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News Release | MASSPIRG | Transportation

New Report: Reduction in Driving Likely to Continue

As the average number of miles driven by Americans heads into its eighth year of decline, a new report from the MASSPIRG Education Fund finds that the slowdown in driving is likely to continue.

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Report | MASSPIRG | Transportation

A New Direction

The Driving Boom—a six decade-long period of steady increases in per-capita driving in the United States—is over.

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News Release | MASSPIRG | Budget, Tax

Groups call for Transparency and Accountability of Corporate Tax Breaks

MASSPIRG calls on State House Committee to make corporate tax breaks more transparent and accountable.

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Blog Post | Transportation

55 Reps Stand Up for Meaningful Investment in Transportation | Kirstie Pecci

MASSPIRG praises 55 state representatives who stood up for a meaningful investment in our transportation system by voting against the short term band-aid fix. Is your lawmaker among the 55?

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Blog Post | Transportation

MASSPIRG Praises Reps Who Stand Up for Public Transportation

Amendment #16 to the House Transportation bill (H.3382) would have relieved the MBTA of the Big Dig debt with which it has been unfairly burdened. See if your Representative voted the right way.

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News Release | MASSPIRG | Transportation

New Report: Reduction in Driving Likely to Continue

As the average number of miles driven by Americans heads into its eighth year of decline, a new report from the MASSPIRG Education Fund finds that the slowdown in driving is likely to continue.

> Keep Reading
News Release | MASSPIRG | Budget, Tax

Groups call for Transparency and Accountability of Corporate Tax Breaks

MASSPIRG calls on State House Committee to make corporate tax breaks more transparent and accountable.

> Keep Reading
News Release | MASSPIRG | Budget, Tax

Off Shore Tax Havens Cost Average Mass. Taxpayers $1,542 a Year

With Tax Day approaching, it’s a good time to be reminded of where our tax dollars are going. MASSPIRG  released a new study which revealed that the average Massachusetts  taxpayer in 2012 would have to shoulder an extra $1,542 in taxes to make up for the revenue lost due to the use of offshore tax havens by corporations and wealthy individuals.

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Media Hit | Budget

Report: Bay State website gets good transparency grade

Massachusetts ranked #2 in making state spending transparent.

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News Release | MASSPIRG Education Fund | Budget

MA Receives an “A-” in Annual Report on Transparency of Government Spending

 

“State governments across the country continue to be more transparent about where the money goes, extending checkbook-level disclosure of data on spending to contracting, tax subsidies, development incentives and other expenditures,” said Deirdre Cummings, Legislative Director of MASSPIRG. “Massachusetts’ spending website is one of the best in the country when it comes to making state spending transparent and accessible.”

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Result | Public Health

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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Report | MASSPIRG | Transportation

A New Direction

The Driving Boom—a six decade-long period of steady increases in per-capita driving in the United States—is over.

> Keep Reading
Report | MASSPIRG | Budget, Tax

Picking Up the Tab 2013

Off Shore Tax Havens Cost Average Massachusetts Taxpayers $1,542 a Year.

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Report | MASSPIRG Education Fund | Budget

Following the Money 2013

Every year, state governments spend tens of billions of dollars through contracts with private entities for goods and services, subsidies to encourage economic development, grants, and other forms of spending. Accountability and public scrutiny are necessary to ensure that state funds are well spent.

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Report | MASSPIRG Education Fund | Budget, Tax

Getting Our Money's Worth?

The people of Massachusetts deserve to know how their tax dollars are spent, including on tax subsidies for businesses. Full transparency allows citizens to hold lawmakers, government contractors, and recipients of public subsidies accountable. It also promotes fiscal responsibility, checks corruption, and bolsters public confidence in government.

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Report | MASSPIRG Education Fund | Budget, Tax

The Hidden Costs of Offshore Tax Havens

When U.S. corporations and wealthy individuals use offshore tax havens to avoid paying taxes to the federal government, it is an abuse of our tax system. Tax haven abusers benefit from our markets, infrastructure, educated workforce, and security, but they pay next to nothing for these benefits. Ultimately, taxpayers must pick up the tab, either in the form of higher taxes, cuts to public spending priorities, or increased national debt. Massachusetts alone lost $1.66 billion in 2012.

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Blog Post | Transportation

55 Reps Stand Up for Meaningful Investment in Transportation | Kirstie Pecci

MASSPIRG praises 55 state representatives who stood up for a meaningful investment in our transportation system by voting against the short term band-aid fix. Is your lawmaker among the 55?

> Keep Reading
Blog Post | Transportation

MASSPIRG Praises Reps Who Stand Up for Public Transportation

Amendment #16 to the House Transportation bill (H.3382) would have relieved the MBTA of the Big Dig debt with which it has been unfairly burdened. See if your Representative voted the right way.

> Keep Reading
Blog Post | Solid Waste

Join me and Jimmy Tingle Saturday, April 6, 7PM | Janet Domenitz

As we campaign for recycling and other public interest issues, sometimes we forget an important thing: having fun. We're lucky enough that nationally known comedian Jimmy Tingle is hosting an event on Saturday night, April 6, at the Regent Theater in Arlington, to promote passage of the Updated Bottle Bill and to have some fun doing it. While I've never been mistaken for a stand-up comedian, Jimmy has invited me to part of the program, so please come and laugh at, I mean with, me.

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Blog Post | Democracy

MASSPIRG: Bring Elections into 21st Century | Janet Domenitz

MASSPIRG supoprts crucial reforms to bring our democracy into the 21st century: online voter registration, pre-registration for 16- and 17-year-olds, and early voting.

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Blog Post | Solid Waste

Letter from Mayor Menino: Raise the Bottle Bill handling fee | Janet Domenitz

MASSPIRG is excited that Mayor Menino has put his support firmly behind raising the handling fee for redemption centers. Raising the fee will help locally owned redemption centers stay in business, and make it easier for Bay Staters to recycle.

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Tools & Resources

  • END THE WASTE
    This summer businesses will throw away enough recyclable cardboard to fill Fenway Park. Help us end the waste.
    Learn more
    Take Action
  • END THE GRIDLOCK
    Massachusetts has too much traffic and too much pollution. It's time to invest in transportation across the state.
    Learn more
    Take Action
  • Trouble in Toyland
    For the 27th year, MASSPIRG arms consumers with safety guidelines and a list of harmful toys hitting store shelves this holiday season.
    Learn more
    Get the report
  • 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

Take Action

Just this summer, we'll bury and burn enough recyclable material to fill Fenway Park. Tell the DEP: Enforce our recycling regulations!

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