MASSPIRG: Winning Concrete Results

Locking Out Identity Thieves
Sloppy practices by banks, credit card companies and data dealers leave consumers vulnerable to identity thieves. MASSPIRG is advancing reforms to require these businesses to better safeguard our information.

Speaking Up For MBTA Riders

• • With two fare increases proposed by the MBTA in just three years, MASSPIRG has served as the voice of commuters, advocating more transparency and public input in the state's transportation system.
• • MASSPIRG helped establish a new Rider Oversight Committee in 2004, giving the public more power to hold the MBTA accountable and encouraging ridership on the state's public transportation system.

Pushing For Fair Auto Insurance Rates
Dangerous roads and high accident rates have made Massachusetts auto insurance notoriously expensive. While insurance companies try to rig the system to repeal consumer protections in insurance pricing, MASSPIRG is pushing for legislation to promote safety, training, and driver education.

Demanding Action From Big Tobacco

• • Along with a coalition that included firefighters, public health officials, and anti-tobacco activists, MASSPIRG pushed for passage of the Fire Safe Cigarette bill, signed into law in July 2006, which requires cigarette manufacturers to make cigarettes with paper that burns slower to prevent fires started by cigarettes.
• • Despite pressure for Big Tobacco and other special interests, Massachusetts adopted a Smokefree Workplace Law on June 18, 2004. MASSPIRG advocated the law to better protect employees from second-hand smoke, especially in bars and restaurants.

Stopping Cell Phone Rip-Offs
MASSPIRG is leading a campaign to pass the Cell Phone Users' Bill of Rights to ensure that the cell phone industry is governed by basic consumer standards.

Advocating Health Care Reforms
Americans pay the highest prescription drug prices in the world. MASSPIRG has filed a bill that would create a drug-buying pool for the state, which would give consumers more buying power and better prices.

Alerting Parents To Dangerous Toys
In November 2006, MASSPIRG released our 21st annual toy safety report, "Trouble In Toyland." The report has resulted in at least 100 recalls and other enforcement actions, spurred passage of a federal toy labeling law, and alerted the Federal Trade Commission to deceptively-labeled toys containing toxic chemicals.

Promoting Public Health
Despite pressure from Big Tobacco and other special interests, Massachusetts adopted a Smokefree Workplace Law on June 18, 2004. MASSPIRG advocated the law to better protect the public from second-hand smoke, especially in bars and restaurants.