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OSPIRG Homepage December 2011

What's New

Blog Post | Consumer Protection

CFPB to possibly end $39 lattes | Ed Mierzwinski

Today, CFPB to announce overdraft fee investigation, unveil "penalty box" disclosure, possibly end $39 lattes.

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Report | OSPIRG Foundation | Budget, Tax

Revealing Tax Subsidies

Last year, Oregon took an important first step towards showing the public whether the hundreds of millions of tax dollars spent on corporate economic development tax subsidies are worth the money. House Bill 2825 went into effect at the close of 2011, requiring disclosure of twelve corporate tax subsidy programs estimated to cost taxpayers nearly $530 million in the 2011-2013 biennium.

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News Release | OSPIRG | Financial Reform

State, Federal Settlement of Robo-Signing Claims with Big Banks is Important First Step

Banks will make $25 billion down payment on penalties owed American people, but can still be held accountable for other violations.

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News Release | OSPIRG Foundation | Democracy

Most Super PAC Money is Funded by Less than 1% of the 1%

The vast majority of Super PACs are funded by less than 1% of the 1%, according to a new report entitled “Auctioning Democracy”, coauthored by OSPIRG Foundation and Demos.

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Report | OSPIRG Foundation | Democracy

Auctioning Democracy

The vast majority of Super PACs are funded by less than 1% of the 1%, according to a new report entitled “Auctioning Democracy.”

> Keep Reading

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News Release | OSPIRG | Financial Reform

State, Federal Settlement of Robo-Signing Claims with Big Banks is Important First Step

Banks will make $25 billion down payment on penalties owed American people, but can still be held accountable for other violations.

> Keep Reading
News Release | OSPIRG Foundation | Democracy

Most Super PAC Money is Funded by Less than 1% of the 1%

The vast majority of Super PACs are funded by less than 1% of the 1%, according to a new report entitled “Auctioning Democracy”, coauthored by OSPIRG Foundation and Demos.

> Keep Reading
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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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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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 U.S.D.A. 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 | Budget, Tax

Revealing Tax Subsidies

Last year, Oregon took an important first step towards showing the public whether the hundreds of millions of tax dollars spent on corporate economic development tax subsidies are worth the money. House Bill 2825 went into effect at the close of 2011, requiring disclosure of twelve corporate tax subsidy programs estimated to cost taxpayers nearly $530 million in the 2011-2013 biennium.

> Keep Reading
Report | OSPIRG Foundation | Democracy

Auctioning Democracy

The vast majority of Super PACs are funded by less than 1% of the 1%, according to a new report entitled “Auctioning Democracy.”

> Keep Reading
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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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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Blog Post | Consumer Protection

CFPB to possibly end $39 lattes | Ed Mierzwinski

Today, CFPB to announce overdraft fee investigation, unveil "penalty box" disclosure, possibly end $39 lattes.

> Keep Reading
Blog Post | Transportation

The Little Train that Could ... and Did | David Rosenfeld

Tony Dutzik from the Frontier Group's latest post about Maine's Downeaster train. Interesting similarities between Maine's situation and Oregon's.

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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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Tools & Resources

  • YOUR TAX DOLLARS BECOME TWINKIES
    Billions of taxpayer dollars have subsidized the ingredients in junk food. We're calling on Congress to end agribusinesses handouts.
    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
    JOIN THE CAMPAIGN
  • 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
  • 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.
    Ask now

PRIORITY ACTION

Take our quick survey to let us know who your health insurer is, and we'll make sure you're the first to know when they propose a rate hike — and give you a chance to speak up.
 

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