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News Release | Arizona PIRG Education Fund | Budget

Transparency Shortcomings of Arizona Commerce Authority Cited in New Report

A new report released by the Arizona PIRG Education Fund, Shining a Light on the Arizona Commerce Authority, examines how transparent the Arizona Commerce Authority has been with the grant and tax credit programs it oversees.

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Report | Arizona PIRG Education Fund | Budget

Shining a Light on the Arizona Commerce Authority

Arizonans deserve to know how their taxpayer dollars are spent – including when their tax dollars are given as subsidies to corporations. However, more than a year after the creation of the Arizona Commerce Authority – the new state entity responsible for distributing the state’s economic development subsidies – the Commerce Authority discloses information online for only a portion of its economic development funds.

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News Release | Arizona PIRG Education Fund | Health Care

As Arizona Dept. of Insurance Holds Health Insurance Rate Review Public Meetings, Groups Call for Increased Transparency and Consumer Involvement

This week, as the Arizona Department of Insurance holds public meetings on their proposed health insurance rate review rulemaking in Tucson, Phoenix and Flagstaff, public health and consumer groups will testify to the need for increased transparency and consumer involvement in the rate review process.

 

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News Release | Arizona PIRG | Higher Ed

U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis Speaks with University and Community College Students in Arizona about Student Loans

As Congress debates whether or not to hike interest rates on student loans, U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis held a roundtable conversation at ASU’s Downtown Phoenix campus on higher education and workforce readiness with students attending universities and community colleges in the Tucson, Phoenix and Flagstaff areas.  

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News Release | Arizona PIRG | Higher Ed

Arizona PIRG and ASA Urge Members of Arizona's Congressional Delegation to Not Double the Student Loan Interest Rate

While Congress debates whether or not to hike interest rates on student loans, students, labor, business and other leaders have pointed to the need to provide affordable opportunities to attend college. The Arizona Public Interest Research Group (Arizona PIRG) and the Arizona Students’ Association (ASA) are urging members of Arizona’s Congressional delegation to not double the student loan interest rate. The following fact sheets speak to the situation in Arizona and across the country.

 

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News Release | Arizona PIRG Education Fund | Budget

Transparency Shortcomings of Arizona Commerce Authority Cited in New Report

A new report released by the Arizona PIRG Education Fund, Shining a Light on the Arizona Commerce Authority, examines how transparent the Arizona Commerce Authority has been with the grant and tax credit programs it oversees.

> Keep Reading
News Release | Arizona PIRG Education Fund | Health Care

As Arizona Dept. of Insurance Holds Health Insurance Rate Review Public Meetings, Groups Call for Increased Transparency and Consumer Involvement

This week, as the Arizona Department of Insurance holds public meetings on their proposed health insurance rate review rulemaking in Tucson, Phoenix and Flagstaff, public health and consumer groups will testify to the need for increased transparency and consumer involvement in the rate review process.

 

> Keep Reading
News Release | Arizona PIRG | Higher Ed

U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis Speaks with University and Community College Students in Arizona about Student Loans

As Congress debates whether or not to hike interest rates on student loans, U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis held a roundtable conversation at ASU’s Downtown Phoenix campus on higher education and workforce readiness with students attending universities and community colleges in the Tucson, Phoenix and Flagstaff areas.  

> Keep Reading
News Release | Arizona PIRG | Higher Ed

Arizona PIRG and ASA Urge Members of Arizona's Congressional Delegation to Not Double the Student Loan Interest Rate

While Congress debates whether or not to hike interest rates on student loans, students, labor, business and other leaders have pointed to the need to provide affordable opportunities to attend college. The Arizona Public Interest Research Group (Arizona PIRG) and the Arizona Students’ Association (ASA) are urging members of Arizona’s Congressional delegation to not double the student loan interest rate. The following fact sheets speak to the situation in Arizona and across the country.

 

> Keep Reading
News Release | Arizona PIRG Education Fund | Transportation

Phoenix-Tucson Rail Creates Jobs, Save Millions

A new report released today by the Arizona PIRG Education Fund highlighted the benefits of connecting Phoenix and Tucson with passenger rail. The report, Connecting Phoenix and Tucson: The Benefits of Intercity Rail in the Sun Corridor, estimates that the economic benefits of intercity rail include: expanding labor market access for businesses, creating at least 30,000 job-years of employment, boosting local economies, and ensuring that the Phoenix-Tucson area remains attractive to young people, who increasingly prefer alternatives to driving.

