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Report | Arizona PIRG Education Fund | Consumer Protection

The Campus Debit Card Trap

Banks and other financial firms are taking advantage of a variety of opportunities to form partnerships with colleges and universities to produce campus student ID cards and to offer student aid disbursements on debit or prepaid cards. In addition to on-campus services, such as student ID functions offered on the card, some cards offer traditional debit card services linked to bank accounts; other cards provide additional reloadable prepaid card functions. The disbursement of financial aid and university refunds is the most significant partnership identified.

News Release | Arizona PIRG Education Fund | Health Care

Consumers Union Releases New Report: Health Reform’s ‘Value for Your Dollar Rule’: Early Impact in Arizona

Today’s new report by Consumers Union Health Reform’s ‘Value for Your Dollar Rule’: Early Impact in Arizona highlights how the “medical loss ratio” can help consumers get a good value for their premium health care dollars. Under the Affordable Care Act, insurers covering individual and small businesses must spend at least 80 percent of premiums on medical care or provide rebates to consumers.

News Release | Arizona PIRG Education Fund | Safe Energy

Statement on the Resignation of Nuclear Regulatory Chairman Gregory Jaczko

While we may not have always seen eye to eye with Chairman Jaczko, he has been the lone advocate on the Commission for addressing some key nuclear safety concerns that put public health and safety at risk.

News Release | Arizona PIRG Education Fund | Budget

Transparency Shortcomings of Arizona Commerce Authority Cited in New Report

A new report released by the Arizona PIRG Education Fund, Shining a Light on the Arizona Commerce Authority, examines how transparent the Arizona Commerce Authority has been with the grant and tax credit programs it oversees.

Report | Arizona PIRG Education Fund | Budget

Shining a Light on the Arizona Commerce Authority

Arizonans deserve to know how their taxpayer dollars are spent – including when their tax dollars are given as subsidies to corporations. However, more than a year after the creation of the Arizona Commerce Authority – the new state entity responsible for distributing the state’s economic development subsidies – the Commerce Authority discloses information online for only a portion of its economic development funds.

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News Release | Arizona PIRG Education Fund | Consumer Protection

Survey Finds Dangerous Toys on Store Shelves

Dangerous toys can still be found on America’s store shelves, according to the Arizona PIRG Education Fund’s annual Trouble in Toyland report.

Media Hit | Budget

Cronkite News Service: Public interest group: Outsourcing traffic cameras has pitfalls

Arizona communities should put public safety ahead of profits when deciding whether to install traffic cameras through private companies, a public interest group contends in a new report.

News Release | Arizona PIRG Education Fund | Budget

Problems Identified with Growing Trend of Red-Light and Speed Cameras

A new report released today by the Arizona PIRG Education Fund outlines problems with the growing trend among cities in Arizona and across the country to outsource traffic enforcement to red-light and speed camera vendors.

News Release | Arizona PIRG Education Fund | Health Care

STUDY OF NEW HEALTH EXCHANGES SHOWS ARIZONA HOW TO LOWER COSTS FOR CONSUMERS

Many states are creating health exchanges to deliver better value for consumers, and Arizona should follow their lead, according to Making the Grade, a new report by the Arizona PIRG Education Fund. Health exchanges are competitive marketplaces that can empower individuals and small businesses with better, more affordable options for coverage. Under the federal health reform law, each state will have an exchange up and running in 2014.

News Release | Arizona PIRG Education Fund | Budget

New Report Shows Problems with Widely Used Local Economic Development Tool

New research released today outlines problems with the growing trend among cities to borrow against future growth and divert tax revenues as a way to attract economic development.

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Report | Arizona PIRG Education Fund | Budget

Following the Money 2010

State governments across the country are changing that. At least 32 states currently mandate that residents be able to access an online database of government expenditures with “checkbook-level” detail. Most of these Web sites are also searchable, making it easier for residents to obtain information about government spending. This report evaluates states’ progress toward “Transparency 2.0” – a new standard of comprehensive, one-stop, one-click budget accountability and accessibility.

Report | Arizona PIRG Education Fund | Transportation

The Businesses of Light Rail

Arizonans clearly desire increased and improved public transportation options, as proven by the fact that the public has voted in favor of taxes to support public transportation in the past. Furthermore, since the light rail line began operation, it has consistently achieved higher-than-expected and record-breaking ridership numbers.

Report | Arizona PIRG Education Fund | Transportation

The Right Track

America's highways and airports are increasingly congested. Our nation's transportation system remains dependent on oil. And our existing transportation infrastructure is inadequate to the demands of the 21st century. Intercity passenger rail can help America address each of these challenges.

Report | Arizona PIRG Education Fund | Consumer Protection

Trouble in Toyland 2009

The latest Trouble in Toyland report, along with a new interactive tool accessible via smart phone or computer – http://toysafety.mobi or http://www.toysafety.net - will help parents and other toy-buyers avoid some common hazards.

Report | Arizona PIRG Education Fund | Transportation

Greasing the Wheels

In the wake of the Minnesota I-35 bridge collapse, there was enormous public outcry and recognition of the need to repair our crumbling infrastructure. Americans expected public officials to respond to the tragedy with a large scale effort to address the nearly 73,000 structurally deficient bridges in this country. The findings in this report suggest that did not happen.

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GET THE BEST DEAL ON HEALTH INSURANCE

The new Health Insurance Marketplace could save you time and money.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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