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News Release | Arizona PIRG Education Fund | Safe Energy

Money-Saving Programs Delayed Again for Tucson Electric Power Customers

Today, four of Arizona’s utility regulators at the Arizona Corporation Commission decided to delay again the start of new programs that would save money and energy for Tucson Electric Power customers. While the Commission approved increased funding for energy efficiency programs overall, their decision denied immediate utility bill relief to renters, schools, businesses, and other customers.

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News Release | Arizona PIRG Education Fund | 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 Arizona PIRG Education Fund finds that the slowdown in driving is likely to continue. The report, A New Direction: Our Changing Relationship with Driving and the Implications for America’s Future, noted that demographic changes will likely keep driving down for decades.

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Report | Arizona PIRG Education Fund | 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. Americans drive fewer total miles today than we did eight years ago, and fewer per person than we did at the end of Bill Clinton’s first term. The unique combina­tion of conditions that fueled the Driving Boom no longer exists. Meanwhile, a new generation—the Mil­lennials—is demanding a new American Dream less dependent on driving.

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News Release | Arizona PIRG Education Fund | Budget

Arizona Receives a ‘B’ in Annual Report on Government Spending Transparency

Arizona received a ‘B’ when it comes to government spending transparency, according to the fourth annual report by the Arizona PIRG Education Fund, Following the Money 2013: How the States Rank on Providing Online Access to Government Spending Data. Arizona’s official state transparency website, OpenBooks, received an ‘A-’ in last year’s report.

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Report | Arizona PIRG Education Fund | Budget

Following the Money 2013

This report, the Arizona PIRG Education Fund’s fourth annual evaluation of state transparency websites, finds that states are closer than ever before to meeting the standards of “Transparency 2.0” – encompassing, one-stop, one-click checkbook transparency and accountability. However, many states, including Arizona, still have a long way to go to provide taxpayers with the information they need to ensure that government is spending their money effectively.

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News Release | Arizona PIRG Education Fund | Safe Energy

Money-Saving Programs Delayed Again for Tucson Electric Power Customers

Today, four of Arizona’s utility regulators at the Arizona Corporation Commission decided to delay again the start of new programs that would save money and energy for Tucson Electric Power customers. While the Commission approved increased funding for energy efficiency programs overall, their decision denied immediate utility bill relief to renters, schools, businesses, and other customers.

> Keep Reading
News Release | Arizona PIRG Education Fund | 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 Arizona PIRG Education Fund finds that the slowdown in driving is likely to continue. The report, A New Direction: Our Changing Relationship with Driving and the Implications for America’s Future, noted that demographic changes will likely keep driving down for decades.

> Keep Reading
News Release | Arizona PIRG Education Fund | Budget

Arizona Receives a ‘B’ in Annual Report on Government Spending Transparency

Arizona received a ‘B’ when it comes to government spending transparency, according to the fourth annual report by the Arizona PIRG Education Fund, Following the Money 2013: How the States Rank on Providing Online Access to Government Spending Data. Arizona’s official state transparency website, OpenBooks, received an ‘A-’ in last year’s report.

> Keep Reading
News Release | Arizona PIRG Education Fund | Safe Energy

Clean energy advocates provide action plan

Clean energy advocates and leaders from across the West are urging policymakers to enact policies and support investments in renewable energy and efficiency that would modernize our electric system while slashing greenhouse gas emissions. With President Obama calling for action to address climate disruption in his State of the Union address, and thousands of others marching on Washington this past weekend, a series of white papers and a video are being released to help illustrate how adopting a Clean Energy Vision rather than business as usual will move the West forward.

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News Release | Arizona PIRG Education Fund | Tax

Offshore Tax Dodging Blows a $503M Hole in Arizona’s Budget

As Arizona lawmakers are soon to begin discussing the state budget for the next fiscal year, the Arizona PIRG Education Fund released a new study, The Hidden Cost of Offshore Tax Havens: State Budgets under Pressure from Tax Loophole Abuse, revealing that the State of Arizona lost $503 million due to offshore tax dodging in 2012.

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Result | Transportation

Arizonans Call For Passenger Rail

The Arizona Department of Transportation recently held open houses to gather public input on passenger rail between Phoenix and Tucson. The Arizona PIRG Education Fund provided ADOT, the public, allies and the media with key principles to be considered for a successful rail line — including ridership potential, integration with other public transportation services, and reliable funding.