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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 | Consumer Protection

Keeping Our Families Safe From Dangerous Products

Those who violate product safety laws will face stiff fines and penalties, and hazardous products will be removed from store shelves more quickly, under a landmark law championed by Arizona PIRG.

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Result | Consumer Protection

Saving Money By Saving Energy

Consumers and businesses in Arizona will save an estimated $680 million on their energy bills after Arizona PIRG-backed legislation that sets minimum energy-efficiency standards on 12 appliances was signed into law. This legislation will also help reduce water consumption by more than 15 billion gallons.

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Report | Arizona PIRG Education Fund | Budget

Shining a Light on the Arizona Commerce Authority

Arizonans deserve to know how their taxpayer dollars are spent – including when their tax dollars are given as subsidies to corporations. However, more than a year after the creation of the Arizona Commerce Authority – the new state entity responsible for distributing the state’s economic development subsidies – the Commerce Authority discloses information online for only a portion of its economic development funds.

> Keep Reading
Report | Arizona PIRG Education Fund | Transportation

Connecting Phoenix and Tucson

Over the past few decades, explosive population growth in Phoenix and Tucson has led the two cities to grow increasingly interconnected, socially and economically. It has also resulted in increasing traffic congestion problems, particularly on Interstate 10, which connects the two cities. With this growth expected to continue in years to come, Arizonans face a pressing need for improved transportation options. Passenger rail between Phoenix and Tucson can help meet the future transportation needs of the Sun Corridor.

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Report | Arizona PIRG Education Fund | Health Care

Getting All the Cards on the Table

States do have options to increase transparency so consumers have better information and are better protected against unreasonable rate increases. One important opportunity is through a process called rate review, which can potentially empower consumers by requiring insurers to make information on why rates are increasing publically available.

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Report | Arizona PIRG | Tax

Picking up the Tab

Some U.S.-based multinational firms or individuals avoid paying U.S. taxes by transferring their earnings to tax haven countries with minimal or no taxes. These tax haven users benefit from their access to America’s markets, workforce, infrastructure and security; but they pay little or nothing for it—violating the basic fairness of the tax system and forcing other taxpayers to pick up the tab.

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Report | Arizona PIRG Education Fund | Transportation

Transportation & the New Generation

From World War II until just a few years ago, the number of miles driven annually on America’s roads steadily increased. Then, at the turn of the century, something changed: Americans began driving less. By 2011, the average American was driving 6 percent fewer miles per year than in 2004. The trend away from driving has been led by young people.

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Blog Post | Higher Ed

The New Student Battle Cry: Don't Double My Rate! | Serena Unrein

The media and the country are just waking up to the alarming fact that unless Congress acts by July 1, the interest rate on subsidized Stafford student loans will double from 3.4 percent to 6.8 percent. Congress must not let that happen.

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Blog Post | Financial Reform

CFPB announces major investigation of bank overdraft fee practices | Diane E. Brown

Today, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau will announce overdraft fee investigation, unveil "penalty box" disclosure, and possibly end $39 lattes.

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Blog Post | Consumer Protection

Arizona's Next 100 Years | Diane E. Brown

As we celebrate Arizona’s centennial today, I am reminded how lucky I am to live in a state with an independent nature and breathtaking natural beauty. But I also wonder about Arizona’s next 100 years.

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Blog Post | Transportation

US House Transportation Bill for the 19th Century, not the 21st Century | Serena Unrein

With much fanfare and 854 days late, the U.S. House last week introduced bills to fund our nation's transportation system for the next five years. The new rules for spending $260 billion over five years would be tilted more toward highways with less going to buses, rail, biking and pedestrian trails.

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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.
    Learn more
    Join The Campaign
  • WHY DO YOU WANT TRANSIT?
    Why do you want to see passenger rail between Phoenix and Tucson? Tell us your reasons and we'll be sure our leaders get your message.
    Learn more
    Why Rail?
  • 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
    Sign the petition
  • HOW WELL ARE OUR TAXES BEING SPENT?
    Our report shows that Arizona improved from an “F” to an “A-“ on government spending transparency in the last two years.
    Learn more
    Get the report

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