Public Interest Research Group
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This article needs additional citations for verification. (August 2008) |
| U.S. PIRG | |
|---|---|
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| Motto | Standing up to powerful interests |
| Formation | 1971 |
| Type | Advocacy organization |
| Website | uspirg.org |
In the United States, Public Interest Research Groups (PIRGs) are non-profit organizations that employ grassroots organizing, direct advocacy, investigative journalism, and litigation to affect public policy.[1]
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[edit] History
The PIRGs emerged in the early 1970s on U.S. college campuses. The PIRG model was proposed in the book Action for a Change by Ralph Nader and Donald Ross. Ross helped students across the country set up the first PIRG chapters, then became the director of the New York Public Interest Research Group (NYPIRG) in 1973.[2][3]
The Minnesota Public Interest Research Group (MPIRG) was the first state PIRG to incorporate, on February 17, 1971.[4] It was followed by Oregon (OSPIRG) and Massachusetts (MASSPIRG). Among other early accomplishments, the PIRGs were responsible for much of the Container Container Deposit Legislation in the United States, also known as "bottle bills."
There are now state PIRGs in nearly 30 states. Each state PIRG is a self-governing affiliate. In addition, the state organizations sponsor a national lobbying office in Washington, D.C. Collectively, the national federation of state PIRGs is known as U.S. PIRG. The PIRGs employ nearly 400 full-time staff, including organizers, attorneys, and policy analysts.[5]
[edit] Issues
At the national level, the PIRGs are running campaigns around the following issues:[6]
- Stopping the flow of special interest money in our elections;
- Closing corporate tax loopholes and making corporations pay the taxes they owe;
- Making our health care system work;
- Consumer protection;
- Stopping reckless banking and financial practices;
- Ending taxpayer subsidies for junk food ingredients;
- Promoting public transportation;
- Making higher education affordable;
- Promoting transparency and accountability in government; and
- Safeguarding public health.
[edit] Creation of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) was founded as a result of the Dodd–Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, which came about as a result of the late-2000s recession and the economic meltdown. Its goal is to protect consumers as well as to reform the financial sector. U.S. PIRG's role in passing the bill was applauded as one of 2010's top ten lobbying victories.[7]
[edit] Promoting Civic Engagement
The New Voters Project is the PIRGs' nonpartisan project to help register young voters and turn them out to the polls. Since 1984 the project has helped to register more than 1.7 million young people to vote.[8]
[edit] State Affiliates
The following is a list of the state PIRGs:[9]
[edit] Other Public Interest Groups
The PIRGs are members of a larger network of non-profit organizations called the Public Interest Network, a coalition of independent groups that fosters new and existing organizations that work to make corporations and government more responsive to the public interest.[10] The PIRGs have also helped to launch a number of other independent public interest non-profits, including Green Corps,[11] the Toxics Action Center, Environment America, and the National Environmental Law Center.
[edit] PIRGs in Canada
Canadian PIRGs are unaffiliated with U.S.-based PIRGs and are, for the most part, based around college campuses.[12] They also operate on a different model; for example, Canadian PIRGs have a very different political agenda and employ a consensus decision making model.[13] Six Canadian provinces are home to PIRGs, including the Ontario Public Interest Research Group, the Simon Fraser Public Interest Research Group, the Alberta Public Interest Research Group (APIRG), and the Nova Scotia Public Interest Research Group. Canadian PIRG chapters are independent of each other, despite efforts toward collaboration.[14]
[edit] References
- ^ "U.S. PIRG: About Us". Retrieved October 8, 2012.
- ^ Nader, Ralph; Donald Ross (1972). Action for a Change: A Student's Manual for Public Interest Organizing. New York: Grossman Publishers. ISBN 670-10319-5 Check
|isbn=value (help). - ^ "Public Interest Projects: History". Retrieved 25 May 2012.
- ^ "About MPIRG". Minnesota Public Interest Research Group. Retrieved 2008-08-19.
- ^ "U.S. PIRG: About Us". Retrieved October 8, 2012.
- ^ "U.S. PIRG: Issues". Retrieved October 10, 2012.
- ^ "The Hill: Top 10 Lobbying Victories of 2010". Retrieved October 8, 2012.
- ^ "New Voters Project: History". Retrieved October 8, 2012.
- ^ "U.S. PIRG: Find Your State". Retrieved October 9, 2012.
- ^ "Public Interest Network". 2012. Retrieved October 9, 2012.
- ^ "Green Corps: History and Mission". 2012. Retrieved October 11, 2012.
- ^ "Canadian PIRGs". Retrieved October 8, 2012.
- ^ "About OPIRG York". 2012. Retrieved October 11, 2012.
- ^ "Canadian PIRGs". 2012. Retrieved April 30, 2012.