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Result | Safe Energy

More Clean Energy For Arizona

The Arizona PIRG Education Fund helped lead efforts to have one of the strongest energy efficiency standards in the country enacted in Arizona. While this standard covers Arizona Public Service and Tucson Electric Power, it does not cover the Salt River Project. Working with allies, we successfully secured a commitment from the Salt River Project to also ramp up its energy efficiency and clean energy standards.

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Result | Budget

Budget Transparency Earns High Marks

The Arizona PIRG Education Fund worked with the State Comptroller to ensure some of the best practices in budget transparency websites were brought to Arizona. Due in part to our recommendations, Arizona moved from the bottom into the top five state websites for showing taxpayers how our money is spent.

 

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Report | Arizona PIRG Education Fund | 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. Americans drive fewer total miles today than we did eight years ago, and fewer per person than we did at the end of Bill Clinton’s first term. The unique combina­tion of conditions that fueled the Driving Boom no longer exists. Meanwhile, a new generation—the Mil­lennials—is demanding a new American Dream less dependent on driving.

> Keep Reading
Report | Arizona PIRG Education Fund | Budget

Following the Money 2013

This report, the Arizona PIRG Education Fund’s fourth annual evaluation of state transparency websites, finds that states are closer than ever before to meeting the standards of “Transparency 2.0” – encompassing, one-stop, one-click checkbook transparency and accountability. However, many states, including Arizona, still have a long way to go to provide taxpayers with the information they need to ensure that government is spending their money effectively.

> Keep Reading
Report | Arizona PIRG Education Fund | Tax

The Hidden Cost 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.

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Report | Arizona PIRG Education Fund | Budget

Transparency in City Spending

The ability to see how government uses the public purse is fundamental to democracy. Transparency in government spending checks corruption, bolsters public confidence, improves responsiveness, and promotes greater effectiveness and fiscal responsibility. Cities across the country have been moving toward making their checkbooks transparent by creating transparency portals and posting recipient-specific spending data online.

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Report | Arizona PIRG Education Fund | Democracy

Billion-Dollar Democracy

The first presidential election since Citizens United lived up to its hype, with unprecedented outside spending from new sources making headlines. The Arizona PIRG Education Fund and Demos analysis of reports from campaigns, parties, and outside spenders to the Federal Election Commission found that our big money system distorts democracy and creates winners and losers.

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Blog Post | Health Care

The U.S. Supreme Court & the High Cost of Rx Drugs | Diane E. Brown

Everyone knows prescription drugs cost much more than they should. But many people are surprised to learn about one of the key ways drug companies keep prices high: Paying off competitors to keep generics off the market.

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Blog Post | Health Care

What's Next on Health Care Costs? | Diane E. Brown

Now that the election is over, talk has turned to the need to work together and get results for America. It’s a tall order, and on the polarized issue of health care, it may seem at first like an impossible task. But I am hopeful that we can make significant progress together.

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Blog Post | Transportation

A Trillion Fewer Driving Miles? | Serena Unrein

It’s now common knowledge that annual changes in the volume of driving no longer follow the old ways. In July 2012, Americans clocked over 258 billion miles behind the wheel, a billion fewer miles than the previous July despite a slightly stronger economy and cheaper gasoline.

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Blog Post | Health Care

Here’s that Rx refill you didn’t order | Diane E. Brown

Is your pharmacy refilling your prescription without your knowledge or approval, and billing your insurance company for the cost? If so, it’s the latest example of waste we shouldn't tolerate in our health care system.

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Blog Post | Consumer Protection

The CFPB is now taking your credit bureau complaints | Diane E. Brown

Excellent news! The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is now taking your complaints about credit bureaus and credit reports. Click here to go to the CFPB credit bureau complaint page.

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  • GET THE BEST DEAL ON HEALTH INSURANCE
    The new Health Insurance Marketplace could save you time and money.
    Learn More
  • Bringing Passenger Rail to Arizona
    Find out how Arizona can bring passenger rail to our state with policies that utilize private capital and expertise while protecting the public interest.
    Get the report
  • Building an Energy Efficient Arizona
    Arizona is at an energy crossroad — with a dirty past and the chance for a clean energy future. Read how Arizona can improve efficiency, reduce pollution and save money.
    Get the report
  • Arizona Earned a B for transparency
    States across the country have been moving toward making their checkbooks transparent by creating online transparency portals. See how Arizona stacks up to other states.
    Get the Report

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