News Releases

News Release | Budget, Tax

Taxpayer Subsidies for Junk Food Wasting Billions

Federal subsidies for commodity crops are also subsidizing junk food additives like high fructose corn syrup, enough to pay for 19 Twinkies per taxpayer every year, according to Apples to Twinkies, a new report by Maryland PIRG. Meanwhile, limited subsidies for fresh fruits and vegetables would buy less than a quarter of an apple per taxpayer.

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News Release | Budget, Tax

Unlikely Allies Uncover $1 Trillion in Savings for Super Committee

As the Congressional “Super Committee” begins its search for $1.5 trillion in deficit reduction, a new study released today by the U.S. Public Interest Research Group (U.S. PIRG) and the National Taxpayers Union (NTU) provides the panel with a great place to start: more than $1 trillion of spending cuts with appeal from across the political spectrum.

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News Release | Consumer Protection, Financial Reform

New Consumer Agency Takes Over Thursday as Nation’s Consumer Bank Cop

Leading consumer groups today announced the results of a poll showing that an overwhelming majority of likely voters both support a new consumer agency (74%) and want Wall Street held “accountable” (77%), along with a report documenting “10 reasons” consumers need the new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

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News Release | Budget, Financial Reform, Tax

Senator Carl Levin Introduces Stop Tax Haven Abuse Act

The Stop Tax Haven Abuse Act is a timely and critically important proposal that seeks to stem flight of capital from this country. The bill will force open and honest accounting of profits. It will put an end to the price and profit shifting that allows companies to engage in such pervasive tax avoidance.

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News Release | Health Care

Consumer Group Calls for New Competitive Health Care Marketplace

Maryland policy-makers can address rising health care costs by implementing an effective health insurance exchange, according to a report released today by consumer advocacy group Maryland PIRG Foundation.