July Edition 

Public Interest News Peg:  A summary of public interest news and events from U.S. PIRG, the federation of state PIRGs & affiliated organizations

For Immediate Release:  7/18/07

For More Information:  www.uspirg.org/news

For trends in the states and other state issues:  

Kimberly Larson, 206-357-1788, statenews@pirg.org

For federal issues:  Liz Hitchcock, (202) 546-9707, federalnews@pirg.org

For public interest issue experts and state spokespeople, visit and bookmark this page:  www.pirg.org/media/expertfinder.html

**DRUG SAFETY/HEALTH CARE

California Moves Forward on Drug Safety Legislation--

As Congress Stalls, Action Shows States Willing to Protect Consumers

California doctors and patients are one step closer to getting information on side effects of medicine.  This month, the California Senate passed the Pharmaceutical Drug Information and Safety Act, SB 606 (Scott). The bill would require pharmaceutical companies to disclose the results of the clinical studies so that doctors and patients have additional information on the side effects and effectiveness of drugs.

In the Vioxx case, Merck uncovered information in a clinical study showing an increased risk of heart attacks and strokes but was not required to make that information public. Meanwhile, the company continued to tout its drug, even going so far as to put out a news release with the headline, “Merck Confirms Favorable Cardiovascular Safety Profile of Vioxx.”

With Avandia, the information about heart attacks was made public because a researcher had access to additional information thanks to the terms of a settlement over Paxil, GlaxoSmithKline’s antidepressant that has been linked to increased suicidal behavior in teens and kids.

In addition to CALPIRG, the sponsor, supporters of the measure are the California Academy of Family Physicians, California Board of Pharmacy (a board within the California Department of Consumer Affairs), Consumers Union, California Labor Federation (AFL-CIO), Health Access, Congress of California Seniors, the California Association of Retired Americans, AIDS Health Care Foundation, Consumer Federation of California and others.

The bill moves to the Assembly next, where it will be taken up by the Assembly Health Committee.

Contact: Steven Blackledge, CALPIRG State Director, 916-448-4516 x108, sblackledge@calpirg.org, www.calpirg.org.

**GLOBAL WARMING

Governor Crist Moves to Reduce Global Warming Emissions; New Study Shows How Florida is Feeling The Heat

Less than one week after Governor Crist signed a series of executive orders aimed at dramatically reducing Florida’s global warming pollution, Environment Florida will release its new analysis of government climate data, “Feeling the Heat: Global Warming and Rising Temperatures in the U.S.” on Tuesday, July 24th.  The report finds that the warmer-than-normal weather of 2006 is indicative of the challenges Florida faces with continued global warming, including increased drought and wildfire, stress on already-scarce water resources, and more frequent and intense tropical storms.  So far this year, Florida has experienced one of the worst wildfire seasons in memory, and many cities and counties are under water use restrictions due to historically low water levels.  Environment Florida will call on Florida’s Congressional delegation to follow Governor Crist’s lead by supporting the Safe Climate Act, a bill to reduce global warming pollution 80% below 1990 levels by 2050. 

Contact:  Holly Binns, Environment Florida Field Director, Holly@EnvironmentFlorida.org, 850-224-5944, www.EnvironmentFlorida.org.

**WATER POLLUTION

Eastern States Taking Bold Steps to Protect Waters from Runoff Pollution

Last week, Environment Rhode Island declared victory as the Ocean State joined a growing set of east coast states that are taking decisive steps to prevent runoff pollution caused by new development.  New Jersey, Maryland, and North Carolina have also taken action on runoff pollution this year. 

On undeveloped land, rainwater typically percolates down through the soil. But new buildings, roadways, and parking lots often block rainwater’s natural route.  These impervious surfaces then serve as swift conduits for stormwater to sweep up bacteria, heavy metals, and other pollutants and flow into nearby rivers, streams, and coastal waters.  

For example, the Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United States.  More than 150 major rivers and streams flow within its watershed.  And with its famous oysters and crabs, the Bay has always been the centerpiece of Maryland’s natural heritage.  This spring Environment Maryland was able to persuade state lawmakers that the time had come to curb runoff pollution—the first time a legislature has required developers to meet high standards in curbing runoff.   On April 24th, Governor O’Malley signed a law that will require developers to prevent polluted stormwater from running off their properties.  Last week in Rhode Island, Governor Carcieri followed suit – signing a similarly-crafted Smart Development for a Clean (Narragansett) Bay Act.

Eastern states are also establishing buffer zones around rivers and streams - to filter polluted stormwater before it reaches the water’s edge.  In recent years, Environment New Jersey has pioneered a strategy under the state’s clean water laws – winning strongest-in-the-country 300 foot buffer zones for 45 waterways.   In North Carolina, state officials granted Environment North Carolina’s petition for similar buffer protections for the North Fork First Broad River in January. 

And the Tar Heel state might just set another precedent in controlling runoff this year as it considers how to clean up Jordan Lake.  Home to herons and eagles, Jordan Lake draws more than one million visitors every year – to fish, to swim, to sail.  But it is also polluted.  To clean it up, Environment North Carolina has urged state officials to not only prevent runoff from new development but also to push mitigation of runoff pollution from existing development.   In March, the Environmental Management Commission included those recommendations in its draft cleanup plan for Jordan Lake. 

Contact:  John Rumpler, Senior Environmental Attorney, (617) 747-4306, jrumpler@pirg.org.

 

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U.S. PIRG, the federation of State PIRGs (Public Interest Research Groups), is a network of state-based, non-partisan public interest advocacy organizations with a national advocacy office in Washington, D.C. We uncover threats to public health and well-being and fight to end them, using the time-tested tools of investigative research, media exposes, grassroots organizing, advocacy and litigation. U.S. PIRG’s mission is to deliver persistent, result-oriented activism that protects public health and the environment, encourages a fair, sustainable economy, and fosters responsive, democratic government. In many states, the PIRG's environmental work is housed in partner organizations: Environment Arizona, Environment California, Environment Colorado, Environment Florida, Environment Illinois, Environment Maine, Environment Maryland, Environment Michigan, Environment New Mexico, Environment North Carolina, PennEnvironment, Environment Oregon, Environment Rhode Island, Environment Texas and Environment Washington. For more information, see www.uspirg.org.