Public Citizen

Public Citizen

File:Pctiny4.png
Founded	1971 by Ralph Nader in the US
Type	Nonprofit organization
Focus	Consumer advocacy
Location	Washington D.C.
Area served	Nationwide (US)
Method	Research, lobbying, media attention, direct-appeal campaigns
Key people	Sidney M. Wolfe, M.D., acting President Robert C. Fellmeth, Foundation Chair) Jason Adkins, Inc. Chair Joan Claybrook, emeritus President
Website	http://www.citizen.org

Public Citizen is a nonpartisan, nonprofit public interest advocacy organization based in Washington, D.C..

Since its founding by Ralph Nader in 1971, Public Citizen has fought for corporate and government accountability in order to guarantee the individual’s right to safe products, a healthy environment and workplace, fair trade, and clean and safe energy sources.

Public Citizen’s work is based on the belief that the public needs advocates representing their interests in the United States Congress, the executive branch and the courts to push back against the influence of corporate lobbyists on government. To maintain its independence, Public Citizen does not accept government or corporate funds. It is funded by dues and contribution from its members and supporters, foundation grants, and publication sales .

Work and Issues

Public Citizen works for openness and democratic accountability in government; for the right of consumers to seek redress in the courts; for clean, safe and sustainable energy sources; for social and economic justice in trade policies; for strong health, safety and environmental protections; and for safe, effective and affordable prescription drugs and health care.

Divisions

Public Citizen has six divisions, each with a specific issue emphasis:

• Auto Safety

• Congress Watch

• Energy Program

• Global Trade Watch

• Health Research

• Litigation

Public Citizen also has a branch office in Austin, Texas.

Current Priorities

• Acting as a watchdog to federal regulatory agencies

• Reforming campaign finance

• Fighting for increased government openness

• Stopping companies from making consumers sign forced arbitration agreements

• Fighting corporate globalization and advocating pro-democracy trade reform

• Raising automobile fuel economy standards

• Battling the unsustainable energy sources like coal and nuclear power

• Advocating for the creation of a single-payer health care system

• Defending Internet free speech

Issue Areas

Government Accountability

Public Citizen works to make the U.S. federal government more open, accountable, and ethical while lobbying the legislative branch to support public interest issues and working as a government watchdog. Public Citizen has worked to push consumer protections in regulatory agencies such as the Food and Drug Administration, the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the Environmental Protection Agency and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Through its good government efforts, Public Citizen shines a spotlight on the influence of money in politics by issuing reports revealing corporate and lobbyist donations to elected representatives and those running for office.

Energy

See also: List of anti-nuclear groups in the United States § Public Citizen Energy Program

Public Citizen’s energy advocacy works to protect citizens and the environment from the dangers posed by nuclear power; advocates for environmental enforcement policies; supports high fuel efficiency standards for automobiles; and seeks policies that will lead to safe, affordable and environmentally sustainable energy.

Trade

Public Citizen’s Global Trade Watch division was created in 1995 to monitor the World Trade Organization (WTO) and other trade agreements such as the North American Free Trade Agreement(NAFTA) and the Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA). Like Public Citizen in general, the trade program advocates for a greater public role in international, federal, state and local policymaking, and for a different set of policies and institutions that govern the current model of globalization. The division was established to promote government and corporate accountability in the globalization and trade arena. Its work makes the measurable outcomes of globalization accessible to the public, press, and policymakers, but places an emphasis on the fact that the model can and must be changed or replaced if the results are not acceptable.

This division conducts research, publishes educational materials, educates the public through a grassroots program, maintains relations with press and policymakers, and coordinates with an array of domestic and international allies. It is ultimately working to build a diverse nationwide grassroots coalition.

Health and Safety

Public Citizen promotes research-based, system-wide changes in health care policy and provides oversight concerning drugs, medical devices, doctors and hospitals and occupational health. Public Citizen’s Health Research Group tries to make sure federal regulations protect consumers and works to re-label unsafe or ineffective drugs and medical devices; improve safety standards at work sites; and educate consumers about the health care services they receive by providing information about doctors disciplined by state medical boards. The division also publishes the Worst Pills, Best Pills news, monthly analysis of information compiled from well-regarded medical journals and unpublished data obtained from the FDA, that allows Public Citizen to sound the alarm about potentially dangerous drugs long before they are banned by the federal government, and to recommend safer drugs.

Courts

Public Citizen’s attorneys specialize in cases involving health and safety regulation, consumer rights, access to the courts, open government, and the First Amendment, including Internet free speech. Often playing a supporting role to other parts of the organization’s work, the Public Citizen Litigation Group has argued 55 cases before the Supreme Court and sued the federal government numerous times.

It litigates cases at all levels of the federal and state judiciaries and has a substantial practice before federal regulatory agencies. Its efforts are also pursued through programs such as the Alan Morrison Supreme Court Assistance Project, the Consumer Justice Project, and the Freedom of Information Clearinghouse.

