Home

What's New

News Release | MASSPIRG | Financial Reform

Victory for the American Public, first step to making Big banks accountable

 

Banks will make $25 billion downpayement on penalties owed to the American people in a robo-signing lawsuit settelement, and they can still be held accountable for other violations. MASSPIRG Attorney comments on this victory for the American public.

 

> Keep Reading
News Release | MASSPIRG Education Fund | Democracy

Report Begins to Uncover the Impact of Super PACs on Our Democracy

A new analysis released today of the funding sources for the campaign finance behemoths, Super PACs, confirms what many have predicted in the wake of the Supreme Court’s damaging Citizens United decision: since their inception in 2010, Super PACs have been primarily funded by a small segment of very wealthy individuals and business interests, with a small but significant amount of funds coming from secret sources.

> Keep Reading
Report | MASSPIRG Education Fund and Dēmos | Democracy

Auctioning Democracy

The presidential race had barely gotten off the ground when it became clear that 2012 would be the year of the Super PAC. The millions of dollars raised and spent by these strange and powerful court-created entities have created a kind of parallel campaign, this reports begins to investigates its effects on our democracy.

> Keep Reading
Report | MASSPIRG | Safe Energy

Too Close to Home

Airborne contamination in the wake of a nuclear accident is not the only threat nuclear power poses to water supplies. In the United States, 49 million Americans receive their drinking water from surface sources located within 50 miles of an active nuclear power plant. Leakage of radioactive material into groundwater is a common occurrence at U.S. nuclear power plants, even if the amount of radioactivity released is tiny compared to that released at Fukushima.

> Keep Reading
News Release | MASSPIRG | Safe Energy

Nuclear Power Plants Threaten Drinking Water for 4 Million Bay Staters

The drinking water for 4.8 million people in Massachusetts could be at risk of radioactive contamination from a leak or accident at nuclear power plants in the region, says a new report released today by the MASSPIRG Education Fund and Environment Massachusetts Research and Policy Center.

> Keep Reading

Pages

News Release | MASSPIRG | Financial Reform

Victory for the American Public, first step to making Big banks accountable

 

Banks will make $25 billion downpayement on penalties owed to the American people in a robo-signing lawsuit settelement, and they can still be held accountable for other violations. MASSPIRG Attorney comments on this victory for the American public.

 

> Keep Reading
News Release | MASSPIRG Education Fund | Democracy

Report Begins to Uncover the Impact of Super PACs on Our Democracy

A new analysis released today of the funding sources for the campaign finance behemoths, Super PACs, confirms what many have predicted in the wake of the Supreme Court’s damaging Citizens United decision: since their inception in 2010, Super PACs have been primarily funded by a small segment of very wealthy individuals and business interests, with a small but significant amount of funds coming from secret sources.

> Keep Reading
News Release | MASSPIRG | Safe Energy

Nuclear Power Plants Threaten Drinking Water for 4 Million Bay Staters

The drinking water for 4.8 million people in Massachusetts could be at risk of radioactive contamination from a leak or accident at nuclear power plants in the region, says a new report released today by the MASSPIRG Education Fund and Environment Massachusetts Research and Policy Center.

> Keep Reading
News Release | MASSPIRG | Budget, Tax

Tax Havens Used by Romney and Large Corporations Cost Taxpayers Billions

Statement of MASSPIRG Legislative Director, Deirdre Cummings

> Keep Reading
News Release | MASSPIRG | Tax

Thirty Fortune 500 Companies Paid More to Lobby Congress than they Did in Federal Income 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 – MASSPIRG and Citizens for Tax Justice reveal 30 corporations that spent more to lobby Congress than they did in taxes.

> Keep Reading

Pages

Result | Transportation

Expanding Public Transportation

Fewer cars will clog Boston’s highways thanks to an upcoming five-mile extension of the Green Line. Our research and advocacy helped build support for the project. We also helped convince state leaders to begin study on four additional major rail expansions.

> Keep Reading
Result | Health Care

Ending Big Pharma’s Giveaways To Doctors

Drugmakers can no longer shower doctors with free gifts, meals and trips to boost the sales of prescription drugs. That’s because we persuaded Beacon Hill leaders to crack down on Pharma’s “direct-to-doctor” marketing practices, which contribute to the spiraling cost of prescriptions.

> Keep Reading
Result | Consumer Protection

Keeping Dangerous Toys Off Store Shelves

Toxic chemicals, including lead and hormone-disrupting phthalates, are now banned in toys, thanks to a law we worked alongside our delegation to help pass in Congress. The same law requires regulators to test toys and infant products for safety before they hit store shelves.

> Keep Reading
Result | Budget, Consumer Protection, Democracy, Financial Reform, Food, Health Care, Higher Ed, Safe Energy, Solid Waste, Tax, Transportation

2009-2010 Legislative Scorecard

MASSPIRG is the state’s leading advocate for the public interest. Each legislative session, we push for passage of a range of public interest bills and work to defeat measures that will harm consumers. This report indicates how senators and representatives stand on some important public interest bills. Unfortunately, the legislature only votes on a fraction of bills filed every session, and many important issues are left languishing.

