watch - Free Tax Prep at Walmart? | Brian Rae

HR Block has teamed up with Wal Mart to offer in store free tax prep, however it is “free” for clients that filed a 1040 EZ, just 16% of their clients. This does not include taxpayers with kids, any requesting the earned income tax credit or any non standard deductions. 

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News Release | OSPIRG | Democracy, Tax

Companies Paid More to Lobby Congress than they did in 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 – OSPIRG and Citizens for Tax Justice reveal 30 corporations that spent more to lobby Congress than they did in taxes.

> Keep Reading
News Release | OSPIRG Foundation | Health Care

Public Comments Due on Regence Rate Hike

Oregonians impacted by Regence’s small business rate increase proposal have until the end of the day Tuesday, January 10th to submit public comments to the Oregon Insurance Division. 

 

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News Release | OSPIRG Foundation | Health Care

15%+ Regence Rate Hikes for Some Small Businesses

If Regence BlueCross BlueShield’s proposal is approved, small businesses will see rates rise 8.0% on average, with some jumping more than 15% in the next year, according to a new analysis by OSPIRG Foundation’s Health Insurance Rate Watch project.

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Media Hit | Consumer Protection

Data breaches in 2011 carry unknown personal costs

In 2011, news about the loss of personal data became background noise. Unless it happened to you.

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Media Hit | Food

Should Government Subsidize Crops Used in Junk Food?

As the obesity epidemic continues, consumer advocates at PIRG are asking whether Washington should subsidize crops used to make junk food.

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Result | Budget, Tax

MAKING GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABLE TO THE PUBLIC

This year, the Oregon Legislature passed a groundbreaking new law in 2011 that will allow the public to see exactly which companies are receiving tax subsidies and what taxpayers get in return.

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Result | Transportation

FUNDING FASTER TRAINS FOR OREGON

OSPIRG Executive Director Dave Rosenfeld recently joined the statewide Rail Funding Task Force. This group, which also includes business leaders from across the state, will recommend the best way to fund Oregon’s rail system.

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Result | Health Care

MAKING HEALTH CARE AFFORDABLE

OSPIRG Health Care Advocate Laura Etherton helped lead efforts to require Oregon health insurers to meet tougher standards to prove premium increases are reasonable. Prompted in part by OSPIRG advocacy, Oregon officials scaled back a request by United Healthcare to raise health insurance rates by nearly 17%, saving 14,000 Oregonians a cumulative $4 million in 2011.

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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 | Health Care

Young People Now Covered

This year, the federal health care reforms that OSPIRG worked to win have started to pay off for young people. In the past, teens saw their premiums soar or were denied coverage when they turned 19, even if they’d been insured their whole lives. Now, they can remain on their parents’ plans until age 26. 

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Report | OSPIRG Foundation | Democracy, Tax

Representation without Taxation

Two years ago, the Supreme Court’s Citizens United vs. Federal Election Commission decision opened the floodgates to corporate influence in our political system by allowing corporations to pour money from their treasuries into the campaign coffers of political candidates. This report examines one area of policymaking where corporate money already had an enormous impact even before that decision: tax law. 

> Keep Reading
Report | OSPIRG Foundation | Health Care

Comments on Regence Small Business Rate Hike Proposal

We are concerned that Regence BlueCross BlueShield (Regence) has not adequately justified its proposal for a rate increase impacting 47,806 Oregonians with coverage through a small business employer.

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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 | Consumer Protection

Big Banks, Bigger Fees

Since Congress largely deregulated consumer deposit (checking and savings) accounts beginning in the early 1980s, the PIRGs have tracked bank deposit account fee changes and documented the banks’ long-term strategy to raise fees, invent new fees and make it harder to avoid fees. 

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Report | Food

Apples to Twinkies

America is facing an obesity epidemic – one that’s hitting children especially hard. Childhood obesity rates have tripled over the last three decades, with one in five kids aged 6 to 11 now obese.

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Blog Post | Transportation

Something's Happening Here; What it Is Is Increasingly Clear | David Rosenfeld

Another incisive post from Tony Dutzik of the Frontier Group on why declining driving numbers are real, despite what some transit opponents claim.

 

> Keep Reading
Blog Post | Health Care

Oregon Healthcare Exchange Holds Promise for Consumers | Matt Orchant

Consumers and small businesses may get better healthcare for lower costs if the Oregon Healthcare Exchange meets its potential.

> Keep Reading
Blog Post | Consumer Protection

Consumer Watch - Free Tax Prep at Walmart? | Brian Rae

HR Block has teamed up with Wal Mart to offer in store free tax prep, however it is “free” for clients that filed a 1040 EZ, just 16% of their clients. This does not include taxpayers with kids, any requesting the earned income tax credit or any non standard deductions. 

> Keep Reading
Blog Post | Health Care

Regence Rate Increase Hearing | Matt Orchant

Health insurance premiums are going up again. The latest request for a rate hike came from Regence for their small group plans. The average increase requested over the next year will be 8%, but some businesses will see increases in excess of 15%. At OSPIRG, we’re concerned that Regence has not adequately justified this increase request.

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Blog Post | Consumer Protection

President’s Recess Appointment Gives Watchdog Teeth It Needs To Protect ConsumersBrian RaeEd Mierzwinski

Kudos to President Obama for standing up for consumers this week by making a recess appointment of former Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray to head the new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.  The President’s action means that the CFPB now has all its powers to protect the public from unfair financial practices, whether by banks or other financial firms, such as payday lenders and credit bureaus.

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Tools & Resources

  • 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.
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  • 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.
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  • 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.
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  • Have Questions? OSPIRG Has Answers.
    How do I avoid bank fees? What are my rights as a renter? If you have a question on a consumer issue, ask OSPIRG. We'll email you back.
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