Past Accomplishments

• White House ethics policy crafted with input from Public Citizen experts implemented in 2009

• Won a Supreme Court decision upholding the right of people injured by federally regulated medical devices to sue to recover compensation in 2009

• In 2008, successfully pushed members of Congress to pass legislation to strengthen the Consumer Product Safety Commission

• Congress passed a landmark lobbying and ethics bill in 2007 that was crafted with input from Public Citizen experts

• Public Citizen repeatedly plays key role defeating Fast Track trade legislation, most recently in 2007

• 2003 FDA bans dietary supplement ephedra who years after Public Citizen petitions for its removal and after 155 deaths

• In 2002, sued the Bush administration to win release of Reagan administration records

• Documented corporate abuse of NAFTA investor protection provisions and NAFTA’s negative impact on U.S. farmers in 2001

• In 1999, led a global coalition to organize the massive, landmark demonstrations in Seattle against the World Trade Organization.

• Forging a historic settlement to secure the release of the 4,000 hours of Nixon’s secret White House tapes after 15 years of litigation in 1996

• Public Citizen court victory in 1990 forces the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to issue mandatory training requirements for nuclear plant workers

• Report on Nuclear Power Safety in 1987 documents 3,000 mishaps occurring in U.S. nuclear plants

• After lengthy campaign, in 1986 FDA requires aspirin makers to include warning that aspirin can cause rare Reye’s Syndrome in children suffering from chicken pox or flu, virtually eliminating this source of death and injury in children

• After 20-year battle with automakers, federal regulation requires air bags or passive seat belts in all cars in 1989

• In 1989, Public Citizen obtains court order forcing the FDA to require labels warning women that high-absorbency tampons are more likely to cause toxic shock syndrome

• Suing the first Bush administration in 1989 for release of Oliver North’s diaries from the Iran-Contra affair

• In 1985 exposed the EPA’s failure to accurately assess the danger of toxic waste dump sites in successful campaign to strengthen Superfund cleanup laws

• In 1976, successfully petitioned the FDA to ban the use of Red Dye No. 2 as food coloring, citing links to cancer and birth defects

• In response to Public Citizen’s lawsuit, President Nixon’s firing of Watergate Special Prosecutor Archibald Cox is ruled illegal in 1973

• Advocating for the creation of the Consumer Product Safety Commission in 1972

• Public Citizen petitions FDA to ban the use of Red Dye No. 2 as food coloring, citing links to cancer and birth defects in 1971

Publications

• Federalism and Global Governance (2008)

• The Rise and Fall of Fast Track Trade Authority (2008)

• Courting Change: The Story of the Public Citizen Litigation Group (2004)

• Whose Trade Organization? Corporate Globalization and the Erosion of Democracy (2004, 1999)

• NAFTA’s Broken Promises (1995)

• Green Buyer’s Car Book (1994)

• Women’s Health Alert (1991)

• Who Robbed America? A Citizen’s Guide to the Savings and Loan Scandal (1990)

• Questionable Doctors (1998, 1990)

• Worst Pills, Best Pills (2005, 1993, 1988)

• Citizen’s Guide to Radon Home Test Kits (1988)

• Freedom from Harm: The Civilizing Influence of Health, Safety, and Environmental Regulation (1986)

• Retreat from Safety: Reagan’s Attack on America’s Health (1984)

• Over the Counter Pills That Don’t Work (1983)

• Representing Yourself (1983)

• A Worker’s Guide to Winning at the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission (1981)

• Pills That Don’t Work (1980)

• Care of the Seriously Mentally Ill: A Rating of State Programs (1986)

• Getting Yours: A Consumer’s Guide to Obtaining Your Medical Records (1978)

• Through the Mental Health Maze: A Consumer’s Guide to Finding a Psychotherapist (1975)

• Taking the Pain Out of Finding a Good Dentist (1975)

• Little Injustices: Small Claims Courts and the American Consumer (1971)

Criticism

Public Citizen’s efforts have been criticized by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and some groups representing business interests that favor market solutions instead of strengthening federal regulations and oversight.

Disassociation from Nader

In the aftermath of the 2000 presidential election, Public Citizen has disassociated itself from its founder. Wrote Mother Jones, "For evidence of how rank-and-file liberals have turned against Nader, one need look no further than the empire he created. Public Citizen, the organization (Nader) founded in 1971, has a new fundraising problem—its founder. After the election, contributions dropped... When people inquire about Nader's relationship to the organization, Public Citizen sends out a letter that begins with a disclaimer: 'Although Ralph Nader was our founder, he has not held an official position in the organization since 1980 and does not serve on the board. Public Citizen—and the other groups that Mr. Nader founded–act independently.'"

See also

• Public Citizen Litigation Group
• Consumer Project on Technology
• Global Trade Watch
• Food & Water Watch
• Anti-nuclear movement in the United States

External links

• Public Citizen Website
  • Public Citizen Blog
  • Energy Program
  • Clean Up Washington
  • Litigation Group
  • Auto and Highway Safety Program
  • Lobbying Info
  • Stealth Pacs
  • Worst Pills
  • White House for Sale
  • Global Trade Watch
  • Ranking of state Medicaid programs by eligibility, scope of services, quality of service and reimbursement
• The Public Citizen Texas Office Website
  • Citizen Advocacy
  • Clean Up the Capitol
  • Consumer Protection & Product Safety
  • Diesel Emissions
  • Energy, Efficiency & Renewables
  • Environmental Protection
  • Global Warming
  • Nuclear Energy
  • Transportation
• Alan B. Morrison: Senior Lecturer in Law
• Charity Navigator Rating of Public Citizen Foundation
• Dr. Craig Holman Interview on Liberadio(!) with Mary Mancini & Freddie O'Connell December 1, 2008