 

> Keep Reading
Result | Financial Reform

Reining in Wall Street

On July 21, 2010, Congress enacted the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act.  Senator Scott Brown voted in favor of reform after MASSPIRG presented him with a new ride to replace his iconic, old pick up truck.  A BMW is more befitting of a man with close ties to Wall Street. Massachusetts Senator Scott Brown voted for Financial Reform.

> Keep Reading

Pages

Report | MASSPIRG Education Fund and Dēmos | Democracy

Auctioning Democracy

The presidential race had barely gotten off the ground when it became clear that 2012 would be the year of the Super PAC. The millions of dollars raised and spent by these strange and powerful court-created entities have created a kind of parallel campaign, this reports begins to investigates its effects on our democracy.

> Keep Reading
Report | MASSPIRG | Safe Energy

Too Close to Home

Airborne contamination in the wake of a nuclear accident is not the only threat nuclear power poses to water supplies. In the United States, 49 million Americans receive their drinking water from surface sources located within 50 miles of an active nuclear power plant. Leakage of radioactive material into groundwater is a common occurrence at U.S. nuclear power plants, even if the amount of radioactivity released is tiny compared to that released at Fukushima.

> Keep Reading
Report | Budget, Tax

Representation Without Taxation

Fortune 500 Companies that Spend Big on Lobbying and Avoid Taxes

> Keep Reading
Report | Container Recycling Institute (CRI) | Consumer Protection, Solid Waste

Returning to Work

This study provides an intensely detailed, scenario-specific assessment of the jobs to be gained from increased recycling of what is arguably the most common, most prolific and most sought-after of all household recyclables—beverage containers.

> Keep Reading
Report | Good Jobs First | Budget, Tax

Money for Something

States are spending billions of dollars per year on corporate tax credits, cash grants and other economic development subsidies that often require little if any job creation and lack wage and benefit standards covering workers at subsidized companies. These are the key findings of Money for Something: Job Creation and Job Quality Standards in State Economic Development Subsidy Programs, a 51-state “report card” study published today by Good Jobs First, a non-profit, non-partisan research center based in Washington, DC

> Keep Reading

Pages

Blog Post | Transportation

Testimony in Support of Transportation Revenue | Elizabeth Weyant

While MBTA recently experienced its highest public transportation ridership levels, our transportation system is splitting at the seams. Sustained high public transportation ridership would result in cleaner air, less dependence on oil, and less congestion on our roadways.  But without a significant investment in our transportation system, none of these benefits can be realized.

> Keep Reading
Blog Post | Consumer Protection

Testimony in Opposition to bills which would weaken or repeal the Food Store Item Pricing Law | Deirdre Cummings

The food store item pricing law requires supermarkets to put price stickers on most items in supermarkets.  It is a long-standing, efficacious, and overwhelmingly popular consumer protection.  While MASSPIRG does not categorically oppose the adoption of new pricing technology, we do oppose legislation that would allow stores to substitute a pricing mechanism that offers less consumer benefit than what we have today. In considering any change to our current retail pricing system, it must first provide equal or better benefits to the consumer to be considered as a substitute. The eight proposals before you today do not provide equal or improved consumer benefits.

> Keep Reading
Blog Post | Safe Energy

TESTIMONY In support of An Act Relative to Expanding Energy Efficiency in the Commonwealth | Janet Domenitz

As a statewide, member supported, nonpartisan consumer advocacy organization, our agenda is to promote public health, consumer protection, and citizens’ voices in a process often dominated by powerful special interests. This bill, which would expand energy efficiency standards in the Commonwealth, is exactly the kind of solution we need to our energy problems.

> Keep Reading
Blog Post | Budget

Testomony is support of Transparency in State Revenues and Expenditures | Deirdre Cummings

The Commonwealth should become a leader in budget transparency. Doing so will help rebuild the frayed public trust in government. It will help us make better choices together about investments in our community.

> Keep Reading
Blog Post | Consumer Protection

TESTIMONY On Automobile Reinsurers Rules | Deirdre Cummings

 Stephen D'Amato testifies in the Hearing on Emergency Commonwealth Automobile Reinsurers Rules

> Keep Reading

Pages

Tools & Resources

  • HELP US UPDATE THE BOTTLE BILL
    We need your help to convince state lawmakers to do the right thing, and finally update our most effective recycling program.
    Learn more
    Take Action
  • TELL THE MBTA TO KEEP MASS ON TRACK
    With proposed service cuts and fare hikes, we need to fight for robust, fully-funded public transportation options for all Bay Staters.
    Learn more
    Take Action
  • BEAT HIGH BANK FEES
    Consumers can change the way big banks do business, and fortunately, you can still find many low fee and low cost options.
    Learn more
    GET TIPS
  • Our Unsafe Nuclear Power Plants
    Our report, “Unacceptable Risk,” examines two decades worth of “close calls,” leaks and other problems at our country’s 104 nuclear reactors.
    Learn more
    Get the report

Priority Action

We need your help to convince state lawmakers finally update the Bottle Bill, the commonwealth's most effective recycling program.

Take Action

Consumer Alerts

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

Support Us

Your donation supports MASSPIRG's work to stand up for consumers on the issues that matter, especially when powerful interests are blocking progress.

Donate Today